Arista Premium Odorless LIQUID fixer concentrate

ymc226 · Jul 29, 2007

Does anyone know how long the Arista Premium will keep in both an unopened and opened half used bottle?

I use 5L jugs of Ilford Hypam rapid fixer which have to be shipped for significant sums but I just priced the Arista liquid concentrate 64oz size from Freestyle and found that it would be much cheaper to ship even in quantity.

Presently using the Ilford Hypam, I fix fiber prints for 1 minute and film for 2 minutes using fresh fixer. Would my times be the same with the Arista? I assume it is ammonium thio as well.

Silverhead · Jul 30, 2007

It is indeed ammonium thio, and your fixing times should be about the same, at least according to the label instructions.

fschifano · Jul 30, 2007

I can offer you another substitute, if you are interested. Kodak's C-41 Flexicolor Fixer & Replenisher works very well as a fixer for B&W films and papers and is very inexpensive. Since it is only slightly acidic, ~ph 6.5 if I recall, it has almost no odor when mixed to working strength. Capacity is as good or better than B&W rapid fixers and it is fast working. I have used this product as my fixer of choice for a few years with no ill effects to film or paper.

Avoid fixers for the C-41RA process. These are not the same type of product and are reported to be incompatible with standard B&W materials.

w35773 · Sep 4, 2007

Since this question concerns the same product (Arista Odorless fixer) I'll ask it here.

Does anyone know how much capacity this stuff has for film? I am currently fixing 4x5 sheets in my homemade processing tubes by mixing 60 ml of working solution for each sheet. (54 ml of distilled water with 6 ml of concentrate) Does this sound like too little fixer for 20 sq. in. of film?

Thanks!

w35773 · Sep 4, 2007

I guess I could use my hypo-check to see if the fixer is exhausted when I am done processing. I think I answered my own question!

Paul Howell · Sep 5, 2007

My best guess this that Artistic is rebranded Clayton, all of the Aritstic chemicals seem to match the Clayton descriptions. I have used Clayton Fixer for several years, it will go bad much more quickly than Kodak or Zonal Pro, but seems to have the same capacity as Kodak rapid fix.

JHannon · Sep 5, 2007

Paul Howell said:
My best guess this that Artistic is rebranded Clayton, all of the Aritstic chemicals seem to match the Clayton descriptions. I have used Clayton Fixer for several years, it will go bad much more quickly than Kodak or Zonal Pro, but seems to have the same capacity as Kodak rapid fix.

I looked at the online MSDS info for Arista Premium odorless fixer on Freestyle's site and saw the Clayton name and address at the bottom.

Lowell Huff · Sep 5, 2007

Yes, Clayton Chemical makes the Arista Odorless Fixer. Yes, it is truely odorless. Yes, while we guarrantee our products for a minimum two years of shelf life. Yes, all fixers and developers will eventually "go bad." We will replace any product that does not meet your perceived performance or product value. Capacity of any product is dependant on the dilution and application. Please feel free to contact me about any technical information or help you need.

Andrew Moxom · Sep 5, 2007

As I am also a user of Ilford Hypam as it is a non hardening fixer. Is the Arista/Clayton non hardening aswell?

dancqu · Sep 5, 2007

w35773 said:
I guess I could use my hypo-check to see if
the fixer is exhausted when I am done processing.
I think I answered my own question!

I too use one-shot fixer although with 120 and tank volume of
500ml. I've switched to S. Thio. but have used as little as 15ml
of A. Thio. concentrate. I'd recommend 20ml. concentrate.

My dilutions are so great that the potassium iodide hypo check
does not work. So I tested for minimum amounts and two or three
pink and mottled rolls later I finely arrived at clear and no color.
A pinch more concentrate, liquid or solid, for additional margin.

I suggest you do the same. Use too little to start then build
up to clear and no color + a pinch more. Unexposed film puts
all the load on the fixer so it's a worst case test. Dan

w35773 · Sep 5, 2007

Excellent Idea, Dan! I like to save on my chemical $$$.

Paul Howell · Sep 6, 2007

Andrew Moxom said:
As I am also a user of Ilford Hypam as it is a non hardening fixer. Is the Arista/Clayton non hardening aswell?

Clayton is non hardening as well, which is why when I am printing with Salvich single weight paper I use standard fix.

dancqu · Sep 6, 2007

w35773 said:
Excellent Idea, Dan! I like to save on my chemical $$$.

That 6ml you've mentioned should be about right. On an
8x10 or a roll of 120 basis that is 24ml. A test for minimum
may be 4ml. More time is required as less fix is used because
the fixer is nearer exhaustion towards the end of it's use.

Arbitrarily I set 10 minutes with intermittent inversion agitation
as the time in which complete fixation must take place. Some
take that much time using rapid fix. You'd need to balance
time and great chemical milage.

Thrifty use and time considerations aside there is the
assuredness of using fresh chemistry each use and the
convenience of tossing the used fix down the drain. Dan

pmongillo · Feb 24, 2008

Opened Shlef Life

Lowell Huff said:
Yes, Clayton Chemical makes the Arista Odorless Fixer. Yes, it is truely odorless. Yes, while we guarrantee our products for a minimum two years of shelf life. Yes, all fixers and developers will eventually "go bad." We will replace any product that does not meet your perceived performance or product value. Capacity of any product is dependant on the dilution and application. Please feel free to contact me about any technical information or help you need.

I have had a bottle of undiluted oderless fixer (Arista) opened for a little over a month. I opened it yesterday to make a new batch and it smelled a bit like rotten eggs. It had a bit of white particulate material floating around in it as well. I used it and it seemed to be working, but now I am having second thoughts and think maybe I should refix the prints. Has the unconcentrted fixer gone bad?

Paul

srs5694 · Feb 24, 2008

pmongillo said:
I have had a bottle of undiluted oderless fixer (Arista) opened for a little over a month. I opened it yesterday to make a new batch and it smelled a bit like rotten eggs. It had a bit of white particulate material floating around in it as well. I used it and it seemed to be working, but now I am having second thoughts and think maybe I should refix the prints. Has the unconcentrted fixer gone bad?

The symptoms you describe (rotten-egg odor and floating particulate matter) are certainly the symptoms of bad fixer. I can't say with certainty that anything you've fixed in that fixer is improperly fixed, but if you intend the prints to last, re-fixing in fresh fixer would be the safest course of action.

kokoshawnuff · Jul 16, 2012

I'm sorry to revive an old thread, but I have been using the Arista Odorless Liquid fixer for my last dozen rolls or so, and complete clearing takes a lot longer than the 1-2 min as the instructions on the bottle suggests (mine take 10-15min for a fresh batch). The instructions say a dilution of 1:9 for both film and paper, but if this fixer is indeed the same as the Clayton then 1:4 would be necessary. Does anyone have experience or a suggestion as to a dilution to make for a shorter fixing time? Normally I would just go back to illford or Kodak fixer, but I prefer the odorless.

padraigm · Jul 16, 2012

I agree with koko. I only use this stuff for prints as film was just taking too long for my patience... . I have had it "crash" with precipitate. It did continue to work with the film I was using but the particulate stuck to the film emulsion and pretty much ruined it for anything else but scanning. It is cheap and seems to work fine, I have no evidence to suggest otherwise. For film I use PF Tf-4.film clears in no time and is long lasting. I have not done the math but I bet there is not much difference in mileage between them.

kokoshawnuff · Jul 17, 2012

If its not just me, then I guess the Clayton is worth a try before going back to something else.

Arista Premium Odorless LIQUID fixer concentrate

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency