Calbe A 300 fixer

zena · Jul 17, 2006

I have just purchased some Calbe A 300 fixer in powder form. The package indicates to mix it with water to obtain one liter of fixer. So far so good. But then what? Is it still a concentrate and do I need to dilute it even more in a 4 to 1 ratio like the Ilford universal fixer or do I use it as is? If anyone has the answer to this I'd be grateful. Also, has anyone used it?
Sincerely,
Zena

dancqu · Jul 17, 2006

Empty the can. How much do the contents weigh? Dan

zena · Jul 17, 2006

Dancqu,
It came in a small plastic bag. The contents weighs exactly 100 grams. Zena

dancqu · Jul 17, 2006

zena said:
Dancqu,
It came in a small plastic bag.
The contents weighs exactly 100 grams. Zena

One hundred grams of powdered fixer. Are there
any other than mixing instructions? Are the contents
of the bag listed? By any formula that won't even make
1 liter of the usual working strength fixer.
Most peculiar. Dan

zena · Jul 18, 2006

Hi Dan,
No, no other instructions or descriptions. Although my suspicion is that the 1 liter is a working solution (for paper) and I have to use it as is.
I ordered it from www.fotoimpex.de because I currently live in Holland and of course the description in their catalog is in German. I looked at the US fotoimpex site (which is actually J&C) but they don't offer that particular fixer. Now I'm wondering which fixer it resembles in chemical content. Regards, Zena

dancqu · Jul 18, 2006

zena said:
Now I'm wondering which fixer it resembles in
chemical content. Regards, Zena

Only one possibility, sodium thiosulfate. Likely you
have the anhydrous. As a check when you mix the fix,
note if the solution chills. If so then you've the penta
hydrate. BTW, that much fix will easily dissolve in
warm water. The 125F often mentioned is
something of a one-size-fits-all
recommendation. Dan

PS: Can fotoimpex be of any help?

Ole · Jul 18, 2006

Versandhaus Foto-Müller said:
Calbe A 300, saures Fixierbad, Pulver für 1 l ... Euro 0,85
Calbe A 300, saures Fixierbad, Pulver für 5 l ... Euro 3,20

A 300 ist ein einteiliges, saures Fixiersalz auf Natrium-thiosulfitbasis und dient zum Fixieren von Schwarzweiß-Materialien. Es ist als Fixierbad für die Verarbeitung von Fotofilmen und Fotopapieren geeignet. Fixierzeit bei 20° C für Filme 8 bis 12 min, für Fotopapiere 5 bis 8 min.

It's an acidic sodium thiosulfate fixer.

The package could equally well contain anhydrous as pentahydrate, it's easy to tell the difference: Pentahydrate is clear grains, anhydrous in white powder. The Pentahydrate will dissolve in it's own bound water if crushed.

BTW, powder doesn't mean it can't be ammonium thiosulfate

ZorkiKat · Jul 18, 2006

The ORWO Formulae book listed an "ORWO Acid Fixing Bath A300" as "acid fixing bath on basis of sodium thiosulphate". It could be could be assumed that the Calbe A300 and ORWO A300 are the same. Somewhere in the book, there is also an ORWO 300 formula which contains 200 gr Sodium Thiosulphate (pentahydrate) and Potassium bisulphite (20 gr) for a 1 litre solution. This recipe would mean no dilution for paper or film

zena · Jul 18, 2006

Many thanks for your contributions, everyone. Very useful.
One more question: are there any (dis)advantages to using this type of fixer as opposed to, say, a rapid fixer like Ilford or Adofix?
Zena

ZorkiKat · Jul 18, 2006

zena said:
Many thanks for your contributions, everyone. Very useful.
One more question: are there any (dis)advantages to using this type of fixer as opposed to, say, a rapid fixer like Ilford or Adofix?
Zena

No real disadvantage except that it fixes slightly longer. A300 (or at least ORWO A300) also did not contain hardener.

Calbe A 300 fixer

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency