Clumping Kodak Fixer

[daleeman]

I just mixed a new gallon of Kodak power fixer and have an clump of undisolved powder at the bottom of the gallon jug the size of my shoe. OK that was a bit extreem, but does any one have a suggestion on what to do to break this up and or is it something too out of date to use. The sealed package was probably 4 years old before I opened it to use it.

Thanks for your help

Lee

 

[Rick A]

Just jamb a long wooden stirrer into it to break it up. How did you get a clod that large, did you pour the powder into the water or vice-versa? Was the water heated enough prior to mixing? Maybe you can decant most of the liquid from the bottle and reheat it, then pour back in, to help dissolve the blob.

 

[daleeman]

Just jamb a long wooden stirrer into it to break it up. How did you get a clod that large, did you pour the powder into the water or vice-versa? Was the water heated enough prior to mixing? Maybe you can decant most of the liquid from the bottle and reheat it, then pour back in, to help dissolve the blob.

I put the lime in the coconut mixed them both together.

Not having done it for a while I only had water temp of about 80F at most and put the powder in the jug first then poured in the water. Probably not the best way. I’ll do some jabbing tonight. Can I heat the bottle in a water bath to about 100f and then break it up with the stir stick?

Lee

 

[Rick A]

I always add the powder to hot water a little at a time and stir a whole bunch as I go. I think you will be alright heating it in a water bath and trying to break it up.

 

[Neal]

Dear Lee,

We've all had our issues with operator error. This time you're just going to have to fight with it, but in the future I would like to suggest a magnetic stirrer. I purchased one on ebay a while back and it's been wonderful.

Neal Wydra

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

Put the whole mess in the microwave and heat it to ~110F, stir well and the clod should dissolve.

Dissolving fixer is an endothermic process - it gets cold as it dissolves and the colder it gets the less it dissolves. Leaving a clump, as you have found out.