Combining two different types of fixer into one solution

Kuby · Oct 23, 2018

Hello,

I'm wondering if there's any problem with combining two different types of BW fix to create a single working solution?

Today I had the situation where I had 1L of working fix solution that was stored from a previous developing session, but I needed 2.5L of working solution to properly fix the 5 rolls of film I was developing. I was out of the type of fix I had used for the 1L (TF-5 Archival Rapid Fixer), but have about 6L of Kodak Flexicolor fix to work through (c-41 fix).

I made the decision to make a new working solution of all Kodak Flexicolor fix, and not mix the two together, but I'm curious to know if I could have and if it would have been okay, or if it would have caused any problems.

Thanks!

RalphLambrecht · Oct 23, 2018

mixing fixers is not a problem unless one is based on sodium and the other is based on ammonium thiosulfate or one contains hardener and the other doesn't.

MattKing · Oct 23, 2018

I would suggest "Starting a Conversation" with Photo Engineer.
There may be a significant difference in the pH of the two different working solutions (or maybe not).

RalphLambrecht · Oct 23, 2018

MattKing said:
I would suggest "Starting a Conversation" with Photo Engineer.
There may be a significant difference in the pH of the two different working solutions (or maybe not).

true; I wouldn't mix acid with alkali fixer either.

Alan9940 · Oct 23, 2018

Once, in the past, I mixed two fixer solutions--same base fix type--and it became cloudy. Used it, anyway, and it seemed fine. No idea why it got cloudy, though.

mnemosyne · Oct 26, 2018

Kuby said:
Hello,

I'm wondering if there's any problem with combining two different types of BW fix to create a single working solution?

Today I had the situation where I had 1L of working fix solution that was stored from a previous developing session, but I needed 2.5L of working solution to properly fix the 5 rolls of film I was developing. I was out of the type of fix I had used for the 1L (TF-5 Archival Rapid Fixer), but have about 6L of Kodak Flexicolor fix to work through (c-41 fix).

I made the decision to make a new working solution of all Kodak Flexicolor fix, and not mix the two together, but I'm curious to know if I could have and if it would have been okay, or if it would have caused any problems.

Thanks!

In your situation I would put the older working solution aside for a different session and mix a new working solution of the required volume only with the fresh concentrate I have at hand. The C41 fixer should work fine with your b&w film. As indicated by others, any given fixer formula/recipe has to be adjusted to a specific pH level to work properly (and depending on the formula it can be anything from acid to alkaline), so mixing two concentrates of different properties could mess it all up.

OTOH, I have problems to understand why you would need 2.5 liters of working solution to cover 5 rolls of film. Are you working with 120 reels in a hanger type of tank?

Combining two different types of fixer into one solution

Kuby

RalphLambrecht

MattKing

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RalphLambrecht

Alan9940

mnemosyne

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