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Did Kodak discontinue its Hypo Clearing Agent?

lauffray

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Nov 6, 2015
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214
Location
Montreal
Format
35mm
It sounds unlikely to me, but I can't find it in stock anywhere these days. I just bought the last bags from my local supplier in town. B&H says there's a new formula coming soon, but it's been saying that since March.
 
They changed the product code and minimum order quantity back in August - roughly when the receivership of Tetenal threw so much into the realm of uncertainty.
There are a number of black and white chemicals listed on Kodak Alaris' website under a May 14, 2020 note indicating that they were dealing with Covid 19 related shipping problems, but HCA isn't one of them.
 
As much as I try to support the main manufacturers and the last remaining supply shop in my city, I have resorted to mixing some of my own chemicals just to ensure supply.
 
B&H says the old one is discontinued and the new one is "Coming Soon." Who knows when that will be.
 
It appears to be just the new catalog number - not a new formulation.
Most of the chemicals had their packaging updated and the minimum order quantities changed in August 2019. Some also had their formulation changed.
 
Freestyle lists Kodak HCA as in stock.

Perma Wash is also a washing aid, but it's not exactly the same ingredients.

Lots of supply chains are screwed up now because of COVID. Even if Kodak doesn't list something as affected, it does not surprise me when things go in and out of stock more unpredictably. It happens with non-photography items too.
 
As it is one of the products that is still made for Kodak in Germany, there is a good chance that both production and distribution has been disrupted by Covid-19.
Beau Photo in Vancouver shows it as being in stock, although the photo used to illustrate the listing is the old catalogue number.
https://www.beauphoto.com/product/kodak-hypo-clearing-agent/
 
Mix it yourself. Simple and much cheaper...

Water (at 125F) 750ml
Sodium Sulfite 200g
Sodium Bisulfite 1g
EDTA 10g
Water to make 1L

Dilute 1:9 for use. Shuffle FB paper for 3-4 mins, then wash per your usual procedure.

Note: The EDTA is only necessary if mixing with hard water.
 
Unfortunately, in Canada, these constituent ingredients aren't nearly as easy to acquire and inexpensive as in the US.
But if you can get them in reasonable quantity for reasonable cost, I agree.
 
Another solution is to switch to an alkaline or neutral fixer - Photographers Formulary (sold by B&H) TF-4 and TF-5. I switched to them maybe 10 years ago.
Advantages - no more acid stop bath or clearing agents. The prints (yes, fiber too) fix much faster (a minute for fiber) and the fixer washes out much faster than with traditional acid fixes.
I don't want to go further on this here, much has been written about these fixers right here on Photrio, and before on APUG. I have found no disadvantages to alkaline fixer and have eliminated two chemicals from my darkroom.
 
I used to use PermaWash. It’s a fine product. Eventually I switched to alkaline fixer.

Making your own is also a good solution, if you can get the supplies.
 
A simpler version is just sodium sulphite. Not quite as good in terms of pH and in some town water with impurities but apparently much better than not using it.
 
Check your local pool supply and see if they have any chlorine regulating or ph reducing chemical that is mostly pure sodium sulfite, you would have to look at the ingredients list or the msds for it. Thats where I got the sulfite Im using now.
The bisulfite is also used as a ph reducer.
 
I just got shipping confirmation of 12 packages I ordered from Unique photo in New Jersey. Some practitioners use spent developers that are loaded with sodium sulfite, (not me!) as a wash aid. I would never try something like that.

Ilford sells a wash aid, following their archival processing reccomendations for their fibre base papers is foolproof.

I always use Kodak Hypo Clearing Agent with T-Max films (all films) to remove all the purple dye.
 
I received my HCA today, November 2019 mfg date. Looks like this was already in the warehouse at Unique Photo.
Huge bag.
 
john_s said:
A simpler version is just sodium sulphite. Not quite as good in terms of pH and in some town water with impurities but apparently much better than not using it.
Click to expand...

simpler than the version with ONE extra gram bisulfite?

what does 1g of bisulfite do?
 
lauffray said:
It sounds unlikely to me, but I can't find it in stock anywhere these days. I just bought the last bags from my local supplier in town. B&H says there's a new formula coming soon, but it's been saying that since March.
Click to expand...
Hypo clearing is probably one of the easiest to self mix from bulk
 
In late 1970s my friend and I bought a 5 gallon container of Heico Permawash. After divorcing his wife, he left NYC and disappeared into California. I have been drawing on that container ever since. When exhausted, shall probably just make as needed.
 
NB23 said:
simpler than the version with ONE extra gram bisulfite?

what does 1g of bisulfite do?
Click to expand...

It brings the pH to the optimum level for clearing fixer residue from the gelatine. Something to do with the gelatine expanding I think.
 
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