Extending Fix Times

dancqu · Nov 17, 2008

wogster said:
Everybody seems to be neglecting an important point,
arguing against my methodology. ...maybe 19 to 20 rolls
B&W in a good year. ... and then end up tossing a half bottle
because it's expired.....

I too don't like to watch good chemistry go bad. I've mentioned
in post 17 this thread the low volume of film I put through. So
I'm back to using sodium thiosulfate. Sodium thiosulfate is a
slower fixer but is a dry, lasts who knows how many years,
granular fix concentrate.

A good 1/2 ounce, 16 grams, of the anhydrous in a solution
volume of 500ml will do to fix one 120 roll of Across. The same
amount should do for a few other films; apx 30 rolls per pound.

Agitate the first minute then a few inversions each minute
there after. I've not checked for exact times but allow
a good ten minutes. Toss when finished.

Need a source? Photographer's Formulary. Dan

wogster · Nov 17, 2008

dancqu said:
I too don't like to watch good chemistry go bad. I've mentioned
in post 17 this thread the low volume of film I put through. So
I'm back to using sodium thiosulfate. Sodium thiosulfate is a
slower fixer but is a dry, lasts who knows how many years,
granular fix concentrate.

A good 1/2 ounce, 16 grams, of the anhydrous in a solution
volume of 500ml will do to fix one 120 roll of Across. The same
amount should do for a few other films; apx 30 rolls per pound.

Agitate the first minute then a few inversions each minute
there after. I've not checked for exact times but allow
a good ten minutes. Toss when finished.

Need a source? Photographer's Formulary. Dan

I guess one of the issues is that even from dry, you can't really mix a 1/4 bag, because you may get more of one ingredient then another. There are other things in fixer then just the Hypo. If you get a bag of each chemical from Osama's chemical supply co. though, and have a scale, you could mix smaller batches.

dancqu · Nov 18, 2008

wogster said:
There are other things in fixer then just the Hypo.

Plain fixer is nothing more than ammonium or sodium thiosulfate.
A preservative is usually/always added to packaged or bottled fixers.
If using the fix one shot and it not be left to age then nothing more is
needed than the ONE chemical. Spoon up fresh fix each roll. For film
and paper I mix same day as processing. One use and down the
drain chemistry; hold the preservative. Ph modifiers and
buffers may also be omitted for most purposes. Dan

wogster · Nov 18, 2008

dancqu said:
Plain fixer is nothing more than ammonium or sodium thiosulfate.
A preservative is usually/always added to packaged or bottled fixers.
If using the fix one shot and it not be left to age then nothing more is
needed than the ONE chemical. Spoon up fresh fix each roll. For film
and paper I mix same day as processing. One use and down the
drain chemistry; hold the preservative. Ph modifiers and
buffers may also be omitted for most purposes. Dan

Okay, so I can go to Osama's chemical and explosives company, order up a 5kg pail of plain sodium thiosulfate (hypo), mix 16g in a litre of water, and I have fixer, so I guess for a roll of film in 250ml of solution that would be 4g of powdered Hypo, per roll, hmmm, at 4g per roll the pail would be good for 1,250 rolls, at 20 rolls per year that would give me enough fixer to get me half way through the year 2070, fine except I will be 109 that year, don't think I will be taking many photos at 109 years of age, even if I am still here...... I wonder if they will sell it to me 1kg at a time

take me 312 years to use up the pail. Somehow I don't think I will be shooting much in

Photo Engineer · Nov 18, 2008

Don't worry, that pail of fixer crystals will probably be bad long before then.

PE

CBG · Nov 18, 2008

Wogster,

Plain Fix, Sodium Thiosulfate is $5.00 for a pound at www.artcraftchemicals.com. Or you can save a buck to get 100 grams at www.techcheminc.com for $4.00. Either way, for so little, you can afford to let a little expire.

C

dancqu · Nov 18, 2008

wogster said:
Okay, so I can go to Osama's chemical and explosives
company, order up a 5kg pail of plain sodium thiosulfate
(hypo), mix 16g in a litre of water, and I have fixer, ...

Well, 16 grams of the ANHYDROUS in one liter of fixer
will fix ONE roll. The same amount in 1/2 or 1/4 liter will
also fix ONE roll. I use no more solution volume than
needed. The more dilute the more time to fix.

I'd buy a pound of the ANHYDROUS from Photographer's
Formulary. On my shelf is what is left of a pound of the
PENTA and what is left of a pound of the ANHYDROUS.
Both appear as they did years ago when purchased.
I've no qualms in using either.

For a ballpark amount average a few spoon fulls
using some scale. All in all, a quick easy fix
at processing time. Dan

Photo Engineer · Nov 18, 2008

Anhydrous is not anhydrous very long. It usually comes packed in PE bags inside drums or cannisters. Without the PE bags, it turns to slush in a hurry. Then there is the tropical pack. If you are not careful, your hypo isn't hypo anymore.

The most stable form is 60% ammonium hypo solution. It can last for years.

PE

wogster · Nov 18, 2008

dancqu said:
Well, 16 grams of the ANHYDROUS in one liter of fixer
will fix ONE roll. The same amount in 1/2 or 1/4 liter will
also fix ONE roll. I use no more solution volume than
needed. The more dilute the more time to fix.

I'd buy a pound of the ANHYDROUS from Photographer's
Formulary. On my shelf is what is left of a pound of the
PENTA and what is left of a pound of the ANHYDROUS.
Both appear as they did years ago when purchased.
I've no qualms in using either.

For a ballpark amount average a few spoon fulls
using some scale. All in all, a quick easy fix
at processing time. Dan

One issue with Photographer's Formulary, is that I live in Canada, and I work in the courier business, so I know what kind of paperwork you need to get chemicals across a border, in a post 9/11 world. If it's considered dangerous goods, it's even worse. Like I say, if I can go down to a local chemical supply house and buy a 1kg bag, I would be happy...... I can probably get a scale cheap, knowing also, that if I get lazy about processing, and need to do 2 or 3 rolls over a couple of days, I can mix a bigger batch......

Okay, just checking a company I used to know about JD Photochem in Longueuil, QC has it for $10 per kg, maybe $7 for shipping, I work for a courier and get an employee discount, so I could have my stuff within 24 hours..... There may be more local suppliers though, so I need to check.....

dancqu · Nov 19, 2008

wogster said:
Okay, just checking a company I used to know about
JD Photochem in Longueuil, QC has it for $10 per kg,
maybe $7 for shipping, I work for a courier and get
an employee discount, so I could have my stuff
within 24 hours.....

If you use the Pentahydrate use 25 grams. The Pentahydrate
has five molecules of water hanging on. One full ounce should
do for just about any film. A slow fix but when it has finished
you are done with it. Any question concerning technique
contact by PM. Dan

Extending Fix Times

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