Fix remover

silentsignal · Apr 3, 2006

I was curious if anyone knows of a powdered fixer remover. I'm in iraq and getting liquid chemicals shipped over here is problematic. I've looked on the local economy and b@w films/ chemistry is nonexistent.

I have access to running water, it's non potable and i really don't want to rinse film for an hour in it.

Amund · Apr 3, 2006

Kodak Hypo Clearing Agent comes as powder.

Tom Hoskinson · Apr 3, 2006

silentsignal said:
I was curious if anyone knows of a powdered fixer remover. I'm in iraq and getting liquid chemicals shipped over here is problematic. I've looked on the local economy and b@w films/ chemistry is nonexistent.

I have access to running water, it's non potable and i really don't want to rinse film for an hour in it.

Depending on what's in the water, it may work ok as-is for film washing. Also, consider using the soak and dump method of washing instead of running water (soak and dump is more efficient) - but to be sure - you'd need to test the film after you wash it. Could you fix and wash a short piece of film, then send it somewhere outside of Iraq for testing?

kodak Hypo Clearing Agent is a dry powder and is made up mostly of sodium sulfite (it may also have some calcium/magnesium sequestrant like EDTA).
Agfa's Fixer clearing agent is also a dry powder and is apparently made mostly of sodium carbonate - i.e. washing soda).

silentsignal · Apr 3, 2006

reply

I'm not familar with the soak and dunk method.
Mailing film out to get tested would really take an extended period of time. I'm at a remote site about 2 hours away from the closest fob with reliable mail service. So every other week we get mail in, and mail goes out.

I can probablly get sodium carbonate off the local economy. I have a darkroom cookbook back in the states. I'll try and google something similar to see if i can brew up something that will work.

GregT. · Apr 3, 2006

silentsignal said:
I was curious if anyone knows of a powdered fixer remover... and i really don't want to rinse film for an hour in it.

Sodium Sulfite. Mix a 2% Sodium Sulfite solution. Fix, short rinse, 2 minutes in 2% Sodium Sulfite solution. Reduce wash time to 1/6th. - from L.F.A. Mason, Photographic Processing Chemistry.

Pretty cheap to make, too.

Tom Hoskinson · Apr 3, 2006

Take a look in the APUG Chemical Recipes for Hypo Clearing Agent (HCA).

Try 1 to 1.5 teaspoons of sodium carbonate (or sodium sulfite) mixed into a liter of water - it will work!

1.After fixing, rinse the film in running water long enough to wash the fixer off the surface of the film (about 1-2 minutes).
2. soak the film for 3-5 minutes in the HCA solution.
3. Fill your washing container (developing tank, etc.) with water. Soak the film for about 2 minutes, dump the water and then refill the container with water.
4. repeat this soak, dump and fill cycle 5 to 7 times.
5. At the end of the last soak, add a drop of photoflow or Low Foam wetting agent (like LFN) to the water.
6. Hang the film to dry.

Good Luck!

silentsignal · Apr 3, 2006

reply

that recipe seems to be exactly what i'm looking for.

thanks

titrisol · Apr 3, 2006

What tom said works very well.
I prefer the sulfite to the cabonate as hypo clearing agent since I believe sulfite will help in some decompsition of the thiosulfate faster than carbonate.

I don;t rememeber the chemistry involved in this, will have to look it up

lowellh · Apr 4, 2006

Clayton offers a complete line of powder chemicals. Film & Print Developer, Fixer, Stop Bath, and Clearing bath.

titrisol · Apr 5, 2006

Look at these entry about wash aid, veyr thorough description:
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Fix remover

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