Fixers : Which fixers are NON ACID?

[Frank F]

I have run out of TF4, and need quickly to find a solution.

First, what is the chemical composition of TF4? ( so that I might make some up, Calumet locally has none in stock).

Second: Are any of the following fixers considered NON ACID?
Kodak Rapid fixer ( without the hardener)?
NACCO NuFix ( already mixed rapid fixer)?

This is being used to develop negatives in ABC PYRO + from the Formulary. I am trying to follow their directions to use a non acid fixer.


While I am at it, is PYROCAT-HD for use in JOBO tanks with constant rotation?

Thanks

 

[Donald Miller]

I have run out of TF4, and need quickly to find a solution.

First, what is the chemical composition of TF4? ( so that I might make some up, Calumet locally has none in stock).

Second: Are any of the following fixers considered NON ACID?
Kodak Rapid fixer ( without the hardener)?
NACCO NuFix ( already mixed rapid fixer)?

This is being used to develop negatives in ABC PYRO + from the Formulary. I am trying to follow their directions to use a non acid fixer.


While I am at it, is PYROCAT-HD for use in JOBO tanks with constant rotation?

Thanks

TF4 is a proprietary formula and so far as I know the exact formulation is not published. Both of the other rapid fixers are based in ammonium thiosulfate and are acidic. One fixer that is considered non acidic is the TF3 formula that can be found in Anchell and Troops "Darkroom Cookbook". Pyrocat is suitable for rotary processing albeit at the slow speed.

 

[Foto Ludens]

I have mixed TF-3 as per these instructions and I'm very happy with it.
http://www.jackspcs.com/tf3.htm

Ole has formulated his own OF-1, which can be found at the recipee section.

 

[dancqu]

This is being used to develop negatives in ABC PYRO +
from the Formulary. I am trying to follow their directions
to use a non acid fixer.

Use plain unadulterated sodium thiosulfate from the Formulary.
The ph runs 6.8 to 7. Sixteen grams of the anhydrous will do
me one roll of Pan F. Use it one shot.

I've not yet quantified the A. Thiosulfate I'm now using but
do know 20ml of 60% will fix one roll of Pan F. The ph should
be near neutral. I use it straight from small well caped
glass bottles. Dan

 

[lee]

Frank,
check Freestyle in Hollywood on Sunset Blvd. They have some ver of TF fixer. Rapid fix is pretty beign without the hardner. good luck

lee\c

 

[Leon]

dont forget the Alkaline Fix available from www.monochromephotography.com/. I have jsut started using this. So far so good, and no heavy ammonia smell either.

 

[Peter Schrager]

Fixer

Frank-fine arts photo supply is making an excellant ammonium fixer for the tmax type films. I have been using it with Pyrocat with great results. Lasts a long time too.
Regards Peter

 

[Helen B]

I use Agfa FX-Universal (not Agefix) when I can't get TF-4. It appears to be available from pro photography suppliers in many countries.

Best,
Helen

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Don't forget Ole's OF-1 alkaline fixer in the APUG Chemical Recipes.

Also, Lee's suggestion is a good one. The Freestyle (APUG supporter) store in LA usually has TF-4 in stock.

 

[Frank F]

I finally gave up.... The Formulary can get me some here is a few days.... I also "needed" some Pyrocat, so I ordered both.

TAhanks for all the suggestions on other formulations. While I am not afraid of brewing my own, I would have needed to order the base cheemicals ( ammonium or Sodium Thiosufate) from them anyway. SO this avenue would have meant the same delay. While I live in the Los Angeles area, getting to Freestyle would take me as long as getting the stuff sent to me. You trade off Sales Tax ( and wife beating you around the head for taking so long in THAT sotre) and gas for postage and convenience.

Thanks again everyone.... at least I know NOT to use Nacco or Kodak rapid fix..... that alone would have been a big problem.

 

[Kirk Keyes]

at least I know NOT to use Nacco or Kodak rapid fix..... that alone would have been a big problem.

I tried to get Bill Troop to explain the advantage of an alkaline fix vs. Rapid Fix, which has a very near neutral pH in a thread at photo.net this summer. He never did address that issue directly.

I don't think that Rapid Fix is going to cause you any problems when used with staining developers. And if someone knows of some resources that actually have done some testing to demonstrate there is an issue, I would certainly like to see them.

Kirk

www.keyesphoto.com

 

[Max]

I've been using Kodak Rapid Fix without the hardener with Pyrocat with no blatantly obvious problems.

I intend to switch to an alkaline fixer as soon as my Kodak stuff is gone, but I'm too cheap to not use it up first...

 

[Frank F]

To get some real data out there, I asked NACCO the Ph of their NuFix...

Their response.....

The PH of our Nufix is 5.32 (+ or - .01%). All of our fixers contain some acid.

We have a Odorless fixer that contains some acid but it does not have that acid
smell!

We also have Naccofix which is a ready to use fixer which contains a small
amount of acid and our powder fixer which contains less than 1% boric acid.