Ilford Rapid fixer for paper 1+4 or 1+9?

[rpavich]

Hi,
I haven't mixed a batch of Ilford rapid fixer for quite a while and when I went to read the bottle to make sure I had the mixture right, I saw that it can be mixed 1+4 and 1+9.
I was wondering why?

Is one ratio recommended over the other? Is 1+9 plenty good enough and 1+4 over kill or is 1+9 just too weak and not reliable and 1+4 better or something?

 

[MattKing]

Which type of paper - RC or FB?
1 + 4 is necessary for film.
1 + 9 provides excellent economy for paper, and would be what I would recommend for RC paper.
There are arguments (and workflows) for both dilutions for FB paper.

 

[rpavich]

Which type of paper - RC or FB?
1 + 4 is necessary for film.
1 + 9 provides excellent economy for paper, and would be what I would recommend for RC paper.
There are arguments (and workflows) for both dilutions for FB paper.

Ahh...I hadn't realized that it could be used on film too.
I'm using RC paper.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Hi,
I haven't mixed a batch of Ilford rapid fixer for quite a while and when I went to read the bottle to make sure I had the mixture right, I saw that it can be mixed 1+4 and 1+9.
I was wondering why?

Is one ratio recommended over the other? Is 1+9 plenty good enough and 1+4 over kill or is 1+9 just too weak and not reliable and 1+4 better or something?

I suggest touse1+9 for RC but 1+4 for FB. The goal in fixing is strong and short rather than weak and long; otherwise, washing is more difficult than it needs to be.

 

[Huub]

I have been using the 1+4 dillution for both film and paper for years now, both RC and FB paper that is. The capacity doesn't change with dillution and the 1+4 saves me a few extra trips to the municipal waste disposal every once in a while.

 

[RauschenOderKorn]

To complete the confusion, I am using 1+9 both for film and paper

But usually, the 1+4 is for film and the 1+9 for paper. Every once in a while, I test the clearing time of the film, and it will clear quick enough, even with 1+9.

 

[RauschenOderKorn]

The capacity doesn't change with dillution

I assume that what you are intending to say is that with a litre of concentrate, you can always fix a given amount of sqm of paper, not matter if you dillute 1+4 or 1+9.

Chemically, this is probably true. But for making an archival print, things are more complicated: The Fixer is considered spent, if the concentration of dissolved silver reaches a certain level (2 g/l for FB, 6 g/l for RC - according to Ilford). Beyond this concentration of diluted silver, the fixer will form residuals in the paper (particularly in FB) and emulsion which basically cannot be washed out with water and make the print non-archival. Hence the use of two A/B fixing baths and the use of HCA.

Please also note that Ilford states the same capacity of paper in their instruction sheet for a liter of working strength fixer, no matter whether it has been prepared 1+4 or 1+9.

See: https://www.ilfordphoto.com/amfile/file/download/file_id/2012/product_id/711/

 

[David Lyga]

And ... the 1+9 CAN, indeed, be used for some slow films. It WILL fix properly at that dilution. - David Lyga

 

[David Lingham]

To confuse matters further. I use the two bath fixing routine suggested by Ilford for Hypam. With FB paper, I have two fix baths each 1+9, then fix at 60secs in each bath. Discard the first bath when capacity is reached, replace it with the second and mix a fresh second bath.

 

[Dali]

I used 1+4 for films and 1+9 for FB papers for the last 3 decades without any issue.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Ilford has very good document for this fixer. Available online. I suggest to read it instead of what is on the bottle.

 

[tedr1]

Here is the Ilford data sheet download webpage

https://www.ilfordphoto.com/rapid-fixer-product

One of the reasons I like Ilford products is the quality of their technical support in the form of downloadable data sheets for all their products and access to their technical staff by email if the need arises.

In my opinion, in the age of the internet, it is perverse behavior to ignore the technical data available online.