Kodak fixer, yet another sanity check

Rich Ullsmith · Nov 5, 2022

Waiting on the TF-4 from PF, but I got a package of Kodak Professional Fixer. "A general purpose hardening fixer for films, papers and plates." Who knows where it came from, I would not have bought it new, but in my experience the "hardening" part of kodak fixer came in a separate little envelope. This has no envelope attached, tho there appears to be a little spot near the bottom where the "hardening" packet may have been attached. May I assume this is NOT a hardening fixer, or did Kodak make fixer with the hardener already incorporated?

The other thing, I've been using TF-4/5 for so long now, always at "film strength," e.g. 1+3. This packet makes 3.8l, but gives no instruction for further dilution. So there is no stock vs working solution?

And one other thing. It says 2-4 minutes for RC papers, which is all I'll use it for, which for me is a hella long time. Anything wrong with making 1.9l, assuming I can get it all into solution? Again, this is just for RC proofs.

pkupcik · Nov 5, 2022

I've been using TF-4 for a while as well. It comes in liquid form which is the "stock solution". You then dilute 1+3, which gives you working solution. I reuse the working solution for about 20 films and then throw away. I believe it should be good for more than 20, but I just play it safe, especially since I don't develop that often.

Don't know much about the Kodak Fixer, I stopped using Kodak fixer, stopper, hypo, etc. since I've switched to TF4, now use water for stop bath as well as final wash.

Alan9940 · Nov 5, 2022

I assume that since you say "package" of Kodak Fixer that it's a bag of powder? I haven't used Kodak Fixer for a long time, but I don't remember it having any separate hardening package. Kodak's liquid Rapid Fix comes with a small bottle of hardener to be added, if desired.

Roger Cole · Nov 5, 2022

Kodak Fixer in powder form has never to my knowledge had the hardener packaged separately. Only the liquid Rapid Fix is sold with separate hardener.

Rich Ullsmith · Nov 5, 2022

Roger Cole said:
Kodak Fixer in powder form has never to my knowledge had the hardener packaged separately. Only the liquid Rapid Fix is sold with separate hardener.

Hm, I recall loooong time ago buying kodak powdered fixer at a local store (ha ha, that is how long ago) and the guy told me to just throw that other little packet away. Actually, I don't plan on toning so i shouldn't care. How about the working vs stock solution? Does this package make 3.8l stock or working? Seems to assume it's working solution, but doesn't really say, and it doesn't say different dilutions for film vs paper.

cmacd123 · Nov 5, 2022

"kodak fixer" is a "Regular" fixer, not a RAPID fixer. the time for RC ppaer is corect, allow 10 minutes for film. I would avoid this for T-max film.. this is the stuff many of us started with before the Rapid fixers came out. The Rapid fixers are all provided in liquid form. when they came out I know I was surpised how quickly they wqorked. we first got "May and Baker" and then Edwal QUIK-Fix. the edwal did come with a little bottle of hardener. The hardener is baked into Powder Kodak Fixer.

the stuff is still made, and comes in a baggie these days. https://www.freestylephoto.biz/1971746-Kodak-Fixer-Powder-to-Make-1-Gallon

kodafix is the kodak curent liquid fixer

cmacd123 · Nov 5, 2022

and yes, the package makes working stenth, and mixing it more concentrated will likely NOT speed it up. Sodium vs Ammonium.

Paul Howell · Nov 5, 2022

Another puzzle, all the standard kodak fixer I've ever used as well as any of the clones do not have a separate packet for hardener. I use a Kodak clone either from Photowarehouse or Freestyle for paper and T4 for film.

MattKing · Nov 6, 2022

It is the 1 litre size of Kodak Rapid Fixer that has a separate "package" of 1.5 oz of Part B hardener, and both the Part A non-hardening Rapid Fixer and the Part B hardener are liquids, in bottles.
As posted above the packages of Kodak Fixer are sodium thiosulfate, and are therefor relatively slow, and struggle with T-Max films
I like using the Kodak Rapid Fixer in 1 litre size. I mix it without adding the hardener. I then use the sulfuric acid based part B, mixed 1 + 13, as a hardener, when I'm toning prints.
Be cautious with larger bottles of the Part B hardener - it is pretty potent stuff, and can cause real damage if you spill it or it leaks through the bottle. It is the Part B that makes the Kodak Rapid Fixer difficult to ship.

Doremus Scudder · Nov 6, 2022

Kodak packaged fixer is a "conventional, sodium-thiosulfate-based, hardening fixer. Fixing times are longer for this type of fixer than for rapid fixers.

Instructions for mixing and capacities should be on the package, so I don't really understand the questions. Maybe your package is illegible?

At any rate, you mix the powder to make a working solution, not a stock solution. Here's the instructions from the package (3.8-liter size) for your reading pleasure

cmacd123 · Nov 6, 2022

Doremus Scudder said:
Instructions for mixing and capacities should be on the package, so I don't really understand the questions. Maybe your package is illegible?

Perhaps the poster has the older package, it one time came in a cardboard box, and the instuctions on that were not as detailed. ALways brings back memories of being the president of my High School Camaera club. Major duty was to Mix Fixer and Dektol. {Although the president the prvous year had got the club a deal on closeout "GAF Acid Fixer" Which was the functional equivalent.} The GAF stuff came in a metal can.

cmacd123 · Nov 8, 2022

I see Roger has deleted his post, but I did want to clarify that it started playing with this stuff in the late 60s, so rapid fixer was indeed a new item shortly after I started... The packaged Kodak and GAF/Ansco powdered fixer just assumed that you needed hardener, so it was part of the formula back then. (who rembers "Tri-Chem-Packs, an envelope of dektol, another of stop bath and another of fixer. I forget if they made 8 or 16 US ounces each. Kodak made the same size packs of Microdol-X to make 4 US Oz. BUT you mixed it one to three parts water so you had 16 US Oz to develop one roll of 620.)

Roger Cole · Nov 9, 2022

cmacd123 said:
I see Roger has deleted his post, but I did want to clarify that it started playing with this stuff in the late 60s, so rapid fixer was indeed a new item shortly after I started... The packaged Kodak and GAF/Ansco powdered fixer just assumed that you needed hardener, so it was part of the formula back then. (who rembers "Tri-Chem-Packs, an envelope of dektol, another of stop bath and another of fixer. I forget if they made 8 or 16 US ounces each. Kodak made the same size packs of Microdol-X to make 4 US Oz. BUT you mixed it one to three parts water so you had 16 US Oz to develop one roll of 620.)

I kinda figured out that you went even farther back so deleted it. I didn’t know when it came out except that it was well established by the mid 70s.

cmacd123 · Nov 9, 2022

Roger Cole said:
I kinda figured out that you went even farther back so deleted it. I didn’t know when it came out except that it was well established by the mid 70s.

yep, I am firmly in "Old Codger" territory.

Sirius Glass · Nov 9, 2022

cmacd123 said:
yep, I am firmly in "Old Codger" territory.

I prefer "Old Fart" or Old Buzzard", and I hate to be called sir. I am not a knight or military officer.

Kodak fixer, yet another sanity check

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