Kodak Fixer

[Marvin]

From looking around it looks like Kodak Fixer has almost doubled in price to $12.95 at several sources. Not sure why the price jump as the price of other fixers haven't changed that much.

 

[Rich Ullsmith]

B&H looks like they are trying to get rid of their Flexicolor fixer, 25L for $20 but they are only selling two at a time, so $40 plus $20 shipping to my zip, but that is a lot of fixer. Supposedly "commercial and industrial use only" for C-41, but I have used it for several years and love it. It is easily as robust as TF-4.

 

[sfaber17]

Agree. Good for everything and it is half that price at uniquephoto.com.

 

[Paul Howell]

Freestyle sells Legacy and house brand for $5.95, Clayton liquid rapid fix is $8.95 or so. Ultrafine also sells powered and liquid fix cheaper than Kodak. I guess I will stock up on Legacy before the price goes up.

 

[pentaxuser]

From looking around it looks like Kodak Fixer has almost doubled in price to $12.95 at several sources. /QUOTE]
Just as a matter of interest what's the quantity of fixer for this price?

Thanks

pentaxuse

 

[Alan9940]

Fixer is so easy to mix yourself, why bother with pre-packaged fixer? I started mixing my own years ago and never looked back.

Best regards,
AlanH

 

[Simonh82]

Alan, I take it you are talking about plain old sodium thiosulphate fix rather than rapid fix? My understanding is that ammonium thiosulphate is only sold in a concentrated solution rather than powder/crystals which makes shipping more expensive and long term storage difficult.

 

[Paul Howell]

From looking around it looks like Kodak Fixer has almost doubled in price to $12.95 at several sources. /QUOTE]
Just as a matter of interest what's the quantity of fixer for this price?

Thanks

pentaxuse

I checked, gallon size dry packet.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Just a few years ago, hypo (Sodium and Ammonium) was being shipped by tank car or box car lots across the US. Due to the decline in the number of compounding companies and the decrease in demand for photochemicals, modern shipments are per drum or barrel. This naturally increases prices.

I am not surprised by any price increase nowdays.

PE

 

[pentaxuser]

I checked, gallon size dry packet.

Thanks so that 1 U.S. liquid gallon from dry stock. So 3.8 litres for about about £8.50. Is this the old powder "hypo" fixer and not the rapid fixer so is then used at stock solution?

Thanks

pentaxuser

 

[Photo Engineer]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/27603-REG/Kodak_1971746_Fixer_for_Black.html

Hardening fixer. I found that it makes spotting prints take quite longer probably due to the tendency to inhibit penetration into the emulsion. Incidentally, I believe Ilford does not recommend a hardening fixer for either film or print anymore.

Neither does Kodak!

 

[Alan9940]

Alan, I take it you are talking about plain old sodium thiosulphate fix rather than rapid fix? My understanding is that ammonium thiosulphate is only sold in a concentrated solution rather than powder/crystals which makes shipping more expensive and long term storage difficult.

Yep, I am. Ammonium thiosulfate AFAIK comes only in liquid form and it's just too darn expensive to have shipped. I also prefer mixing my own because I don't want hardener in my fixer. It's unnecessary and extends washing times.

Best regards,
AlanH

 

[cmacd123]

Yes plain Kodak fixer is an old standby, but the rapid fixers like Illfords are more effective, having both a faster fixing time and the ability to do a "clean" job on t-grain style films like Delta and T-max.

Will be interesting to see if the Arista Clone of the kodak fixer also goes up next time they restock.

I am sticking to Ilford on this item, although I do use HC-110, and am crossing my fingers that it will not join the Kodak March to Luxury pricing.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Yes plain Kodak fixer is an old standby, but the rapid fixers like Illfords are more effective, having both a faster fixing time and the ability to do a "clean" job on t-grain style films like Delta and T-max.

Will be interesting to see if the Arista Clone of the kodak fixer also goes up next time they restock.

I am sticking to Ilford on this item, although I do use HC-110, and am crossing my fingers that it will not join the Kodak March to Luxury pricing.

What the heck? Nothing is more expensive than trying to amortize a $400 digital camera within a year worth of shots.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/27603-REG/Kodak_1971746_Fixer_for_Black.html

Hardening fixer. I found that it makes spotting prints take quite longer probably due to the tendency to inhibit penetration into the emulsion. Incidentally, I believe Ilford does not recommend a hardening fixer for either film or print anymore.

hardening fixer has been discouraged for yearsbecause it impeeds washing BTW a treatment in Sistanreally helps with spottingas it helps the emulsion to absorb the spotting dye.

 

[Marvin]

I have a bag of the Arista clone, and checked the price on it and it wasn't up. Just wondered if the Arista and Kodak are made by the same chemical company. I don't know that much about chemistry, but I thought developers might have been what would get more expensive.

 

[MattKing]

I've re-started buying the Kodak Rapid Fixer, since I figured out (with APUG help) how to make use of the separate hardener.

It is very helpful if you tone prints, as the toned prints are relatively susceptible to physical damage.

 

[Photo Engineer]

P.E., I'm curious why Kodak still produces and markets hardening fixers and separate hardeners if they don't recommend using them. Could it be to satisfy users who insist on using them because that's the way they've always done it? Or maybe due to certain processes that require the use of hardeners?

You have noted two of the reasons why they make it, but there is a third.

Some manufacturers still make film and papers the old way. EFKE was a notable example. These films and papers were very soft and almost required a hardening fix to survive the process. If you go back a few years, you will see posts concerning the loss of emulsion from the support.

So, it serves a variety of purposes.

PE