Kodak Flexicolor F2 Unit - How much bleach and fix actually in it?

[nevintagefilms]

Kodak Flexicolor F2 Unit - How much bleach and fixer actually in it before mixing... I understand bleach is used straight and fixer is mixed 1:1 with water.

What volume do you have? 1L? More? Less? I’ll be using a 32oz standard tank, not a processor. So, obviously need enough for that.

Thanks!

 

[trendland]

Well - I am not sure 100% but Flexocolor F2 is minilab stuff - isn't it.
You should inform about replenishment rates. That might be the reason you wonder about smal package.
So you need instructions of dillution sorry I can't say I never used this stuff - but with replenishment you should have it a long time.
with regards

Fujihunt sells the chemistry always in this way : 2 x 5 L to make 2 x 40 L working dillution ( for example.)
Do you can't find such instruction within your kit ?

with regards

with regards

 

[bvy]

Kodak Flexicolor F2 Unit - How much bleach and fixer actually in it before mixing... I understand bleach is used straight and fixer is mixed 1:1 with water.

What volume do you have? 1L? More? Less? I’ll be using a 32oz standard tank, not a processor. So, obviously need enough for that.

Thanks!

I believe there is one liter of bleach and two liters of fixer. Yes, the bleach is used straight. If you're using a small tank, I would decant just what you need and keep the rest as stock for replenishment. So if your tank requires 600ml, keep 400ml as stock and top off your working bleach as needed.

Fixer is 1+1 with water. Needless to say you'll have more working solution fixer than bleach, but the bleach will outlast the fixer if you take steps to preserve it.

 

[nevintagefilms]

I believe there is one liter of bleach and two liters of fixer. Yes, the bleach is used straight. If you're using a small tank, I would decant just what you need and keep the rest as stock for replenishment. So if your tank requires 600ml, keep 400ml as stock and top off your working bleach as needed.

Fixer is 1+1 with water. Needless to say you'll have more working solution fixer than bleach, but the bleach will outlast the fixer if you take steps to preserve it.

So, I’ll be doing my processing in a 32oz/1L steel tank. I will literally poor almost the entire lot of bleach into the tank and still be able to use it for 20 or even 30+ rolls?

 

[bvy]

So, I’ll be doing my processing in a 32oz/1L steel tank. I will literally poor almost the entire lot of bleach into the tank and still be able to use it for 20 or even 30+ rolls?

Yes. It's quite durable. I put close to a hundred rolls through one liter of bleach with my last kit, and only retired it because I had to buy new fixer and felt like I got my money's worth. You're more likely to lose the bleach to attrition or dilution from continued use than exhaustion.

There are some "best practices" and maintenance you should perform, though, to help preserve the bleach:
- Aerate it regularly. Shake it up. It thrives on oxygen.
- Add a stop bath then a quick rinse after development and before bleaching. This helps preserve the bleach's pH. I use white vinegar plus four parts water for one shot stop bath.
- After the quick rinse (described above) take a few extra moments to drain the tank completely. Shake, rattle and roll and get every last drop out. This will keep the bleach from diluting too quickly with continued use.
- Filter it periodically or whenever it looks sludgy.

If you're creative, you could use 500ml of bleach in a one liter tank. It's what I do. I put the tank in a drum then on a roller base -- so the tank is on its side and constantly turning, fully covering the film. Alternately, you could agitate it by hand continuously for the three minutes (it goes fast).

 

[EdSawyer]

Even better is to get the Bleach III Regenerator that Kodak makes. That will easily keep the pH in line, and using it you can reuse the same bleach almost indefinitely. it also keeps the volume correct (no attrition really), and you don't need a stop bath step.