Lumpy Fixer

[Doc W]

I just started using Ilford Rapid Fixer about a year ago and bought the largest container, using about 2/3 of it so far (it has not been a busy year). Today I noticed a lumpy precipitate in the unmixed fixer. What is this and what does it mean?

 

[RobC]

sulphur

 

[MattKing]

And once sulfur starts to precipitate out, it is just about done.

 

[Pat Erson]

IIrc Ilford recommends to use an opened jug of fixer within six months...

 

[RobC]

I've had this happen with Ilford Hypam left unused for a long time.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Without seeing it, it could be that fixer (hypo) is just recrystallizing. In that case, it is OK.

Can you post a photo?

PE

 

[Gerald C Koch]

While it may appear to be desirable to buy large quantities of some things as developers and fixers because of price considerations it can be a false economy. One should only purchase sizes that can be used in a reasonable amount of time based on current usage. In the present case follow Ilford's recommendations. Otherwise you may wind up throwing money down the drain.

 

[adknrsst]

I've also got some undiluted Ilford Rapid Fixer, first opened about a year ago, that's giving a cloudy precipitate when prepared to 1+4. The working fixer has also been very aggressive at turning weird colours (first pink with RPX 25, then a grey after some tri-x and tmy) which the previous batch never did, even at the point where it wasn't completely fixing tri-x after 5 minutes. There's also a crusty line of... something... in the storage bottle.

Never knew I'd have to buy fixer yearly The point about false economies is definitely correct. That being said, I'm going to play this one for sport and see what long-in-the-tooth fixer ends up doing, eventually-- re-fixing isn't such a big deal as xtol gone off.

 

[Doc W]

Sorry for the delay. Life got in the way. Here is a rather bad photo (digital snapshot cameras baffle me) but you can see the pale yellow deposits on the top of the container. There are more on the bottom. Is this a big deal?

 

[Photo Engineer]

That fixer has gone bad. It cannot be used as is and probably cannot be "rescued".

PE

 

[Doc W]

Thanks, PE.

Glug glug glug.