making alkaline fix

Justin Cormack · Oct 13, 2007

I am going to try using a staining developer for the first time. Everything suggests using an alkaline fixer to keep the stain. I dont have any and while there is a thread on converting rapid fix to alkaline, I also have plain hypo. I havent measured the pH yet (I do have a meter though). Would this be easier than starting with rapid fix? What pH am I aiming for?

Michel Hardy-Vallée · Oct 13, 2007

Formulae:

With ammonium thiosulfate:
http://www.jackspcs.com/tf3.htm

With plain hypo:
http://www.jackspcs.com/tf2.htm

mrtoml · Oct 13, 2007

You can also buy alkaline fix at monochromephotography.com and retro photographic if need be.

Photo Engineer · Oct 13, 2007

Just dissolve 100 - 200 g / L of Sodium Hypo in water and you will be fine. Nothing else. Or use 100 - 200 ml/L of Ammonium Hypo solution 60% in water.

Either will work as a one shot fix.

PE

john_s · Oct 13, 2007

Justin Cormack said:
I am going to try using a staining developer for the first time. Everything suggests using an alkaline fixer to keep the stain. I dont have any and while there is a thread on converting rapid fix to alkaline, I also have plain hypo. I havent measured the pH yet (I do have a meter though). Would this be easier than starting with rapid fix? What pH am I aiming for?

A neutral fixer seems just as good. Kodak Flexicolor Fixer, made primarily for colour processing, is good (pH=6.5, not alkaline but close) and very reasonably priced and more available because it's used everywhere. But don't just take my word for it, do a search.

Also, the odour is minimal.

PHOTOTONE · Oct 13, 2007

I use common Kodak Rapid fix, without the hardener, and I get good stain from my pyro developed negs.

dancqu · Oct 13, 2007

Justin Cormack said:
I also have plain hypo. I havent measured the pH yet ...
What pH am I aiming for?

I routinely use plain hypo, sodium thiosulfate. After
pouring the developer into the tank and commencing
the agitation routine I rinse the beaker, fill with 500ml
of water, and stir in 16 grams of the S. Thiosulfate
anhydrous. Fresh fix each roll. A roll of Acros 100
was clear within 8 minutes but allowed 2 more.
3 inversions at start and 3 each half minute.
No stop is needed as the fix is a one-shot.

I've often measured the ph of straight S. Thio. and
found it to run 6.8 to 7. You'r batch may differ. For a
fix a little alkaline add one teaspoon of A&H bicarbonate
of soda. The S. Thio? Perhaps a heaping tablespoon. Dan

Peter Black · Oct 13, 2007

mrtoml said:
You can also buy alkaline fix at monochromephotography.com and retro photographic if need be.

I've got some of this and it is fine. Pity that it requires constant agitation for 5 minutes, but you don't find that out until you buy it. I wouldn't take it for granted that any of the neutral/alkaline solutions above would work well without special agitation, so maybe be aware of that?

mrtoml · Oct 14, 2007

Peter Black said:
I've got some of this and it is fine. Pity that it requires constant agitation for 5 minutes, but you don't find that out until you buy it.

I use a Jobo for this bit

I think the Retro fixer doesn't specify constant agitation and I was going to give this a try, but haven't as yet.

making alkaline fix

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