Making fresh rapid fixer -anything better that the 1L soda bottle?

[jay moussy]

I have been using the 1-liter soda bottle for a while (capped, squeezed, kept in a cupboard), and now wonder if I should try something else.

Should I?
I do not trust accordion containers.

Note that I have smaller PET bottles but they do not quite make 600cc, and also very dark whiskey glass bottles (no, not my drinking!), but no good way to stop them. Drat.

 

[runswithsizzers]

"...but no good way to stop them"

Hardware stores often have a selection of tapered black rubber "corks" in various sizes.

 

[jay moussy]

Ah, rubber stoppers, reminds me of my childhood chemistry set.

My super-dark glass bottle is 750cc. Should I mix a 750cc solution, to make it near full?

 

[runswithsizzers]

You don't say whether your fixer is powder or liquid. But you do say "rapid" which I believe indicates you have a liquid fixer, right?

Putting your working solution in a full, tightly stoppered dark glass bottle would be ideal. That is going to leave your stock fixer in a partially full container, which is less than idea.

In a perfect world you would transfer your stock fixer to a smaller container, or fill up the air space with marbles - something like that - each time you remove stock fixer to make up a new batch of working fixer.

The stock solution will have a longer shelf life than the diluted working solution (especially if stored in a full container), so it would be better to just mix up what you need now rather than mixing up all of the fixer at once.

Keep in mind, when a company like Ilford says it's Rapid Fixer, when diluted 1+4, has a capacity of "24x135–36" the units are "per liter" - so your 750mL bottle will have less capacity - maybe only 18 rolls.

 

[snusmumriken]

I can’t see anything wrong with the soda bottle except that they are easy to knock over. Although on second reading, it sounds as though you are mixing up less than 1 litre of working solution. Might be worth mixing up a full litre for the sake of leaving less airspace. A squirt of butane lighter gas (which is heavier than air, contrary to what the name suggests) before capping the bottle helps by excluding oxygen from the liquid surface.

 

[Anon Ymous]

I can’t see anything wrong with the soda bottle except that they are easy to knock over.

And if they do, they won't break.

 

[jay moussy]

I can’t see anything wrong with the soda bottle except that they are easy to knock over.

I keep mine in a cut-off milk carton. Its square base stabilizes the bottle, an also shields it from the light somewhat.

Still , not sure about the air above fixer in the plastic bottle, even with some squeezing, unless there is way I do not know about - other than inert gas layer

 

[Pioneer]

All depends on how fast you use your fixer. I love used soda bottles but I can go through a liter of mixed rapid fixer in two months or less.

If I am not developing a lot for some reason, as when I had surgery, then I'll start testing the fixer after it gets 3 or 4 months old.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I use the 1 liter Jobo bottles which are not expensive and the StopLossBagTM www.StopLossBag.com which can be squeezed to push out all the air.

 

[gone]

Whatever you use, just put it under the sink and shut the cabinet door. No light there, you're good to go even in a clear soda bottle. I prefer keeping mine in an Evan Williams Bourbon bottle. Beer bottles are brown glass if you don't have a dark place to put yours. That doesn't work for me though, I've never found a beer that didn't taste like....you know. That other yellow stuff.

 

[MattKing]

If you are going to re-purpose bottles, look for bottles that are fairly hefty - some are a lot thinner than others.
I like Clamato juice bottles:

They are made from heavier plastic, they have a larger opening and cap, they are more stable when standing and they provide a good grip - really handy. The 64 oz size have an even better handle, a better cap, and if you buy the different flavours, they can be colour coded.

 

[Sirius Glass]

If you are going to re-purpose bottles, look for bottles that are fairly hefty - some are a lot thinner than others.
I like Clamato juice bottles:
View attachment 322836
They are made from heavier plastic, they have a larger opening and cap, they are more stable when standing and they provide a good grip - really handy. The 64 oz size have an even better handle, a better cap, and if you buy the different flavours, they can be colour coded.

It is not good to use food containers for non food items including photo chemicals. Mark all bottles clearly to avoid accidents.

 

[MattKing]

The Clamato Labels are also easy to remove. And of course, I've never met a kid who likes Clamato juice.
But Sirius' general warning is entirely appropriate - if you are going to re-purpose anything, make sure that there can be no confusion!

 

[VinceInMT]

…I've never found a beer that didn't taste like....you know. That other yellow stuff.

Just like “don’t eat the yellow snow,” don’t drink yellow beer.

As for storage, I have a little bit of everything in my darkroom. The Dektol that I have as a working solution I keep in some old, green Grolsch bottles with the ceramic tops and rubber washers. Brown plastic bottles purchased decades ago, plastic juice bottles, and clear soda bottles for other stuff. I don’t worry about light exposure as my darkroom is always dark unless I’m in there and need the lights on.

 

[gone]

I like Clamato juice bottles:

I like that. Would have to take that label off though, not sure I even want to think of something called Clamato juice. Down In Louisiana we would eat anything that wasn't quick enough to get off the plate, but this would be a hard sell.

 

[MattKing]

You use clamato juice to make Bloody Caesars - delicious!
https://www.liquor.com/recipes/bloody-caesar/

 

[grat]

It's hard to beat brown glass storage bottles with airtight caps, and they're available in a number of sizes. Not cheap, but they'll never, ever go bad unless you hurl one across the darkroom. Also, unlike plastic bottles, they don't float in the water bath if you're using one to control temperature.

 

[jay moussy]

Still unclear on something: what is more important (ignoring light protection) for the low-volume user:

- vessel permeability?
- tight closure?
- ability to squeeze some air out (soda bottles can, only to a point, IME)?

As of now I am inclined (but not convinced) to use my stout dark glass 750cc bottle with a tight artificial cork (essentially same as rubber stopper).

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I like using 1 litre sparkling water bottles. I've also been using it for Xtol stock.

 

[eli griggs]

I have been using the 1-liter soda bottle for a while (capped, squeezed, kept in a cupboard), and now wonder if I should try something else.

Should I?
I do not trust accordion containers.

Note that I have smaller PET bottles but they do not quite make 600cc, and also very dark whiskey glass bottles (no, not my drinking!), but no good way to stop them. Drat.

If you want plastic, with a wide mouth for pouring and refilling, super clean Ragu bottles are great, so long as you place Saran wrap between the plastic and metal cap and the chemistry.

It takes some dedicated degreasing, I like Dawn Ultra to remove ALL traces of the tomatoe sauce, however, these bottles are great for a working line, where narrow mouth soda bottles can throw of consistency in film development.

For plastic with narrow mouths, brown Hydrogen bottles are the ticket.

Being 2H2O, a simple water rinse takes care of any lingering 'chemical' compounds concerns.

These are available in sizes up to and, perhaps larger than one gallon sizes.

I like the one quart and one litter sizes.

I use the Hydrogen Peroxide as a cleaner in a spray bottle for WC and bath areas, to 'kill' any lingering bugs, tissue, etc that regular cleaners can no take care of, instead of tossing the contents for the bottle.

Hydrogen Peroxide can also be part of deep rust bluing of metal formulas/procedures.

If you know or use a hair stylist or shop, ask them to save their Hydrogen Peroxide bottles for you.

The white plastic lids made from r use on Bell Mason jars, sold by Walmart, might very well replace the Ragu lids I wrote of earlier.

I'll check later and see if that's possible.

Cheers, Godspeed and Happy Holidays to All here.

Eli