Mixing and storing Fixer and Stop Bath

[Fellipe de Paula]

I'm ready to start preparing my chemicals and I gotta few questions:

1) For the Ilford RapidFixer, is it better at 1+4 or 1+9?

2) Should I prepare all at once (the fixer) or on demand?

3) Can I pour it in the same container after use and mix it? Or keep the "fresh" solution and pour the used at another container?

3) Can the stop bath (ilford ilfostop) be reused either?

4) The ilford says it (ilfostop) will only last 7 days if diluted (working solution). Should I leave it in stock form and prepare then on demand? Or it's ok to prepare 10L once?

Thanks

 

[MattKing]

Both fixer and stop bath should be diluted for use only when you need it.

The Fixer should be diluted 1+4 for film and 1+9 for paper

You can and should re-use the fixer until it is exhausted and/or the silver content gets too high. You can use one working solution container, but you have to watch out for silver precipitate.

You can re-use ilfostop, but I usually don't unless it is something very quick, like overnight.

Matt

 

[Fellipe de Paula]

Matt, about the fixer re-use, do I keep it at the original bottle and prepare, say 1L, and just use this solution (pour the used at the same bottle) until exhausted? While I still have the stock solution and prepare 1L more next time? what's the average times of the Rapidfixer re-use?

Do I leave the ilfostop at the original bottle either and prepare the needed amount for a one-time use using a graduate container?

Am I in the right track?

 

[MattKing]

Fellipe:

You need a separate container for the working strength fixer. For example, if you have a 1 liter container for your working strength film fixer, you would put 200ml of concentrate in that container and then add 800 ml of water, for a total volume of 1 liter of diluted (1 +4) working film fixer. You would then pour the needed amount out of that container into your film tank, and when fixing is complete, pour the used working strength fixer back into the same container.

As far as how much you can re-use the working strength fixer, Ilford gives capacity information on their Rapid fixer pdf:

http://www.ilfordphoto.com/Webfiles/2006130218312091.pdf

As I read that document, it indicates that 1 liter of 1 + 4 working strength fixer has the capacity for 24 rolls of film. I would use that as a very rough guide, and recommend a clip test every 4 rolls of film or so.

I keep track of my fixer use by putting clear removable ("Scotch") tape on my bottles, and making a single mark for each roll developed.

For the Ilfostop, you have it right.

Matt