Mixing brands of ra-4 chemicals - a no-go?

Dino Joe · Jul 16, 2020

I've been using the Arista RA-4 chemical kit from FreestylePhoto. I'm almost done with the developer, but still have a good amount of the blix. The only Arista chemicals I can find on the internet are in the full chemical kit, and I can't buy the developer individually. Would buying another brand of ra-4 developer be compatible with the Arista chemicals, or do I need to bite the bullet and invest in a whole new brand altogether?

Tom Kershaw · Jul 16, 2020

Another brand of developer should work fine, although there are differences in mixing instructions etc.

AgX · Jul 16, 2020

RA-4 developer should work. but in general I would be cautious with combining baths from different manufacturers or even kits. In E-6 for instance had been kits were baths could not be exchanged.

koraks · Jul 17, 2020

I don't see a problem with replacing the developer with another brand and keep using the Arista blix.

If you want to insure against possible incompatibilities (although I cannot think of any), use an acetic acid stop bath between the developer and the blix. This is good practice anyway to extend the service life of the blix.

Tom Kershaw · Jul 17, 2020

koraks said:
If you want to insure against possible incompatibilities (although I cannot think of any), use an acetic acid stop bath between the developer and the blix. This is good practice anyway to extend the service life of the blix.

This is very good advice. Blix seems very long lasting if not contaminated with too much developer.

foc · Jul 17, 2020

In RA4 it is the developer that is the most important, regarding temp etc.
While I never used a home kit, I have used RA4 commercially for 30 years and have swapped between Fuji and Champion replenisher no problem (despite what Fuji said).
Blix is fairly bullet proof.

DREW WILEY · Jul 18, 2020

I've found Arista to be fully interchangeable with Kodak RA/Rt as well as Silver Pixel (also offered by Freestyle), even with respect to the separate A,B,C etc concentrates.

Mixing brands of ra-4 chemicals - a no-go?

Dino Joe

Tom Kershaw

AgX

koraks

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Tom Kershaw

foc

DREW WILEY

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