Mixing Kodak developer and Ilford Stop/Fix?

[jtlns]

Hi,

Since I couple of months I'm developing b/w negatives using Ilford products: Ilfosol 3, Ilfostop and Rapid Fixer. I'd like to explore some other developers and I'm hearing lots of good things about Kodak HC-110 (which is also more economical). So my question is when I'd use the Kodak developer, can I still keep using the Ilford stop & fixer ?

Other recommendations for a developer are welcome too! (I mainly shoot HP5+ + TriX, ISO 400 & 800)

Thanks!

 

[Rick A]

Brands pretty much do not matter, so long as you are happy with the results. I have three different developers ( Kodak D-76, PMK Pyro, Rodinal), generic stop, and two different fixer brands in my dark room (Formulary TF-4, EcoPro Neutral).

 

[wildbill]

no, the world will end and turn yellow like kodak.

 

[howardpan]

As far as I am aware, the stop bath and fixer are independent from the developer. The stop bath is basically a weak acid to change the pH of the developer left on the film. The developer basically only works in an alkaline environment. Therefore, a weak acid would neutralize it. The fixer is used to wash away the remaining silver (only the exposed part of the negative reacts with the developer). Therefore, after the fixer bath you are left with a negative that has no silver halide left that can react after it is exposed to light.

I make my own stop bath from acetic acid. Others just use water. I use Ilford Rapid Fixer because it allows me to save time and use Ilford's wash sequence as it doesn't contain any hardener.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

I'm using HC-110, Iford stop and Ilford rapid or Kodak fixer. It doesn't matter for films like HP5+, which I also use, because I can't pay double for TRI-X.

I think, the only difference what I've noticed is not with film, but prints in terms of the fixer. I don't like what I'm getting after Kodak powder fixer. It does this hardening thing, it seems.
So, I've googled Ansel Adams fixer recipe from the Print. I could buy ingredients locally in 25 kg bags! It should work with any developer and any stop bath.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

I really don't know why this question comes up and this is not the first time. Many years ago photographers traditionally mixed their own solutions. I can remember going into a photography store and seeing a wall of bottles and jars of raw chemicals. All sorts of developing agents other than Metol and hydroquinone. Commercial products were almost non-existent. The three reactions; development, stop and fix are completely independent. Mix and match to your heart's content.