No Hypo-Clear. Part II

Roger Hicks mentioned that if my fixer contained a hardening agent then a simple water wash (no hypo-clear) might be problematic.
I use Kodak Pro.Rapid Fixer. A two part formula. Can I just eliminate the addition of the 6oz. bottle of hardener?

Dazed and Confused

Mike Kennedy said:

Roger Hicks mentioned that if my fixer contained a hardening agent then a simple water wash (no hypo-clear) might be problematic.
I use Kodak Pro.Rapid Fixer. A two part formula. Can I just eliminate the addition of the 6oz. bottle of hardener?

Dazed and Confused

Click to expand...

Yes!

If you're talking about film, I don't know if I'd risk it. I'd say USE the hardener, and make some hypoclear by dissolving table salt in water (sea salt would be better - I wonder what the iodine in table salt might do? probably nothing).

But if you're talkin' paper... I'd say leave the hardener OUT - you shouldn't be using it anyway. Unless you like cracked prints.

Strictly speaking, it isn't going to cause your film any problem to avoid using a hypo clearing agent... *as long as* you extend the wash accordingly. If you don't use HCA, you will need a very long wash (I'd have to research it, it's been so long since I've done this... probably an hour or more) to get the same level of archival stability that you can get with a one-minute rinse, a 2-minute HCA step and a 15-minute wash.

The only exception is if you use an all-alkaline process. If you absolutely insist upon avoiding HCA and you don't want to waste all of the time and water that a long wash requires, use an alkaline fixer and a running water stop bath.

If you are going to use an acid fixer, though, use HCA. The cost of the chemical is insignificant compared to the time and water saved.

Sparky said:

If you're talking about film, I don't know if I'd risk it. I'd say USE the hardener, and make some hypoclear by dissolving table salt in water (sea salt would be better - I wonder what the iodine in table salt might do? probably nothing).

But if you're talkin' paper... I'd say leave the hardener OUT - you shouldn't be using it anyway. Unless you like cracked prints.

Click to expand...

You don't need the hardener for film or paper. I've not used it in years.

I agree with the no hardener posts. In particular Don Bryant.

lee\c

Even with Efke, notorious for soft emulsion, I haven't used a hardener for a long time now, so ditch the hardener.