I have used TF-4 fixer ever since moving to pyro developers about 15 years ago. It always has suspended snow-white chemicals at the bottom of the jug. These are easily suspended by shaking the jug. Then diluting them 1+3 with distilled water renders the working solution crystal clear.
This year, I received a 4-gallon case of TF-4 with a light orange layer at the bottom of the jugs. No amount of shaking and inverting the jug would even dislodge most of it from the bottom of the jug, no less put it into suspension. I concluded (prematurely) that it was contaminated with mold that was adhering the precipitate together. I attempted to pour the contents down the drain, but the orange mucoid sludge would not pass through. I eventually squeezed the sludge out by compressing the sides of the jug. Surprisingly, the material would break up between my thumb and fore-finger. I was encouraged that I could remediate this new situation. I ordered a narrow paint-mixing attachment (ALLWAY HM5N Helix Paint & Epoxy Mixer, Narrow) and a magnetic stirrer (ANZESER Magnetic Stirrer Magnetic Mixer 3000 RPM with Stir Bar Max Stirring Capacity 3000mL, Black). Total cost, about $30. The paint stirrer, inserted into a variable-speed drill, will break up the sludge without shaking and inverting the jug. The $20 magnetic stirrer is just to ensure that the working fixer is completely dissolved, leaving no tiny spots on the negatives.
So far, the fixer seems to dissolve completely, no mycelium, no detritus. So don't despair if your TF-4 looks tainted. Don't know why it's orange, but it seems easy to remediate.
This year, I received a 4-gallon case of TF-4 with a light orange layer at the bottom of the jugs. No amount of shaking and inverting the jug would even dislodge most of it from the bottom of the jug, no less put it into suspension. I concluded (prematurely) that it was contaminated with mold that was adhering the precipitate together. I attempted to pour the contents down the drain, but the orange mucoid sludge would not pass through. I eventually squeezed the sludge out by compressing the sides of the jug. Surprisingly, the material would break up between my thumb and fore-finger. I was encouraged that I could remediate this new situation. I ordered a narrow paint-mixing attachment (ALLWAY HM5N Helix Paint & Epoxy Mixer, Narrow) and a magnetic stirrer (ANZESER Magnetic Stirrer Magnetic Mixer 3000 RPM with Stir Bar Max Stirring Capacity 3000mL, Black). Total cost, about $30. The paint stirrer, inserted into a variable-speed drill, will break up the sludge without shaking and inverting the jug. The $20 magnetic stirrer is just to ensure that the working fixer is completely dissolved, leaving no tiny spots on the negatives.
So far, the fixer seems to dissolve completely, no mycelium, no detritus. So don't despair if your TF-4 looks tainted. Don't know why it's orange, but it seems easy to remediate.
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