Q concerning Ilford Rapid Fixer

[tkamiya]

I am thinking of going from Kodak Professional Fixer to Ilford Rapid Fixer. My motivation is based on faster clearing time. Can someone help me understand some of the points?

1) I understand Ilford rapid fixer is a non-hardening fixer. Using today's film, such as Tmax, Tri-X, Plus-X, and paper such as Ilford multi-grade, hardener is NOT required or necessary, correct?

2) Is it correct that since this fixer does not contain hypo, HYPO CLEARING AGENT such as Kodak's wash-aid is not necessary?

3) Kodak's fixer has different exhaustion number for Tmax film and all else. Ilford does not specify such for Kodak film or its own. Should I assume I should half the expected capacity for Tmax following Kodak's standard?

4) According to the Ilford data sheet, processing RC paper, regardless of if I mix it 1:4 or 1:9, per liter of working solution, 40 sheets of 8x10 is the capacity. Does this make sense??

 

[rjbuzzclick]

I only use Rapid Fixer, and I've used all of the films you've mentioned with no hardener and no problems. I've used the same process with Efke R100 film, which recommends using a hardener, but I've had no issues with scratching it, I just try to be extra careful. When I use Tmax, I usually leave it in the fixer for 10 minutes, and count it as two films when figuring out how many films I've run through that batch of fixer as it seems to exhaust it quicker.

 

[tkamiya]

Reid,

Thanks. Is it your experience that Tmax takes 5 minutes to clear then??

 

[RalphLambrecht]

1) I understand Ilford rapid fixer is a non-hardening fixer. Using today's film, such as Tmax, Tri-X, Plus-X, and paper such as Ilford multi-grade, hardener is NOT required or necessary, correct?

Yes, Ilford Rapid Fixer and their Hypam are non-hardening fixers. You don't need hardener unless you are in tropical conditions or are not able to deal with negatives carefully. Also, hardener impedes film and paper washing.

2) Is it correct that since this fixer does not contain hypo, HYPO CLEARING AGENT such as Kodak's wash-aid is not necessary?

Hypo is an old (and wrong) name for fixer. So, all fixers contain hypo. HCA is not necessary but supports washing and typically cuts washing times in at least half for film and paper. I recommend the use of HCA.

3) Kodak's fixer has different exhaustion number for Tmax film and all else. Ilford does not specify such for Kodak film or its own. Should I assume I should half the expected capacity for Tmax following Kodak's standard?

Yes, to be safe use two-bath fixing and use it one-shot for film.

4) According to the Ilford data sheet, processing RC paper, regardless of if I mix it 1:4 or 1:9, per liter of working solution, 40 sheets of 8x10 is the capacity. Does this make sense??

Maybe, fixing 40 sheets in 1 liter leaves enough silver and thiosulfate complexes to no longer trust it.

 

[tkamiya]

Thank you, Ralph....

I live in Central Florida... does it qualify as "tropical?" I mean... it gets hot and we have alligators....

According to Ilford literature, (and I quote) "The fixing agent in ILFORD RAPID FIXER is ammonium thiosulphate, it contains no sodium thiosulphate (hypo)". If it contains none of the latter, why would "Hypo Clear Agent" help??

Also, concerning the last point, between 1:4 dilution and 1:9 dilution, the active ingredients are different by factor of two. I'm wondering why they can process the same amount of paper.... (with longer processing time, of course)

 

[JCJackson]

Even though you live in Central Florida, I suspect the spaces you use for processing and storage of photographic materials have the benefit of air conditioning. You should have no problems leaving out the hardener. Just watch out for the alligators...

 

[MattKing]

With respect to the various wash-aids, Kodak's name for them is an historical anachronism. It would be more accurately described as "Fixer Clearing Agent", because that is what it goes, whether the fixer is ammonium thiosulfate or sodium thiosulfate.

With respect to fixer dilutions, fixer exhausts in two different ways (at the same time). The active ingredients get used up, and the chemicals get saturated with silver and thiosulfate complexes.

The first phenomenon is dilution dependent, but the second only varies with number of prints treated.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

...
According to Ilford literature, (and I quote) "The fixing agent in ILFORD RAPID FIXER is ammonium thiosulphate, it contains no sodium thiosulphate (hypo)". If it contains none of the latter, why would "Hypo Clear Agent" help??...

Commercial fixers are based on sodium or ammonium thiosulfate and are often called ‘hypo’, which is short for hyposulfite of soda, an early but incorrect name for sodium thiosulfate. Ammonium thiosulfate is a faster acting fixer and is, therefore, referred to as ‘rapid fixer’. Unfortunately, some practitioners have continued using the erroneous term and expanded it referring to any type of fixer as ‘hypo’ now. In other words, 'hypo' in this regard means any fixer.

Translate 'Hypo Clearing Agent' to 'Fixer Clearing Agent'.

 

[tkamiya]

Thanks both!