Selenium with TF-4

[George Collier]

I have just spent a half an hour looking for this, and can't find it - forgive me if this info is in another thread.
I am just changing over to TF-4 as my print fixer after many years of Zone VI general purpose fixer. I have always used Fred Picker's procedure all the way through washing with never a problem. He used to caution mightily about stain prevention, including the use of a pure hypo bath just prior to toning.
With TF-4 for the print fixer, what are the steps you all use through washing, whether toning and washing the same day, or washing each session, then toning a whole bunch at once later? Batch toning seems like a good idea, I remember Ann Clancy posted a thread on another site advocating exhaustion of the toner for environmental reasons, and this seems like a good idea.
If it matters, my paper is Forte VC fiber, developed with Zone VI print developer or LPD.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

With TF-4 I fix, wash, tone, and rewash. Whether the wash step includes Permawash depends on how much time I have and how many prints I'm doing.

With TF-4 you may find that your toning times are significantly shorter than with an acid fixer, so test before trying anything that will be difficult to reprint. You may find you need to use a more dilute toning solution.

 

[Peter Schrager]

Fixer

Why not go to the Michael Smith/Paula Chamlee site and follow his instructions for fixing and washing. I buy myself(plain sodium thiosulfate) 100 lbs. in 25lb. buckets which is waay cheaper than buying TF-4. For the first fix you need to add Sodium Sulfite.
Spend your money as you like...
Best, Peter

 

[reellis67]

My procedure with TF-4 is just as David described, although I don't have any info on shorter toning times because all I have ever used is TF-4. I do sometimes dry prints completely after a standard wash cycle and then tone at a later time - usualy when I am going to be toning a lot of prints. As long as your wash is good, you should not have any staining problems with TF-4.

- Randy

 

[Ryuji]

Fix, wash (1-2 min for RC, 3-5 min for fiber), tone, rinse (1-3 min), wash aid (5 min), final wash (10 min).

Some more info is found near the bottom of this page:

http://www.digitaltruth.com/store/silvergrain-fixandwash.html

This page is for Clearfix, not TF-4, but the basic idea is similar. Silvergrain Clearfix is an alkaline rapid fixer with the same pH as TF-4 when fresh, but uses a better buffering agent that completely dissolves in solution. Also, because of the buffering agent, Clearfix can be used with acid stop bath, if preferred, with no ill effect. It can take acid carryover and still maintain alkaline pH, so it is usable in wider range of darkroom work.

Many darkroom textbooks say to use washing aid in wrong places. Residual toning agent is just as detrimental to the print as residual fixer, if not thoroughly washed out. Wash aid is effective in washing out toner as well, so you want to use washing aid in the very final wash (after toning).

 

[George Collier]

Thanks to you all for your posts.