Shelf life of mixed fixer?

[ChristopherCoy]

disregard... I found my answer here.

 

[Doremus Scudder]

Just for the others who click on this link and wish to know the answer to your question:

From the Ilford tech sheet on Rapid Fixer here: https://assets.website-files.com/5b...3a2b1b17efb_tech specs ilford rapid fixer.pdf

"STORAGE
Full, unopened bottles of ILFORD RAPID FIXER concentrate stored in cool conditions, 5–20ºC (41–68ºF), will keep for two years.
Once opened use completely within six months and keep all bottles tightly sealed until used.

WORKING SOLUTION LIFE
... Unreplenished ILFORD RAPID FIXER working strength solutions should last for up to:
6 months in full tightly capped bottles
2 months in a tank or dish/tray with a floating lid
1 month in a half full tightly capped bottle
7 days in an open dish/tray."


FWIW, I've kept fixer concentrate for a few months longer than Ilford recommends and had it perform just fine. The tell-tale signs that fixer concentrate has gone bad is a sulfurous smell and precipitated yellow or white flakes/solids that may be suspended in solution. This means the fixer is "sulfuring out" and should be discarded.

Hope this helps,

Doremus

 

[LFGuy]

I had a 1L bottle of fixer precipitate once... It was probably forgotten for somewhere around 2-3 years. I don't remember a bad smell but I had a ton of flakes... Dark on one side, a yellowish white on the other side. It was Kodak Rapid Fix if that matters. It was obvious to anyone that is was bad. It took a while to clean the bottle.

 

[grat]

FYI, I used some Ilfostop and Ilford Rapid Fixer today that was mixed into a working solution in late April 2020 (just under a year ago). Both have been stored in airtight, but not evacuated, bottles. Neither looked nor smelled "off", so I went ahead and used it (was a test roll for my CLA'd Yashica).

Only issue is the T-Max 400 came out a bit pink-- From what I understand, this is relatively common (although it didn't happen to the first roll of T-max I developed), and indicates a need for more fixing and/or rinsing.

The negatives came out very usable-- the contrast is a bit low (but the developer wasn't exactly fresh either). Should I worry about re-fixing the negatives?

 

[Pat Erson]

"Unreplenished ILFORD RAPID FIXER working strength solutions should last for up to :
6 months in full tightly capped bottles"

One word of caution though... I just experienced 1st hand that mixed fixer doesn't keep that long.

I had a 5l jug of Tetenal stuff that I made on Oct.31. 1+4 dilution nothing special.
I fixed 68 films in it over time and yesterday I wanted to use it to fix 34 more films. Well it was dead or semi-dead. I had to make some new fixer and refix the film.
6 weeks and the stuff was toast.

Cavaet Emptor...

 

[Jonno85uk]

"Unreplenished ILFORD RAPID FIXER working strength solutions should last for up to :
6 months in full tightly capped bottles"

One word of caution though... I just experienced 1st hand that mixed fixer doesn't keep that long.

I had a 5l jug of Tetenal stuff that I made on Oct.31. 1+4 dilution nothing special.
I fixed 68 films in it over time and yesterday I wanted to use it to fix 34 more films. Well it was dead or semi-dead. I had to make some new fixer and refix the film.
6 weeks and the stuff was toast.

Cavaet Emptor...

To me that sounds like it's exhausted (use) rather than expired (time).

 

[Sirius Glass]

Do we now need a disregarded thread?

 

[Donald Qualls]

I fixed 68 films in it over time and yesterday I wanted to use it to fix 34 more films.

What's the manufacturer's specified capacity there? You already had 13+ films per liter, and wanted to make it 20+. I get around that with C-41 fixer (actually Kodak calls out 32/liter for Flexicolor), but based on clearing time I've been under the impression that stuff is more aggressive than regular rapid fixer.

 

[AgX]

I had a 5l jug of Tetenal stuff that I made on Oct.31. 1+4 dilution nothing special.
I fixed 68 films in it over time and yesterday I wanted to use it to fix 34 more films. Well it was dead or semi-dead.

To me that sounds like it's exhausted (use) rather than expired (time).

Tetenal state for their Superfix (which I assume Pat used) a capacity of 96 films/5Lwork.sol.
Pat tried 104 films.

 

[Donald Qualls]

Tetenal state for their Superfix (which I assume Pat used) a capacity of 96 films/5Lwork.sol.
Pat tried 104 films.

If a significant fraction of those (especially the last 34) were tabular grain, the fixer might well have been exhausted before reaching 96 films.

 

[AgX]

Good point, not stated in Tetenal's "data sheet" which actually is just a bottle label.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I mix my own TF-2 Alkaline Sodium Thiosulfate Fixer and keep it in a 5gal. spigot container with cover plus floating lid inside. Now I'm not sure how long it is suppose to last, but I just used mine and it worked perfect. I won't say how old it is for fear of some folks here calling me a liar. JohnW

 

[Pat Erson]

If a significant fraction of those (especially the last 34) were tabular grain, the fixer might well have been exhausted before reaching 96 films.

No Donald I only use HP5 films in 135 format. If you read Tetenal tech data I should be good up to 120 films (they set the limit at 24 films per liter of fixer diluted 1+4).
I think I waited to long to use it after the clock started ticking on Oct.31.
Lesson learnt for me.

 

[Don_ih]

I mix my own TF-2 Alkaline Sodium Thiosulfate Fixer and keep it in a 5gal. spigot container with cover plus floating lid inside. Now I'm not sure how long it is suppose to last, but I just used mine and it worked perfect. I won't say how old it is for fear of some folks here calling me a liar. JohnW

I think non-rapid fixer is much more stable than rapid fixer. So long as none can evaporate and it doesn't get too cold, it seems to last forever. But I have had relatively new rapid fixer sulphur-out for seemingly no reason (although my guess is I made a mistake when I mixed it).

 

[Jonno85uk]

No Donald I only use HP5 films in 135 format. If you read Tetenal tech data I should be good up to 120 films (they set the limit at 24 films per liter of fixer diluted 1+4).
I think I waited to long to use it after the clock started ticking on Oct.31.
Lesson learnt for me.

I'd be inclined to store the 5l in smaller containers. You had a lot of aeration for 1 solution.
Personally, I never go more than 10 rolls per 1L (fotospeed fx30) and I have to extend fixing time towards the end of that (i use a mixture of t-grain and traditional grain films). I could fix more films in the solution but I don't find it's worth my time when you end up having to refix after washing. Fixer is cheap.

 

[250swb]

We all have the leader to throw in the bin after loading our films into the tank, put a drop of fix on the leader emulsion side and time how long it takes to clear (usually two to three minutes), your total fix time is double this of course, but it's a quick test of your fixer.

 

[Jonno85uk]

True, but for me I've found I don't need to check my fixer anymore since I stopped trying eek out every little bit of life from it. That is if I hasn't sat for months.

 

[John Wiegerink]

I think non-rapid fixer is much more stable than rapid fixer. So long as none can evaporate and it doesn't get too cold, it seems to last forever. But I have had relatively new rapid fixer sulphur-out for seemingly no reason (although my guess is I made a mistake when I mixed it).

I'm certainly no chemist, but did take chemistry in high school. In the 56 years since then I have pretty much forgotten everything I was taught. I now go by what I read from reliable sources and what works from personnel experience. I'm more than satisfied with alkaline fixers and will stick with them for my type of film and developers. JohnW

 

[MattKing]

Tetenal state for their Superfix (which I assume Pat used) a capacity of 96 films/5Lwork.sol.

No Donald I only use HP5 films in 135 format. If you read Tetenal tech data I should be good up to 120 films (they set the limit at 24 films per liter of fixer diluted 1+4).

Which fixer is it, and which tech data are each of you referring to?

 

[Pat Erson]

Matt Tetenal fixer and the (rather succint) tech data you can find on 1l. bottles.
It says a liter of diluted fixer at 1+4 (that is 200ml of product plus 800ml of water) enables you to process 24 films.

I dug out an old (late 90's) Ilford hardback brochure and it says a jug of diluted fixer at 1+4 should be discarded after a month, which matches my experience.

 

[MattKing]

Most likely you are referring to this:

Is that your fixer? I ask because Tetenal has gone through major disruption, including an insolvency, and I don't know if there is old, pre-insolvency product out there.

 

[BobUK]

This is a very interesting subject for me. For the first time in my life I have just had concentrated fixer go milky in colour.
It was only used on prints and seemed to work fine, but for the peace of mind I shall give the batch of prints a fresh fix with new stuff.
I stocked up with too many chems. at the beginning of the first UK, Covid lock downs. Desperately trying to use them up.
Big problem is some makers only put batch codes on the containers instead of use by dates.
As they are being used up, I am slowly changing over to mixing my own chemicals from the raw materials.
Thank you.

 

[Pat Erson]

Is that your fixer?

Yes it is Matt... except I buy 5 liters drums which are much cheaper. Otoh the user "manual" on these is totally cryptic (= useless, basically), so I "borrow" the capacity advice from the 1l. or 0.25l. bottles.

 

[drmoss_ca]

Kodak Professional Fixer (made up from powder) claims to be good for 100 films. I can generally process more than 100 films in six months. Their safety datasheet says it is "stable" but I cannot find a datasheet that shows recommended keeping time. If I could, I'm sure it would be some period far less than any normal person would go through 100 films. It's business.

I have kept bottles of undiluted Ilford Rapid Fixer for years in a fridge, but I have used them all so I'm working through the packets of Kodak powder in my film freezer now.

 

[MattKing]

Kodak Professional Fixer (made up from powder) claims to be good for 100 films. I can generally process more than 100 films in six months. Their safety datasheet says it is "stable" but I cannot find a datasheet that shows recommended keeping time.

From 2010: https://125px.com/docs/techpubs/kodak/e103cf-2010_11.pdf