TF-3 Without Sodium Sulphite Shelf Life

CarlRadford · Oct 8, 2007

Hi Folks

Can anyone advise on the shelf life of TF-3 without the sodium sulphite in concentrate form. I appreciate that the working 1-4 solution is said to be good for a day.

Many thanks, Carl

Photo Engineer · Oct 8, 2007

CarlRadford said:
Hi Folks

Can anyone advise on the shelf life of TF-3 without the sodium sulphite in concentrate form. I appreciate that the working 1-4 solution is said to be good for a day.

Many thanks, Carl

An alkaline fix is more stable than an acid fix, and therefore this will be more stable than most fixes without sulfite.

I can't give an exact figure, but I would guess that it would be good for over one month. But, even so, I would test it with a piece of raw film to make sure. Also, look for haze forming or a precipitate.

PE

jim appleyard · Oct 8, 2007

CarlRadford said:
Hi Folks

Can anyone advise on the shelf life of TF-3 without the sodium sulphite in concentrate form. I appreciate that the working 1-4 solution is said to be good for a day.

Many thanks, Carl

I use my working solution (w/s 1+4) until it's dead. Unless I've been terribly wrong all these years, I believe that's what you're supposed to do!:confused:
I test my TF-3 fixer with Edwal Hypo Check to see if it forms a milky-white precipitate. A scrap piece of film will do the same; just make sure the clearing time is about 1 minute.

fhovie · Oct 8, 2007

I chuck mine at 45 seconds. Fresh clearing time for TF3 that I make from the posted recipe is 30 seconds and it stays that through out 80% of its life. When it hits 45 seconds, it has so little life left I figure I'll get rid of it before I need to do re-fixing of prints or negs.

CarlRadford · Oct 8, 2007

Thanks folks!

dancqu · Oct 8, 2007

CarlRadford said:
Hi Folks. Can anyone advise on the shelf life of TF-3
without the sodium sulphite in concentrate form.
I appreciate that the working 1-4 solution is said to be
good for a day. Many thanks, Carl

Good for a day. That's with the sulphite. Without?
And "a day"? That's not exactly pinning down. There
are a few I dare say who will put through several prints
or rolls of film and have the fix back in the bottle, all under
an hour. Some number of prints or rolls of film is more the
convention.

Myself, I'd skip the metaborate. The minute amount specified
can't have more than very little effect on the ph. That 60
grams of sulfite will though raise the ph some meaningful
amount. BTW, ammonium thiosulfate works just fine
without any additions. Without the sulfite you're
very nearly there. Dan

CarlRadford · Oct 9, 2007

Dan...

Just to clarify your answer - in STOCK solution without sulphite added to it how long will the STOCK solution last? Hopefully a while as I made up 5 litres last night.

Instead of completely eliminating the sulphite I used 100gms in the 5 litres as this will be used for clearing pyrocat hd developed films.

Cheers, Carl

dancqu said:
Good for a day. That's with the sulphite. Without?
And "a day"? That's not exactly pinning down. There
are a few I dare say who will put through several prints
or rolls of film and have the fix back in the bottle, all under
an hour. Some number of prints or rolls of film is more the
convention.

Myself, I'd skip the metaborate. The minute amount specified
can't have more than very little effect on the ph. That 60
grams of sulfite will though raise the ph some meaningful
amount. BTW, ammonium thiosulfate works just fine
without any additions. Without the sulfite you're
very nearly there. Dan

dancqu · Oct 11, 2007

CarlRadford said:
Just to clarify your answer - in STOCK solution without
sulphite added to it how long will the STOCK solution last?
Hopefully a while as I made up 5 litres last night.

Instead of completely eliminating the sulphite I used
100gmsin the 5 litres as this will be used for clearing
pyrocat hd developed films. Cheers, Carl

STOCK solution. Skip the sulfite, forget the metaborate
and the water to make. Then split the A. Thio. concentrate
into 4 one liter bottles. That may have been a suggestion on
my part. As it is you've five liters of near concentrate strength
with some sulfite and I'd suppose that trace of metaborate.
I'd give that near concentrate a year or near then start
to worry. I store in glass Boston Rounds equipped with
the PE cork-in-screw-cap Polyseal or Polycone caps.
Your storage may vary. Dan

Photo Engineer · Oct 11, 2007

Ammonium hypo is 60% solution that keeps for a long time. Just leave it alone as is and mix the other ingredients in another container with the right amount of water.

Then when you need it, you have part a and b to go ready to mix and dilute to working strength.

PE

TF-3 Without Sodium Sulphite Shelf Life

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