TF-4 fix and marked negatives

[Leon]

i recently started to use TF-4 fix and am pleased with the longevity and speed with which it clears. But i have some problems.

I follow my usual washing technique (ie roughly following ilford ecological guidance by filling the tank with water 8 times, each has 1 min agitation then left for three to stand) and always give a final soak in very mild ilfotol solution. I find that all my reels, tanks etc and negatives have a powdery feel tot hem after drying and the negs are heavily marked with water marks. this only seems to have started since i have been using tf-4 and never occured with ilford rapid fix.

any thoughts?

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I haven't experienced that, but I use a running water wash and final soak in Sistan before drying, and then I wash my reels and tanks with warm water to remove the Sistan.

It could be related to your water. Maybe there is something that is precipitating out in the alkaline fixer bath, causing the powdery residue, that stayed dissolved in an acid bath.

 

[mrinella]

I have experienced the same problem. No problems with Ilford or Kodak fixers, major problem with white residue when using TF-4. Worse, it was causing scatches on the backs of my Tri-X negatives. I had just switched back to Kodafix, but now that I know someone else is having a similar problem, I will call PhotoFormulary and try I little more experimentation to see if I can find and eliminate the cause.

 

[Leon]

please let me know how you get on. I'm not sure where you are mrinella, but the water quality here in SE engalnd is very chalky, loads of limescale is deposited everywhere - may be worth mentioning if you're contacting the Phot Form.

 

[glbeas]

If thats the case it may be worth trying a tablespoon of table salt in the mix to soften the water. The chloride ions will keep the minerals dissolved better.

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Hard water may indeed be the problem.

I have been using TF-4 with no problems of any kind. I dilute it with boiled deionized water and filter the working solution through a paper coffee filter to remove any particulates.

I wash roll film in an annular flow (very low flow rate) washer. I wash sheet film in a tray with multiple water changes. For all washing I use deionized water ("out-of-the-tap" not boiled) because I have it available in my lab (the filtration system removes any particulates larger than 0.02 microns).

At completion of washing I add a couple drops of Edwal Anti-Foam wetting agent to the water. My negs dry water mark and spot free.