The benefits of using Sprint Fixer Remover on RC paper

[Daumier]

Hi again,
Most photographers I've asked about this say one doesn't have to use fixer remover on RC prints, though during undergrad, my instructor asserted that we should use it. Kodak doesn't recommend the use of their product with RC, however I mostly use Sprint, and they recommend that it can be used on RC or fiber papers. And not just to cut down on wash times.
I'm quoting from their website:
"ARCHIVE Fixer Remover swiftly and thoroughly removes all types of contamination, including thiosulfate and related compounds, microbiotic and mineral deposits from the water supply, air-born microbes, and hydroquinone used in the manufacture of resin-coated, stabilization and gallery-type papers."
Is there merit to this? I think there is, the more thorough the wash the better yes? Anybody else do this?

Thanks!

 

[removed account4]

yup,. every instructor i ever had said the same thing.
never had problems and still have my rc prints made using their products.
paul krott was a genius !

 

[Daumier]

yup,. every instructor i ever had said the same thing.
never had problems and still have my rc prints made using their products.
paul krott was a genius !

So, just to clarify, you do use Sprint's fixer remover on your RC prints in addition to using their other products?

 

[removed account4]

when i have it on hand i use their fixer remover. i have been using their film and print developers off and on since 1981 and it is the only fixer i have used since 81'
so yup i use their products. just used their fixer remover today...

 

[Rudeofus]

Sprint Fixer Remover appears to be a glorified hypo clearing agent, in the best case it improves and/or speeds up archival washing, in the worst case it won't hurt anything but your wallet.

 

[timmct]

There are a LOT of ingredients in the Fixer Remover that Sprint produces. It makes me think it is more important for processing film.

But it does speed up the removal of the unwanted residues from fixation...less water...more archival.

 

[Rudeofus]

It contains:

1. Metabisulfite: this is the main ingredient which makes it an HCA
2. Pentetic Acid: sequestering agent
3. Formaldehyde: hardening agent, anti microbial
4. Glutaraldehyde: hardening agent
5. Diethylene Glycol: not sure why this is in there, it is commonly used to dissolve sparingly soluble compounds. Should have no photographic effect.

 

[miha]

It contains:

1. Metabisulfite: this is the main ingredient which makes it an HCA
2. Pentetic Acid: sequestering agent
3. Formaldehyde: hardening agent, anti microbial
4. Glutaraldehyde: hardening agent
5. Diethylene Glycol: not sure why this is in there, it is commonly used to dissolve sparingly soluble compounds. Should have no photographic effect.

3. and 4. are nasty chemials, though I imagine only present in minute quantities in the said Sprint HCA.

 

[timmct]

There is a lot of other stuff in it too...if the formulae at Sprint have not been changed

When I was mixing the chemicals at Sprint there was ethylene glycol in the Fixer Remover...not DEG

Dimethyl formamide, too, and a well known Blue/Yellow pH indicator.

 

[Daumier]

There is a lot of other stuff in it too...if the formulae at Sprint have not been changed

When I was mixing the chemicals at Sprint there was ethylene glycol in the Fixer Remover...not DEG

Dimethyl formamide, too, and a well known Blue/Yellow pH indicator.

Isn't there ethylene glycol in Photo Flo?

 

[timmct]

My experience with photo flow...wetting agent...it's mostly IPA (Iso propyl alcohol). One could substitute anything that reduces the surface tension of water; an extremely polar molecule.

If I recall correctly; formalin may be included as it "tans", or hardens, the gelatin while the alcohol sheets the water.

Proprietary formulae must abound...choose your own.