Worse case scenario.

[Mike Kennedy]

You just developed 3 rolls of film and found that the fix has past it's effective date.Nothing on hand and the photo store is closed.Is there a solution?

 

[Kvistgaard]

I believe you can still use the fix as a temporary solution, then refix the negs once you have fresh stock.

I once under-fixed a number of TMAX films, and they could be refixed even after washing and drying them - no problem at all.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Does the fixer not clear the film, or are you just looking at the date on the package? Fix for twice the clearing time, if it clears the film, and it should be fine. Otherwise, just refix as soon as you get some fresh fixer.

 

[Mike Kennedy]

Thanks.I didn't know you could refix after the film has dried.

 

[gainer]

IMHO, many expiration dates are marketing ploys. In any case, they are usually conservative. As has been said, see how long it takes to clear film. A piece of leader will do if you have 35 mm. The usual advice is to toss the fixer if clearing time for ordinary film like Tri-x exceeds 2 minutes. Tmax types require longer to clear with fresh fixer. Another rule is to test fresh fixer for clearing time and pitch it when the clearing time doubles. In any case, fix for twice the clearing time.

 

[Poohblah]

i've had this issue before - you can refix film easily (but you can't refix paper).

 

[Photo Engineer]

If the fixer has a precipitate, or if it smells like rotten eggs, it is bad, otherwise it is usable. Even then, the worst that can happen are defects from the precipitate or longer fix times. As long as the film is kept dark, you don't even need to fix it. You can Develop-stop-wash film then give it a photo flo treatment and dry in the dark. It will keep for weeks this way!

Fix at your liesure then!

PE

 

[nsouto]

that is something I never understood well.
why is it that we shoud not expose film to light between developer and fixer?
I mean: if the developer has done its work and turned the exposed emulsion into Ag, why is it that light will now cause problems?

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

After the film comes out of the developer, there is still developer absorbed in the emulsion, and depending on how active the developer is at that point, exposure to light could cause some solarization.

 

[michaelbsc]

that is something I never understood well.
why is it that we shoud not expose film to light between developer and fixer?
I mean: if the developer has done its work and turned the exposed emulsion into Ag, why is it that light will now cause problems?

As David said, there is still some possibility of residual developer that may fog the film. Additionally, so far as I know, film will fog in sunlight over time without developer. Paper obviously fogs rapidly if you take a piece out and leave it on the table. If you decide to experiment by scraping a little film, then spool out several inches from a 35mm canister, lay some object on top of it to keep that part covered, and wait a week to check the results.

MB

 

[nsouto]

Thanks, folks. I understand now.

 

[gainer]

Residual developer or not, film will eventually turn black from exposure to light. I'm reminded of the story of two students dividing a package of 4x5 sheet film between them. They were sitting in the lunchroom doind the "One for you, one for me..." thing when the instructor happened by. "What in the world are you doing?" he said. One replied "It's OK. They haven't been in the camera yet."