yellowish fixer (stop bath contaminated)

Fellipe de Paula

Member

Joined

Aug 31, 2009

Messages

50

Location

Brazil

Format

35mm RF

• Sep 28, 2009

• #1

My fixer (rapid fixer) is becoming yellowish because of the stop bath (ilfostop).
Is this a problem or it's normal??

 

Bob-D659

Member

Joined

Feb 10, 2008

Messages

1,273

Location

Winnipeg, Ca

Format

Multi Format

• Sep 28, 2009

• #2

Test the clearing time with a piece of film leader, if it is more than half the recommended time, it is time to dispose of it.

 

Anscojohn

Subscriber

Joined

Dec 31, 2006

Messages

2,704

Format

Medium Format

• Sep 28, 2009

• #3

The yellow may be from sulfurization; indicating the fixer is exhausted, iirc.

 

OP

OP

Fellipe de Paula

Member

Joined

Aug 31, 2009

Messages

50

Location

Brazil

Format

35mm RF

• Sep 28, 2009

• #4

The yellow is because of the ilfostop (stop bath)... Is there a problem to store the fixer "contaminated" with (just a little) stop bath?

 

BetterSense

Member

Joined

Aug 16, 2008

Messages

3,151

Location

North Caroli

Format

35mm

• Sep 28, 2009

• #5

I don't think it's a problem. Right now my paper fixer is bright blue because of the foma sheet film I've been running through it. Not even a hint of the blue remains on the paper after washing, though. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

Neal

Subscriber

Joined

Dec 3, 2004

Messages

2,019

Location

Chicago, West Suburbs

Format

Multi Format

• Sep 28, 2009

• #6

Dear Fellipe,

Not to worry, there is no problem.

Neal Wydra

 

Leighgion

Member

Joined

Jun 20, 2009

Messages

357

Location

Orcas Island

Format

Medium Format

• Sep 28, 2009

• #7

Unless you water rinse between the stop bath and fixer (does anybody on the planet do this?), contaminating your fixer with a touch of stop bath isn't simply normal. It's inevitable.

Don't fight the inevitable. Worry about other things.

 

RalphLambrecht

Subscriber

Joined

Sep 19, 2003

Messages

14,649

Location

K,Germany

Format

Medium Format

• Sep 28, 2009

• #8

BetterSense said:

I don't think it's a problem. Right now my paper fixer is bright blue because of the foma sheet film I've been running through it. Not even a hint of the blue remains on the paper after washing, though. I wouldn't worry about it.

Click to expand...

I agree, it's not a problem, but using the same fixer for paper and film is a problem and not advisable.

 

RalphLambrecht

Subscriber

Joined

Sep 19, 2003

Messages

14,649

Location

K,Germany

Format

Medium Format

• Sep 28, 2009

• #9

Fellipe de Paula said:

My fixer (rapid fixer) is becoming yellowish because of the stop bath (ilfostop).
Is this a problem or it's normal??

Click to expand...

Not a problem, but some use it as a reasonable indicator when to dispose of the fixer.

 

Ian Grant

Subscriber

Joined

Aug 2, 2004

Messages

23,263

Location

West Midland

Format

Multi Format

• Sep 28, 2009

• #10

RalphLambrecht said:

I agree, it's not a problem, but using the same fixer for paper and film is a problem and not advisable.

Click to expand...

Definitely not advisable, particularly if used for Fibre based prints after fixing Films. Film fixer can be re-used

Films contain Iodide which builds up as more films are fixed, this iodide is detrimental when fixing papers as less soluble silver/thiosulphate/iodide complexes are formed, these can ve very difficult to remove from Fibre based papers and will cause staining.

It's worth reading Ilford's datasheet for Hypam or Rapid fixer. (Essentially the same except Hypam is balanced to accept an optional Hardener)

Ian

 

Last edited by a moderator: Sep 28, 2009

Vaughn

Subscriber

Joined

Dec 13, 2006

Messages

10,079

Location

Humboldt Co.

Format

Large Format

• Sep 28, 2009

• #11

I'll just mention the obvious -- let the paper drip over the stop bath tray until it stops dripping before putting the paper in the fix. Wish our students had the patience for it.

Vaughn

 

BetterSense

Member

Joined

Aug 16, 2008

Messages

3,151

Location

North Caroli

Format

35mm

• Sep 28, 2009

• #12

using the same fixer for paper and film is a problem and not advisable.

Click to expand...

I agree. I'm simply lazy.

 

Nicholas Lindan

Advertiser

Advertiser

Joined

Sep 2, 2006

Messages

4,245

Location

Cleveland, Ohio

Format

Multi Format

• Sep 28, 2009

• #13

I find it a problem when using Kodak's indicator stop bath. I mix the stop with 28% acetic and add a few ml of indicator stop for a very pale yellow. It only changes to a pale violet when the bath expires but the fixer doesn't turn turn bright yellow.

 

RalphLambrecht

Subscriber

Joined

Sep 19, 2003

Messages

14,649

Location

K,Germany

Format

Medium Format

• Sep 28, 2009

• #14

Nicholas Lindan said:

I find it a problem when using Kodak's indicator stop bath. I mix the stop with 28% acetic and add a few ml of indicator stop for a very pale yellow. It only changes to a pale violet when the bath expires but the fixer doesn't turn turn bright yellow.

Click to expand...

As I said, I don't mind if the fixer slowly turns yellow. It's a nice reminder that it is time to check the silver content.

 

fschifano

Member

Joined

May 12, 2003

Messages

3,196

Location

Valley Strea

Format

Multi Format

• Sep 28, 2009

• #15

The fixer I use is not terribly acidic, so any indicating dye that gets carried over into the fixing bath immediately turns to a blue/violet color. It's not a problem. When the bath turns acidic enough for the color to change back to yellow, I figure that I've exceeded the buffering capacity of the fixer and it's time to discard and make a fresh batch.