yet another fixer shelf life question

[madgardener]

I haven't done any developing in about a year due to life getting in the way and me just not feeling like doing much. I have a fairly new bottle of Legacy Pro liquid fixer solution that I bought for use with some of my Efke film since a hardening fixer was recommended. So this bottle has been opened and I've used 6 ounces from the quart bottle.

I'm trying to get back into photography and developing and have noticed that something precipitated out of the concentrate at the bottom of the bottle. Fixer isn't exactly expensive and rather than risk it, I'm tempted to throw it out and order new. Before I did I thought I'd ask here and get some opinions. Can I just shake the bottle to get whatever it is back into solution or is it safer to just throw it out? Opinions?

I have sent 2 emails to Freestyle about it, and haven't gotten a reply. There also is no expiration date on the bottle.

Thanks

 

[Dave in Kansas]

I'd probably shake the bottle a bit and see if the particles go back into suspension. You can test the fixer to see if it is still good by using a small piece of film from the leader. Dip the film in the fixer and it should turn clear in a couple of minutes if it's a traditional emulsion like FP4 or Tri-X. If it is a TMax or Ilford Delta film, it will probably take around 4 minutes to clear. If the clearing times are close to those numbers, the fixer should still be good.

I used some old Kodak Rapid fixer two nights ago that was mixed more than a year old and it was fine.

Dave

 

[MattKing]

PE has posted before that once fixer precipitates out you shouldn't use it.

 

[Dave in Kansas]

Would that include the "crusties" around the bottle cap? I noticed mine had that.

 

[aRolleiBrujo]

Better asked than left to become waste! I have learned by this article, and from the other important one's here at APUG, and its great community! I have donated as well, in order to do my part keeping it FILM! xD

 

[MattKing]

Would that include the "crusties" around the bottle cap? I noticed mine had that.

They are fine.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I'd filter it through a coffee filter and do a clip testbefore using it again.alsotwo-bath fixing to be on the safe side.This way it will do fine.

 

[Pat Erson]

"Would that include the "crusties" around the bottle cap?"

They are fine.

Pfew... thx Matt!

 

[madgardener]

Thank you everybody. What I think I will do is open up my new bottle of Kodak fixer and toss the Legacy Pro stuff. The Kodak fixer is about the same age. I just checked it and the date on the Kodak fixer shows 4 months until expiration and there is no precipitate. I'll use it, my pictures aren't worth risking over the cost of fixer.

 

[Photo Engineer]

All of the above is correct, so if it won't redissolve the fixer is bad. If it smells like rotten eggs it is bad. If, after filtering it, it will not fix some film leader in a reasonable time it is bad.

PE

 

[Ashfaque]

Possibly another basic question: does this thread's discussion applies for both alkaline and acidic fixers?

Cheers

A

 

[madgardener]

All of the above is correct, so if it won't redissolve the fixer is bad. If it smells like rotten eggs it is bad. If, after filtering it, it will not fix some film leader in a reasonable time it is bad.

PE

2 out of 3 tests shows it's bad. It won't redissolve and the egg smell almost knocked me over. It's bad. The lid was superglued on and the bottle is now in the bin waiting for hazardous waste collection day.

I'm going to use my new bottle of kodafix.

Thank you PE, you're a fantastic resource.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Possibly another basic question: does this thread's discussion applies for both alkaline and acidic fixers?

Cheers

A

Yes.