B&W fixer dilution?

[Cluster]

I have a couple of bottles of fixer that have been in my garage for a good number of years.
It looks fine and I use one presently. The original instructions show that it should be diluted 1+4. I have tried that dilution, but found that it seems to be strong stuff.
At 1+6 and 20c, as I use it presently, it will clear my test piece of film within 15 seconds when first used. I store the mixed batch and reuse until the time it takes to clear gets to over 30 seconds.

I'm wondering if my 1+6 mix is too strong. Would a longer clearing time (lower concentration) be desirable?

 

[StephenM]

As far as I know, you're fine.

If you go to Sirch's "previously pinned threads" pinned in F&C and open it, find the pointer to Mark's (TheBigYin's) thread of pointers and open that, you'll then find a pointer to the Zero to Hero LF thread. Post 2224 is where to go.

Alternatively...

 

[Cluster]

As far as I know, you're fine.

If you go to Sirch's "previously pinned threads" pinned in F&C and open it, find the pointer to Mark's (TheBigYin's) thread of pointers and open that, you'll then find a pointer to the Zero to Hero LF thread. Post 2224 is where to go.

Alternatively...

Thanks for this pointer. Makes interesting reading. I suspect that fixing for 4 minutes in a dilution that clears my test piece in 12 seconds is too much. The usual advice is to fix for twice the time it takes for a test piece to clear, so fixing for 24 seconds or so is a bit off? I'll try to find a dilution that takes a minute to clear and try it.

 

[StephenM]

I've never observed the effect of over fixing film. I have with paper prints. I once inadvertently left a print in the fixer for almost the whole time I was making prints, and on examination I could see that some of the image had been "fixed" away - an oxymoron if ever I heard one!

 

[Karl.t1965]

I am sure the fixer I use is 1+4 for paper ans 1+9 for film

 

[Cluster]

I am sure the fixer I use is 1+4 for paper ans 1+9 for film

1+9 might make a good starting point for my next mix.

 

[ChrisR]

Might help to know which fixer it is. Ilford Rapid Fixer dilution is 1+4 IIRC...

 

[Peter B]

Might help to know which fixer it is. Ilford Rapid Fixer dilution is 1+4 IIRC...

According to the Ilford data sheet https://assets.website-files.com/5b...3a2b1b17efb_tech specs ilford rapid fixer.pdf

For all film fixing applications ILFORD RAPID FIXER is diluted 1+4 with water.

For use as a fixer in paper processing machines ILFORD RAPID FIXER is diluted 1+4 with water but
for manual fixing applications it can be diluted either 1+4 or 1+9

 

[Cluster]

The fixer I am trying to determine a suitable dilution for has a poor label, wet and damaged with age. I can't read much on it, but it's 1.25l of Agfa fixer.

 

[Peter B]

The fixer I am trying to determine a suitable dilution for has a poor label, wet and damaged with age. I can't read much on it, but it's 1.25l of Agfa fixer.

Is it the Agfa fixer at the link, as it suggests 1+5 or 1+7? https://silverprint.co.uk/products/569

 

[Cluster]

Is it the Agfa fixer at the link, as it suggests 1+5 or 1+7? https://silverprint.co.uk/products/569

It's not that bottle, although it could be the same chemicals.. Not too much of an issue now, I'll use something like 1:7 to 1:9 and see how it works.

 

[StephenM]

Why not just try a piece of film and test the clearing time at different dilutions?

 

[Cluster]

Why not just try a piece of film and test the clearing time at different dilutions?

That is what I have done. I was trying to determine what clearing time is about right/average for a new batch.