Fixer

Barney

Barney

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Name
Wayne
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Should I record how many rolls have gone through the fixer?

How do I know when its no good?
 
Will that Glue bit at the end of a 120 work if I cut a bit more off, say half an inch extra.

How much do you actually need?
 
Mostly Vintage Cameras said:
With B&W I snip the leader off the roll (assuming 35mm) and dunk it in the fixer to time how long it take to clear entirley. I tend to allow a bit longer to be on the safe side.
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You should fix for double the clearing time.
That was the instruction in the 50's and earlier.
When fixer is off it stinks.
 
Terrywoodenpic said:
You should fix for double the clearing time.
That was the instruction in the 50's and earlier.
When fixer is off it stinks.
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Agree with double the clearing time (and a bit, as clearing seems to be around 30 seconds for me, usually).

The worst fixing problems I had was with Bergger Pancro 400. Leader wouldn't clear with freshly mixed fixer up to about 5 minutes (no problem with subsequent more normal rolls). I think I fixed for 7 or 8 minutes, and it seemed OK, but I never bought another roll!
 
Barney said:
How much do you actually need?
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Very little for the "dunk" test described above. Just enough to be able to hold in between thumb and forefinger and dip it in the solution. Double the clearing time seems a bit much to me but it's not going to do any harm. I’ve got negs form the 80’s that are just fine and dandy.
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I put a label on the bottle of fixer and stop bath and mark them each time I develop a tank of film. When it gets to about 15 then I start doing tests on a piece of exposed film leader. I usually make up 1 litre of fixer (and stop bath) in case I use my large developing tank, so this means it tends to last longer as I use the smaller tank more and the entire litre doesn't get fully used each session.
 
Last edited:
Thank You all guys for the advice and tips, I have another small step to add to my process.
 
took 3 minutes to clear
 
Barney said:
took 3 minutes to clear
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I'd say that's a bit long, I'd be mixing a new batch if it were me.

(Of course that leads onto the long and complicated story about what you should do with depleted fixer... T'internets are full of advice, but after reading lots of it I found a nugget from someone who actually appeared to have some appropriate environmental/chemical knowledge; the advice was, if you're a person doing occasional film processing rather than a lab, no need to take special precautions, it's unlikely to cause harm flushed down the drain... but note, I have no environmental or chemical expertise whatsoever, so this is NOT ADVICE!!!!!)
 
ChrisR said:
I'd say that's a bit long, I'd be mixing a new batch if it were me.

(Of course that leads onto the long and complicated story about what you should do with depleted fixer... T'internets are full of advice, but after reading lots of it I found a nugget from someone who actually appeared to have some appropriate environmental/chemical knowledge; the advice was, if you're a person doing occasional film processing rather than a lab, no need to take special precautions, it's unlikely to cause harm flushed down the drain... but note, I have no environmental or chemical expertise whatsoever, so this is NOT ADVICE!!!!!)
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There's a bit of a caveat if you're using a septic system IIRC, but I cant for the life of me remember what.
I saved up all my fixer for ages and took it, complete with the chemical data sheet to my local recycling centre as was suggested on another forum. Guy took one look at it and yeeted the entire bottle into the non recyclable with a shrug
 
ChrisR said:
I'd say that's a bit long, I'd be mixing a new batch if it were me.

(Of course that leads onto the long and complicated story about what you should do with depleted fixer... T'internets are full of advice, but after reading lots of it I found a nugget from someone who actually appeared to have some appropriate environmental/chemical knowledge; the advice was, if you're a person doing occasional film processing rather than a lab, no need to take special precautions, it's unlikely to cause harm flushed down the drain... but note, I have no environmental or chemical expertise whatsoever, so this is NOT ADVICE!!!!!)
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I thought that Chris to be honest, and fixed for seven, as a last time use thing.
 
There. Is unlikely by to be any harm if the small quantities used by amateurs is diluted and flushed down the loo.
Other household fluids can be far more harmful and we. flush them everyday.

When I was working professionally, processing dozens films and thousands of prints I sent my waste. fixer in for silver recovery and made money back on it..
Some people processed their own and sold the silver sludge, but it was hardly worth the effort.
 
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