Two step fixer bath for FB prints

I am going to be developing Kodak Polymax Fine-Art Fiber base prints in my CPP-2 JOBO processor (I know, its a little different, but that is another story) and I want to elicit opinions about whether a two step fixer bath is really necessary. For ease I would prefer to just use one fixer step in my process. If I watch my fixer for exhaustion do I really need to use two steps?

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Thanks for your opinions and advice!

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Scott

I process B&W prints in a rotary drum, and I've had no problems with a

single fix. As long as you're not reusing the fixer, there's no

logical reason for fixing twice.

Greetings,

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The theory behind two bath fixing has been described in Steve

Anchell's: Variable Contrast Printing Manual, as well as other

forums. Essentially, complex compounds (don't ask me specifics, it's

been a long time since chemistry class) are generated during the

fixing process, which are particularly difficult to remove from fiber

base paper. Fresh fixer removes these compounds making the final

wash easier and theoretically, more archivally stable. Using a two

bath fixing regime and always keeping the 2nd bath fresh, would

ensure that your prints are both fully fixed and easier to wash.

Another point to this procedure is never let your fixer approach

exhaustion. Figure on only getting 25% to 50% capacity from your

second bath.

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Personally, I use film strength Kodak Rapid fixer as a two bath fix

in my JOBO with FB prints and it "appears" to work fine. I say

appears, because I have no proof; only time will tell and 5 years is

much too short. Recently, I've switched over to TF-4 fixer and use

it as a single bath.

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Regards,

There seem to be two different theories about fixing, one from Kodak

(two fixing baths, bath number 1 being thrown out when exhausted and

bath number 2 becoming bath number 1 with a new batch mixed for bath

number 2). The other theory is Ilford's. Ilford apparently believes

it's preferable to use a single, highly concentrated bath, and fix

for a much shorter length of time so that the fix isn't absorbed into

the paper and hence long washes are avoided (this is obviously a very

unscientific explanation but it's something like that). Ilford used

to say 30 seconds but I think they recently revised that to a minute.

So if you believe Ilford, use one of their fixers.