Shelf life of Kodak Rapid Film Fixer

[ngyuen__billy__kok]

Hello to everyone helping,

 

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I just buy some liquid Kodak Rapid Fixer that comes with the extra small bottle of hardener, to use with 4x5 black and white film processing. I was surprised to read in the instructions that that the mixed fixer only has a 1 month life. I always thought fixer would last so much longer than 1 month. Is there any other Fixer that I should use instead that will last longer, and do I even need the hardeneing type of film fixer for 4x5 black and white negatives.

[ed b.]

My information comes from a rather old Kodak publication, but it

states that working solutions of rapid fix will keep for 2 months in

a full stoppered bottle.

[dk_thompson]

It's two months in a closed container for the concentrate, and sorta

vague for the life of the working solution in a tightly closed

container...I've always dumped after a month, and kept an accurate log

of just what I ran through it. We keep it for a month in a tank with a

floating lid and cover, or when tray processing-- a week in a tray

with a floating lid as well. Keep good logs on all that too...fix is

cheap, it's better to dump early rather than late....

[pemongillo]

I use Ilford Hypo Check for straight Kodak Fixer to regularly check my

first fix when processing fiber prints. I don't normally keep Rapid

Fixer for negatives much over a month anyway, but can't you use the

same stuff to see if its still OK ?

[pat_kearns4]

Billy, I've been using Hypo Check with Kodak Rapid Fixer for years

without any problems. It will give you a good idea when the fixer is

becoming exhausted then mix up a fresh batch. Happy shooting. Pat.

[hyperfocal]

One thing that can help preserve your chemistry is spraying some

heavier-than-air inert gas into the bottle before you cap it. I

suppose propane would do if you can figure out how to dispense it

from a canister. Jobo makes this spray in a can for about $13.95

that has a nozel hose making it easy to dispense.

 

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I use this stuff in my 2 gallon jug of ID-11 and even after several

months, there is not discoloration of the developer, indicating

oxidation (at least I hope this is what's happening).

 

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Just be careful if you have a smoke going ....

[robert_ruderman1]

Hi,

 

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"Jobo makes this spray in a can for about $13.95 that has a nozel

hose making it easy to dispense."

 

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If this is what I think it is, it's a spray can of nitrogen to

blanket the surface of the liquid you are trying to preserve. I've

used it with wine and it works well as an oxygen barrier. You might

be able to get it somewhat cheaper at a wine or grocery store (about

$9 or $10/bottle) under the name of "Private Reserve - Wine

Preserver" (in the wine department).