Making RA-4 Chemicals Last Longer

[chris_douglas1]

<p>I have read several threads that say Blix is not very stable or long-lived. I notice in the MSDS for Arista kits that Blix part-A is ammonium thiosulfate and part-B is ferric ammonium EDTA. Has anyone tried using them un-mixed as separate bleach and fixer? Seems they would last the normal shelf life if not mixed together. Second question, my current blix is a couple months old and sulfur has precipitated out. Can I still use it as bleach, and follow up with conventional ammonium thiosulfate fix?</p>

[erie_patsellis]

<p>For C-41, separate bleach/fixer is how Kodak created the process, the current trend towards blix is a hack, and sooner or later bites you. (in my experience, of course)</p>

<p>For RA4, I don't know, but I know that PhotoEngineer on APUG would have the answer, as he was instrumental in the development of RA4 Blix.</p>

[john_shriver]

<p>The Kodak and Fuji-Hunt RA-4 chemicals aren't expensive, and they probably know more about making a stable blix than Tetenal.<br>

That said, shelf life has never been the strong suit of any color processing chemistry.</p>

[ed_lusthoff]

<p>your developer will probably go bad before the blix. I use a Besseler drum, it take 20ml. I use fresh chemicals for each photo. I have all the negatives ready to print so I only spend a day or two doing the prints and the chemicals are gone. The same with E-6/C41 I do 10 rolls on one day throw the chems out. I don't mix until I am ready to use it. Works for me.</p>