Gettin' Fixed UP: 1 Bath, 2 Baths or more?

[roscoetuff]

My eyes pricked up when I read that folks often use 2 Fixing Baths, a Hypo Clear in various trusted places. When a new batch of Fixer (PhotoFormlary TF5) turned pink after the spec'd 6 minutes with Kodak TMAX 400, I wondered whether I'd done something wrong to speed the aging process, and have been looking at this more closely. I'm SUPPOSED to get 20 rolls of regular film, which I'd take to be less with TMAX due to the longer process, but 2 rolls and done seems odd to me.

I wonder whether the added 2-Bath fix followed by a 1-Bath clear will do anything worth the extra effort, or whether I should just swallow the cost and forget about it. Wonder what you think?


My Current Practice:

Film: FP4, HP5 and moving more and more to TMAX 400;
Developer: Perceptol and XTOL as my go to depending on EI shot;
Stop Bath: PhotoFormulary's TS4 Odorless Stop Bath
Fixing Bath: PhotoFormulary's TF5 Alkaline Fix
Wash: Ilford style
Final Rinse: Kodak Photoflow

 

[PRJ]

Paranoid people use two fixing baths for film. You don't need to. In fact, you don't need stop bath, and you don't need a wash aid either with film. For a stop bath, just rinse the film several times. TF5 washes out of the film easily, so you don't need a clearing agent either. Just wash normally and you will be fine.

Your fix isn't done either because it turned pink. That is normal with some films. You can keep using it up to it's capacity.

 

[Ronald M]

Paranoid people use two fixing baths for film. You don't need to. In fact, you don't need stop bath, and you don't need a wash aid either with film. For a stop bath, just rinse the film several times. TF5 washes out of the film easily, so you don't need a clearing agent either. Just wash normally and you will be fine.

Your fix isn't done either because it turned pink. That is normal with some films. You can keep using it up to it's capacity.

Right on correct. Have not used either for 2 decades.

One note of caution. I used to use TF4 and the silver precipitated out after 24/48 hours appearing as small grey pieces at bottom of bottle which stick to next film. Had to buy some acid fix ,first in years, and it does not happen. TF5 ???.

I have also discovered the base dye in T Max does not remove if fix is old/used. It can not be corrected with extended wash. So I do not extend life of fix for film beyond 24/48 hours after first use. Tf5 ???. No problem with Ilford.

 

[x-ray]

The pink is the antihalation dye coming out. It's normal and should happen. If your fixed is still fresh then one fix is all you need. As to hypo clearing bath, it's a good idea even with TD4 and 5 if you're interested in archival negs. The hypo clearing bath also helps remove the antihalation dye from the base. Also I'd still wash for 10-15 minutes in running water.the fix, clearing and wash all contribute to removing the dye from the base. At the end your film base should be pretty close to clear with no pink cast if fixing, clearing and wash have been done properly.

Th only time I use two TF5 baths is when I print.

 

[roscoetuff]

Thanks! This is very helpful... simple as it is. Thanks for the help and re-assurance.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

It is weird to use two fix baths for film to me. I can't recall it in Kodak or Ilford documentation.
It is easy to deal with fixer for film. Takes too long, time for fresh one.

But prints are different story. I recall to read it in Ilford documentation about two baths. Maybe 🙂.

Develop, quick water, stop, quick water, fixer, water to wash, wetting agent.
I quit Kodak and Fuji, takes too long to fix and both with pink cast.

 

[roscoetuff]

Ko.Fe.: So which Fixer are you using?

BTW, the way I read this being done on Photrio (was APUG) is as follows: 1st Bath is 1/2 the time. 2nd Bath is the other half. Both are the same solution. When done, the 1st Bath is disposed of, and the 2nd Bath becomes the 1st Bath for the next round. Guess the idea is to have next-to one-shot quality for Fixer. Me? I make it up in 1500ML quantities and keep it for 20 rounds. But with TMAX and Perceptol, this is the first time I recall seeing the Fixer turn pink.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Disposing of perfectly working chemicals does sounds like APUG 🙂.

For film I'm using Kodak fixer (regular in powder). One gallon lasts for 6+ months of fixing films weekly. It doesn't turns pink, it turns crappy, but still works. If it is not fixing my films after eight minutes it is time for fresh one.

For prints, I'm using liquid one from Ilford. Ilford raid fixer. 1L diluted has capacity of 40 8x10 FB prints. It is printing two times for me.

The guy, who made in big news with his Russian D type film is using this 1L mix for many films and then just adding fresh one from concentrate.