Rapid Fixer need HELP!

[Kristopher]

Hi,

I use Ilford Rapid Fixer. I use it for 120 film and I re-use the same working solution 10 times before using a new one. Ilford says that you can do up to 20 135-36. So I guess that 10 times is not too much.

Here is my principal question: What is the shelf time of the working solution. I keep mine up to 3 weeks and I use it maybe 10 times in that period. Ilford data says that I should get rid of working solution after only one week... I have just noticed it...

I always had good results, but I am anxious of getting my negs to deteriorate with time. Should I re-fix them? (Oldest neg is 3 months old.)😕

Thanks,

Kris

 

[sepiareverb]

I've never heard about a time limit on working solution bottle life either- I keep mine going for a long time. I test my fixer with the Edwal Hypo-Check and find I can get a lot of film out of it. I've been doing this for years and old films are not fading, so I think I'm ok. Now you've got me wondering so I'll do some more careful testing. I guess a residual silver test would be the easiest eh?

Archival procedures call for fresh fixer, for the best possible processing, but I think that If we're using fixer that still works, still tests as viable, and our films are testing as fully fixed- isn't that fixed?

I do wash longer than suggested almost always, and do very full rinses before and after my Fixer Remover, so if there is some additional potential harm from old fixer I may be avoiding it that way.

My beside table will get some fresh books on it tonight.