Rapidfixer question

[napoleonesq]

I am making a gallon of Kodak Prof. rapid fixer and I dont know how many rolls of film I can reuse with, and how to save the used fixer.

After developing a roll, should I pour the used fixer in a separate container and re use? and if so how many rolls...nothing in the instructions seem to help.

Or should i pour it back in the One gallon container and then re-use?

Thanks

 

[bwcolor]

Instructions usually come with Kodak products..no??

 

[MikeL]

After the first couple times re-using fixer, I put a small test piece into the extra fixer and see how long it takes to clear. Typically clears in about 2 minutes with the film and fixer I use, so I fix the developed film for twice that. When it takes 3-3:30 minutes to clear a piece, I discard the fixer at my local haz mat place.

 

[nikon_sam]

I mix up a gallon of fixer at a time too...
I use the fixer and then pour it back after...
I should, but I don't, record the rolls fixed per gallon..but I do date when the fixer was mixed...
I continue to use this gallon until it takes way over ten minutes to completly fix (clear) the film...I can tell when developing 120 roll film when it's not being fixed properly...the edges don't become clear, there can also be a pinkish tint to the film or a light brown discoloration when it dries...when any or all of these things show up it's time to remix a new batch...
Now, this is just the way I do it and have done it over the last 30+ years...if anyone disagress with my methods that's okay...but this system works for me...

You can pour the used fixer in a separate container until all of the fixer is now used and then you have a gallon of used fixer and then start again with pouring it into the other bottle...what ever works for you...

Keeping good records of your mixed chemicals makes things easier...

 

[Tom A]

I mix it as a 1 gallon in a jug. Put a piece of tape down the bottle and "tick" mark every roll. Also date when mixed.
You can usually get 65-75 rolls out of a gallon ( a bit less with Tmax films - about 40 rolls). I dump it after a month if I haven't hit the 60=70 rolls mark.
With "standard" films (Tri X,HP5, XX etc) I fix 7min (first 20 r0lls) 8 min (next 20 rolls) and 10 min for the final 30 rolls.
I use a Uni Drum rotating "thingie" - it will do 2 turns in one direction and then reverse for 2 turns. Beats having to stand there and agitate fixer!

 

[ddutchison]

After the first couple times re-using fixer, I put a small test piece into the extra fixer and see how long it takes to clear. Typically clears in about 2 minutes with the film and fixer I use, so I fix the developed film for twice that. When it takes 3-3:30 minutes to clear a piece, I discard the fixer at my local haz mat place.

I'll second this!

This is almost exactly what Ansel Adams recommended as a standard practice in The Negative (Except he chucked his fixer when the clearing time doubled). He knew his way around a darkroom and his negs are still good, so I figure you can't go wrong with this method.