To Harden or Not? Fixer for film

[DNG]

OK,
I am about to order my Film Developing stuff...
the only thing I am not educated on is using a hardener/fixer or just fixer.

Films I will most likely use for now: if it makes a difference:
Plus-X, Tmax 100-400, Tri-X, Neopan Acros 100,

Developer: Xtol for now, because of the varied temps I can use in my apartment.

Pro and Cons ?

 

[Roger Hicks]

DON'T harden with any modern emulsion. All it does is lengthens wash times. What films are you usng?

Cheers,

R.

 

[morback]

no need for hardener, even the eastern emulsions don't need it...
no need for stop either in my opinion. Ilford wash sequence is enough imho...

 

[DNG]

no need for hardener, even the eastern emulsions don't need it...
no need for stop either in my opinion. Ilford wash sequence is enough imho...

Yeah, a 30s water bath is all I'll use.

Good to know about hoarders..
But, What does it do?
any long term benefits?, like archival benefits for usable negatives after 20 years?, 40 Years? 100 years?

 

[wlewisiii]

Need it? None of those need hardener. Efke/Adox does though - it's very easy to scratch.

Realistically, if you're using commercial fixer, just get the cheaper one of Ilford or Kodak rapid fix & be done with it. Kodak is hardening but I find it doesn't make that much difference in my procedures.

William

 

[morback]

Yeah, a 30s water bath is all I'll use.

Good to know about hoarders..
But, What does it do?
any long term benefits?, like archival benefits for usable negatives after 20 years?, 40 Years? 100 years?

I think it's a remnant from old times when emulsions where soft out of the soup. Supposedly Foma/Efke are still like this nowadays, but I never had any problems with these films that would require a hardener to be solved.

Negatives properly stored (and fixed) will outlast you.

 

[WDPictures]

Hardener has helped with some of my Adox and Efke film otherwise I haven't needed it.