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- Name
- Samuel
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Hi,
The other day I developed a film (FP4+) and after letting it dry, I went to scan a few. The first thing I noticed was that the clear areas looked more 'milky' than clear which made me think of a problem with me fixing the negs, and sure enough when I did a couple of trial scans the results were the same as when I last underfixed a film.
I decided to do a clip test of the fixer (I had made it to the correct dilution as I was very careful) by making up another 300ml batch (I use it one shot and squeeze the air out of the stock bottle as I don't really shoot enough to justify making a hugh great container of diluted fixer) and sure enough the film leader did not go clear after at least 10 minutes (well a bit but it went more pink than clear). Evidently my fixer was dead (hey it lasted nearly 3 years though!)
My dad then happened to mention that he had an unopened bottle of fixer in the garage. Taking a look at it, its a sealed bottle of 'Jessops Econofix 2', probably about 20 years old as my dad has not done his own developing since at least then.
Does anyone think it'll still be o.k after all that time as its still completely sealed? Theres no mention of an expiary date etc on it, but Ilford say 2 years for their rapid fixer. At the minute I don't quite have any money spare for another new bottle of fixer so does anyone think its worth trying?
The other day I developed a film (FP4+) and after letting it dry, I went to scan a few. The first thing I noticed was that the clear areas looked more 'milky' than clear which made me think of a problem with me fixing the negs, and sure enough when I did a couple of trial scans the results were the same as when I last underfixed a film.
I decided to do a clip test of the fixer (I had made it to the correct dilution as I was very careful) by making up another 300ml batch (I use it one shot and squeeze the air out of the stock bottle as I don't really shoot enough to justify making a hugh great container of diluted fixer) and sure enough the film leader did not go clear after at least 10 minutes (well a bit but it went more pink than clear). Evidently my fixer was dead (hey it lasted nearly 3 years though!)
My dad then happened to mention that he had an unopened bottle of fixer in the garage. Taking a look at it, its a sealed bottle of 'Jessops Econofix 2', probably about 20 years old as my dad has not done his own developing since at least then.
Does anyone think it'll still be o.k after all that time as its still completely sealed? Theres no mention of an expiary date etc on it, but Ilford say 2 years for their rapid fixer. At the minute I don't quite have any money spare for another new bottle of fixer so does anyone think its worth trying?