Gast
Hello
Does anyone know how long Adofix 1:9 will keep in the tray once opened?
Or does it need to be poured back into a bottle after each use?
It would certainly be more practical to leave the fixer in the tray. But then, how long will it last?
Thanks for your thoughts and experiences.
Martin
Gast
Martin,
Fixer doesn't usually go off that quickly, but I bet you'll end up throwing it away soon anyway, as it starts to smell and go off before it actually becomes unusable.
Roland
Gast
... i.e. if you don't pour it into the bottle and leave it open for days on end
cfb_de
Hi Martin,
Let’s be honest: what’s wrong with simply covering it with cling film? That also helps the developer last a good two to four weeks in the tray (provided you’re using N113 or Eukobrom...).
Take the film off, factor in a loss of about two ml, and you’re good to go.
I’d also have my reservations about leaving the fixer completely exposed to the air. As we know, silver ions catalyse the oxidation reactions of sulphite, which in turn opens the floodgates to the rest of the sulphur chemistry in the fixer. It’s a very interesting chemical process going on there. But it’s unwanted. And if UV radiation (= light) comes into play as well...
Have I made myself clear enough? I’d rather check again. I’m a chemist, not a professional photo developer.
A vertical tank like the Nova ensures even longer shelf life, especially if you cover it. This is because the surface area of the solution is even smaller there.
Best regards,
Franz
Gast
Hi Franz,
Thanks for your expert opinion as a chemist.
The idea with the cling film is so simple – why didn’t I think of that myself? :-)
What do you mean by ‘a few millilitres lost’? (Evaporation or …).
For the developer, I use Oeko-Dur, which I can leave open for a long time anyway – but I’ll cover it with the cling film as well now.
Does it make sense to spray some Pffft Protectan under the cling film? I’m not a chemist, just a passionate photographer – who sometimes struggles with the chemistry :-)
Best regards,
Martin
cfb_de
Hi Martin,
Using Protectan under the cling film doesn’t make much sense. The cling film isn’t actually that dense that the gas can’t escape. It’s just better than nothing at all.
As for the few millilitres lost: some of it sticks to the cling film and goes in the bin with it. And some of it does evaporate anyway. But less than without a cover.
Best regards,
Franz
Gast
Hi Franz,
Right, so that’s all sorted then.
And it won’t be left for more than a week anyway, as I tend to prefer preparing a fresh batch of chemicals rather than overusing the old ones.
After all, the chemicals don’t cost much compared to the test prints :-)
Best regards,
Martin
