Test fixer! Potassium iodide from where?

Dongrappo · 2019-12-13T19:38:07+00:00

Moin Leute Nun bin ich schon viele Apotheken hier in Bremen abgelaufen, oder habe angerufen, doch die Zeiten das die Kaliumjodid selber hatten und einem ein...

Dongrappo

Hi everyone I’ve been to loads of pharmacies here in Bremen, or phoned them up, but the days when they actually stocked potassium iodide themselves and would mix up a 5% solution for a few euros seem to be a thing of the past. They’d then charge you for the smallest quantity they can order themselves. That starts at around €40; the last pharmacy could only order larger minimum quantities and quoted me a total of a good €100 today. :huh: As I unfortunately always have to be very careful with my finances, does anyone have a tip on where to get something like this, or an alternative to the said remedy? I certainly don’t want my prints to take on an unwanted new form after a ‘short’ time due to insufficient fixing. EDIT: I’ve just had another look online. Could this be the right product? https://www.laborladen.de/Lugolsche-Loesung-5-Iod-Kaliumiodid-Loesung Best regards, Werner

Wolf_XL

...no, that’s not right – the solution contains iodine as well as potassium iodide... And whether that would still work for the fixing test – I’m not knowledgeable enough in chemistry to say... The question is whether the https://www.ebay.de/itm/100g-99-Kaliumiodid-Kaliumjodid-Jod-Iodine-ACS-Labor-Chemikalien-Experimente/352768045286?hash=item52229d30e6:g:g6IAAOSwh~ldY6LE would get through customs...

Dongrappo

Thanks, Wolf Well, I did realise later on that it was all about iodine and potassium iodide. That’s a shame, and thanks for the link. That would probably make a fixing test like that rather impractical. Six months ago, I had to do a daily iodine soak for a nasty wound on my finger. So I really should have/could have worked that out for myself. Tetenal do sell those test strips, but I find them really quite expensive. So, if you have any relevant information, there’s no need to contact ZDF or your local police station – feel free to share it here. Best regards, Werner

Dongrappo

Wolf_XL wrote ... no, that’s not right – the solution contains iodine as well as potassium iodide... And whether that would still work for the fixing test – I’m not knowledgeable enough in chemistry to say... The question is whether the https://www.ebay.de/itm/100g-99-Kaliumiodid-Kaliumjodid-Jod-Iodine-ACS-Labor-Chemikalien-Experimente/352768045286?hash=item52229d30e6:g:g6IAAOSwh~ldY6LE would get through customs...

I’m wondering whether I should risk buying the potassium iodide from ebay in China. Although I could also get it from a German supplier there for €10 plus €5 postage. https://www.ebay.de/itm/Kaliumiodid-reinst-Pharmaqualitat-BP-EP-USP-100g-KI-Potassium-iodine/352157294044?hash=item51fe35dddc:g:LHgAAOxyIYhSWrMe Is there anyone else in the Bremen area who might need something like this? You only need a very small amount of this to last a very long time anyway. If you’re interested, please just send me a private message. Best regards, Werner

mattes

Many analogue photographers skip testing the fixing bath. Quite simply, it is considered to have been used up after 10 films per litre. You can also measure the time it takes to clear and compare it with the manufacturer’s specifications. Matthias

HGR

Have you ever tried Suvatlar in Hamburg (e.g. via Moersch)? It’s 19.80 there. Or the fixer bath tester from fotoimpex. Regards, HGR

Dongrappo

Hello, and I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year in 2020. 2020 sounds a bit like science fiction, doesn’t it? And the year after next, we’ll finally be able to buy ‘Soylent Green’ at the discount supermarket. What wonderful times. Pure paradise! :P I digress. @ Mattes: Well, of course I keep a tally for film development. That’s no problem. However, when it comes to the fixer for paper processing, that’s totally unrealistic in terms of practical implementation, at least for me. I’d have to take the format, the test strips, etc. into account every single time. And always right in the middle of the process. Then it gets very late again and, exhausted, I’d still have to tidy everything up and then concentrate on keeping “records”. That’s not for me. I know myself far too well for that! Can you manage it that way? Well, I’ve read up a bit more on the subject of fixing. And yes, it’s better to change the fixer early on, especially if the prints are to last. Well, I’ll have another go at it soon. For now, it’s all about surviving and keeping a roof over my head. So no extras for the time being, and no indulging in that oh-so-romanticised artist’s life. If anyone else knows any tips or techniques, please do share them, and many thanks to everyone for your support and your knowledge. :at: Kind regards, Werner