I'm getting ready to start processing my own 4x5 B&W negs in my bathroom. I processed all my film at school using Kodak Rapid Fixer that was always premixed and ready to go.

I recently got plain old Kodak Fixer (thats all it says on the package...though it says it in six languages) Having never used this before I know little about it. Does this have a hardening agent? Do I need one? Any different then Rapid Fix other then the fact that it takes longer? Any info would be great. I got this because B&H wasn't shipping the Rapid Fixer for some reason so I hope its what I'm looking for.

-- Chris Long (chrislong18@mchsi.com), May 02, 2002

Answers

As long as you are doing usual processing, hardener is unnecessary and undesirable. Hardening fixer takes longer to wash out. That powder in yellow bag works slower and washes slightly slower (because it's not that strongly hardening) but otherwise the same.

If you are looking for a non-hardening rapid fixer, I recommend Ilford Multigrade fixer.

If you like to know a lot more about the choice of fixer, there was a lengthy discussion on the topic before so I suggest you search for it.

-- Ryuji Suzuki (rsuzuki@rs.cncdsl.com), May 02, 2002.

The Kodak fixer is fine for you negatives. Use a wash aid and you'll have no problem removing residual fix from the negs. Don't use this fixer for your paper, though. In addition to the prior post comments, the hardner doesn't do anything to help with toning.

-- r (ricardospanks1@yahoo.com), May 03, 2002.

Steve Anchell in his "darkroom cookbook" reports that Kodak's researchers found that ordinary fixer was inadequate for fixing modern negatives. Rapid fixer is a more effective formulation.

-- Phil Glass (phi_glass@yahoo.com), May 04, 2002.