RE: fixing salt prints

Thanks, Liam. Your remarks are encouraging. I did add citric acid to the Ag Nitrate (high humidity formulae). And I use deionized water for the first "salt rinse" in the development process, then went straight to tap water which, being city water, most likely is oxygenated, halogenated, etc. It is raining so frequently here now that I could easily collect rain water and give that a try (Fortunately I live in an area where the air is relatively pollution free.). My final rinse after the hypo-clearing was 20 min in running tap water. Maybe I can end with a final soak in deionized to see if that helps.

Thanks again!
Judy

--
Judy Rowe Taylor
Mukilteo, WA
Art is a voice of the heart, a song of the soul.
www.enduringibis.com
jude.taylor@comcast.net or judyrowetaylor@enduringibis.com
> Judy,
> 
> The silver nitrate solution should last indefinitely - literally years.  Its
> life *could* be shortened if contaminated with organic matter picked up from
> the paper, as could happen if you're repeatedly dipping your brush into it
> (as opposed to decanting what you need for each print).
> 
> The staining may not be insufficient fixing.  With some water supplies,
> general light grey-brown staining appears in the wash.  My theory is that
> it's to do with dissolved oxygen, but I have no definite proof!  Anyway, the
> remedy is to give the first rinse (before fixing) in distilled/deionised
> water, or boiled and cooled water.  Not a large volume needed (a mugful per
> rinse per 8X10), but preferably give two or three rinses in this "safe"
> water before a minute or so under the tap, then fix.  Should help if your
> trouble is related to problems I've had here.  (Also, cutting down the final
> wash - if it's unnecessarily long - might help.)
> 
> 
> 
> Liam
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jude.taylor@comcast.net [mailto:jude.taylor@comcast.net]
> Sent: 15 October 2005 16:04
> To: alt-photo-process-l@sask.usask.ca
> Subject: fixing salt prints
> 
> 
> Anyone out there tried regular Kodak fixer (with its assorted chemical mix)
> for fixing salt prints?  All the recipes I have found call for plain sodium
> thiosulfate (a.k.a. hypo) either 10% with 2% sodium bicarb (Wynn White,
> James) or 5% Na thiosulfate wtih a bit of Na carbonate (Webb and Reed).
> 
> Also, I have on hand Hustler Rapid Clear; directions say to used diluted 4
> oz (120 ml) per gallon water.  Should this be adequate to clear salt prints?
> 
> I have tried a couple of prints and they do not seem to have cleared
> adequately.  Or maybe I used the Kodak fixer too dilute and not long enough
> (2:1 stock fixer: water; two baths for 2 minutes....minimal fading so maybe
> it is not strong enough or long enough on the fixing?)  A masked border
> around the print that was paper white last night is light gray this morning
> in the dry prints! Sigh!
> 
> About how long will the silver nitrate sensitizer remain"usable" stored in
> an amber bottle in the dark (2 or 3 days, a week?) as there is no way I am
> likely to use up a full recipe in an initial printing attempt (I did make up
> a smaller batch and may do 1/4 recipe next time until I get it right!).
> 
> Thanks!
> Judy
> 
> --
> Judy Rowe Taylor
> Mukilteo, WA
> Art is a voice of the heart, a song of the soul.
> www.enduringibis.com
> jude.taylor@comcast.net or judyrowetaylor@enduringibis.com
>