Re: fixing salt prints

Hi Judy,

I've mostly used plain hypo (10% no other additives),
but I think I have also used kodak rapid fix and it
worked fine if I recall correctly. If you tone the
prints you may need to use a different fix depending
on the pH of the toner. I usually fix for 5-8 minutes.

Is it possible you are not washing sufficiently before
fixing? You have to get rid of all the unreacted
silver salt by washing in tap water until you don't
see any white precipitate coming off any more (and
then some).

My silver nitrate solution must be going on a year or
more old and it still seems to work fine. I can't
think of anything that would hurt it over time in an
opaque bottle, except that it'll probably get more
concentrated with use.

David Barker

--- jude.taylor@comcast.net wrote:

> 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
>

                
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Received on Sat Oct 15 22:54:45 2005