Re: fixing salt prints

Thanks, David, I did do extensive washing, after the salt bath rinse, and before fixing. I have set up an experiment for today to test a couple of variables, including the length of time fixing and adding citric acid to the rinse water.

Cheers!
JT

--
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
> 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
> > 
> 
> 
> 
> 		
> __________________________________ 
> Start your day with Yahoo! - Make it your home page! 
> http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs