Legacy Eco-Pro Fixer Clip Test?

[BobClack]

Just performed a clip test on my year old Legacy Eco-Pro neutral fixer.
Film (Tri-X) did not clear after 6 minutes.

Opened a brand new gallon Eco-Pro fixer (just purchased from B&H).
Film still unchanged after 5 minutes.

Okay, so I just performed another clip test using a new batch of Kodak fixer and everything went 100%. Film cleared in about 2 minutes.

Has anyone had this experience with Legacy Eco-Pro neutral fixer?
Could a gallon of fixer go bad if the seller has it for too long in stock?

 

[Rick A]

Um, I have some 5 year old Legacy Eco-Pro Neutral that clears EDU Ultra 200 sheet film in 45 seconds in a 1+4 batch mixed past November, it clears X-ray film in under 20 seconds.

 

[MattKing]

Could a gallon of fixer go bad if the seller has it for too long in stock?

Yes.
Any sign of sulfuring out?

 

[BobClack]

Yes.
Any sign of sulfuring out?

No sulfuring MK. Looks and smells like it always does.

 

[Mr Bill]

That sounds odd to me, that it shows no obvious sign of deteriorating (sulfurizing, etc.) yet doesn't function.

You ARE diluting it for use, aren't you?

 

[BobClack]

That sounds odd to me, that it shows no obvious sign of deteriorating (sulfurizing, etc.) yet doesn't function.

You ARE diluting it for use, aren't you?

Yes. Always 1:4. However, for the clip test I just poured it in a cup straight and set the clipped film in it. Same as with the Kodak fixer mentioned previous.

 

[Maris]

Undiluted rapid fixer does not work at all well. Why? Because the original stock is very concentrated and there is so little water in it that the fixation products won't move because they have nothing to dissolve in. I found this out years ago when trying to rush a darkroom job by using straight Ilfofix and finding that the film would not clear in a reasonable time.

 

[BobClack]

Undiluted rapid fixer does not work at all well. Why? Because the original stock is very concentrated and there is so little water in it that the fixation products won't move because they have nothing to dissolve in. I found this out years ago when trying to rush a darkroom job by using straight Ilfofix and finding that the film would not clear in a reasonable time.

Thank you for the great tip Maris and thank you to all others for their input. Will do this test with dilution tomorrow evening and report back with results.

 

[Mr Bill]

Yes. Always 1:4. However, for the clip test I just poured it in a cup straight and set the clipped film in it. Same as with the Kodak fixer mentioned previous.

That's probably all that's wrong, using it straight. Like Maris says. I dunno why the Kodak worked, though; perhaps it's not quite as concentrated, just guessing.

 

[BobClack]

Maris: Just as expected from your comments! Did the clip test in the Legacy Eco-Pro at 1:4 and Tri-X cleared in about 2 minutes.
Mr. Bill: Spot on! Not concentrated! Made the Kodak fixer up from powder using 3.8 liters of water.

Glad to have my Legacy Eco-Pro back again!
Who'd have thought that a clip test wasn't necessarily a clip test without the water!

Thanks once again to all!

 

[MattKing]

Off topic, but something I find similarly interesting.
HC-110 won't develop anything, unless and until you add water.
Water is both a "chemical" in itself, and pretty important stuff too you know!

 

[Anon Ymous]

Off topic, but something I find similarly interesting.
HC-110 won't develop anything, unless and until you add water.
Water is both a "chemical" in itself, and pretty important stuff too you know!

True, but any rapid fixer starts as an aqueous solution of ammonium thiosulfate and other compounds are added. So, water already exists in a rapid fixer concentrate, but it seems that the high concentration of ammonium thiosulfate slows things to a crawl.