NAACO Zip Fix

Tom Phillips wrote

Some claim to use alkaline fix to shorten wash time and
conserve water. Never having used and tested it I don't
know if this holds true or not.


The ph of ALL off-the-shelf fixers is below seven. The ph of
ALL off-the-shelf stop baths is below seven; the shelfs of the
usuall photographic supply houses.
If you found that the claim is true and wished to purchase
an alkaline fix where would you turn? Dan

Dan Quinn wrote:

Tom Phillips wrote

Some claim to use alkaline fix to shorten wash time and
conserve water. Never having used and tested it I don't
know if this holds true or not.



The ph of ALL off-the-shelf fixers is below seven. The ph of
ALL off-the-shelf stop baths is below seven; the shelfs of the
usuall photographic supply houses.
If you found that the claim is true and wished to purchase
an alkaline fix where would you turn? Dan

Seems to me someone sells TF-4, an alkaline rapid fixer formula
originating with Bill Troop -- Photographer's Formulary, probably. It's
sold as a concentrate that requires shaking before dilution, because
there are undissolved solids in the bottle that must be suspended in
order to get correct concentration in the working solution.

I've seen this TF-4 on the shelf at Glazer's Photo Supply in Seattle, a
shop that carries a significant cross section of Photographer's
Formulary goods.

--
The challenge to the photographer is to command the medium, to use
whatever current equipment and technology furthers his creative
objectives, without sacrificing the ability to make his own decisions.
-- Ansel Adams

Donald Qualls, aka The Silent Observer http://silent1.home.netcom.com

Opinions expressed are my own -- take them for what they're worth
and don't expect them to be perfect.

Dan Quinn wrote:

Tom Phillips wrote

Some claim to use alkaline fix to shorten wash time and
conserve water. Never having used and tested it I don't
know if this holds true or not.



The ph of ALL off-the-shelf fixers is below seven. The ph of
ALL off-the-shelf stop baths is below seven; the shelfs of the
usuall photographic supply houses.
If you found that the claim is true and wished to purchase
an alkaline fix where would you turn? Dan

Seems to me someone sells TF-4, an alkaline rapid fixer formula
originating with Bill Troop -- Photographer's Formulary, probably. It's
sold as a concentrate that requires shaking before dilution, because
there are undissolved solids in the bottle that must be suspended in
order to get correct concentration in the working solution.

I've seen this TF-4 on the shelf at Glazer's Photo Supply in Seattle, a
shop that carries a significant cross section of Photographer's
Formulary goods.

--
The challenge to the photographer is to command the medium, to use
whatever current equipment and technology furthers his creative
objectives, without sacrificing the ability to make his own decisions.
-- Ansel Adams

Donald Qualls, aka The Silent Observer http://silent1.home.netcom.com

Opinions expressed are my own -- take them for what they're worth
and don't expect them to be perfect.

Dan Quinn wrote:

Tom Phillips wrote

Some claim to use alkaline fix to shorten wash time and
conserve water. Never having used and tested it I don't
know if this holds true or not.


The ph of ALL off-the-shelf fixers is below seven. The ph of
ALL off-the-shelf stop baths is below seven; the shelfs of the
usuall photographic supply houses.
If you found that the claim is true and wished to purchase
an alkaline fix where would you turn? Dan


Well for me it's not an issue. I use water rather liberally
in my processing and washing. Even when washing, I don't
follow strict time constraints, other than to not wash too long.
But if I used a process that reduced the washing times for prints
to, say, 10 minutes, I'd likely still wash for twenty.

Also I prefer to use an acid stop. I like to arrest development
as quickly as possible.

Tom Phillips wrote

Dan Quinn wrote:

Tom Phillips wrote

Some claim to use alkaline fix to shorten wash time and
conserve water. Never having used and tested it I don't
know if this holds true or not.


The ph of ALL off-the-shelf fixers is below seven. The ph of
ALL off-the-shelf stop baths is below seven; the shelfs of the
usuall photographic supply houses.
If you found that the claim is true and wished to purchase
an alkaline fix where would you turn? Dan


Well for me it's not an issue. I use water rather liberally
in my processing and washing. Even when washing, I don't
follow strict time constraints, other than to not wash too long.
But if I used a process that reduced the washing times for prints
to, say, 10 minutes, I'd likely still wash for twenty.

Also I prefer to use an acid stop. I like to arrest development
as quickly as possible.


As long as you use an acid fix what choice have you but an
acid stop.
Actually I don't think the acid 'stops'. The acetic acid molecule
in comparison with that of water is large, slow moveing and has
a short mean path. Stopping is due to dilution. After all stop
baths are 98% water. The acid is for the fix.
I'm such a minimalist that I use S. or A. Thiosulfate with
nothing added, one-shot very dilute.
For some interesting reading search this NG for, alkaline fixers ,
and, high ionic strength .
Bill Troop has no doubts what-so-ever of the speed and water
advantages of highly alkaline fixers. Dr. M. Gudzinowicz does not
buy Troop's argument. The Doctor mentions other factors to be
considered which He at least feels outweigh Mr. Troop's
preference. Dan

Tom Phillips wrote

Dan Quinn wrote:

Tom Phillips wrote

Some claim to use alkaline fix to shorten wash time and
conserve water. Never having used and tested it I don't
know if this holds true or not.


The ph of ALL off-the-shelf fixers is below seven. The ph of
ALL off-the-shelf stop baths is below seven; the shelfs of the
usuall photographic supply houses.
If you found that the claim is true and wished to purchase
an alkaline fix where would you turn? Dan


Well for me it's not an issue. I use water rather liberally
in my processing and washing. Even when washing, I don't
follow strict time constraints, other than to not wash too long.
But if I used a process that reduced the washing times for prints
to, say, 10 minutes, I'd likely still wash for twenty.

Also I prefer to use an acid stop. I like to arrest development
as quickly as possible.


As long as you use an acid fix what choice have you but an
acid stop.
Actually I don't think the acid 'stops'. The acetic acid molecule
in comparison with that of water is large, slow moveing and has
a short mean path. Stopping is due to dilution. After all stop
baths are 98% water. The acid is for the fix.
I'm such a minimalist that I use S. or A. Thiosulfate with
nothing added, one-shot very dilute.
For some interesting reading search this NG for, alkaline fixers ,
and, high ionic strength .
Bill Troop has no doubts what-so-ever of the speed and water
advantages of highly alkaline fixers. Dr. M. Gudzinowicz does not
buy Troop's argument. The Doctor mentions other factors to be
considered which He at least feels outweigh Mr. Troop's
preference. Dan

Dan Quinn wrote:

Tom Phillips wrote

Dan Quinn wrote:

Tom Phillips wrote

Some claim to use alkaline fix to shorten wash time and
conserve water. Never having used and tested it I don't
know if this holds true or not.


The ph of ALL off-the-shelf fixers is below seven. The ph of
ALL off-the-shelf stop baths is below seven; the shelfs of the
usuall photographic supply houses.
If you found that the claim is true and wished to purchase
an alkaline fix where would you turn? Dan


Well for me it's not an issue. I use water rather liberally
in my processing and washing. Even when washing, I don't
follow strict time constraints, other than to not wash too long.
But if I used a process that reduced the washing times for prints
to, say, 10 minutes, I'd likely still wash for twenty.

Also I prefer to use an acid stop. I like to arrest development
as quickly as possible.


As long as you use an acid fix what choice have you but an
acid stop.
Actually I don't think the acid 'stops'. The acetic acid molecule
in comparison with that of water is large, slow moveing and has
a short mean path. Stopping is due to dilution. After all stop
baths are 98% water. The acid is for the fix.

The acid is prevent carryover to the fix but it also
counteracts the alkalinity, and most (I say most cause I
don't know all developers...) developer activity requires
an alkaline environment...

I'm such a minimalist that I use S. or A. Thiosulfate with
nothing added, one-shot very dilute.
For some interesting reading search this NG for, alkaline fixers ,
and, high ionic strength .
Bill Troop has no doubts what-so-ever of the speed and water
advantages of highly alkaline fixers. Dr. M. Gudzinowicz does not
buy Troop's argument. The Doctor mentions other factors to be
considered which He at least feels outweigh Mr. Troop's
preference.

Well I don't doubt the use of an alkaline process. But acidity
doesn't bother me and I haven't a water shortage issue.

Dan Quinn wrote:

Tom Phillips wrote

Dan Quinn wrote:

Tom Phillips wrote

Some claim to use alkaline fix to shorten wash time and
conserve water. Never having used and tested it I don't
know if this holds true or not.


The ph of ALL off-the-shelf fixers is below seven. The ph of
ALL off-the-shelf stop baths is below seven; the shelfs of the
usuall photographic supply houses.
If you found that the claim is true and wished to purchase
an alkaline fix where would you turn? Dan


Well for me it's not an issue. I use water rather liberally
in my processing and washing. Even when washing, I don't
follow strict time constraints, other than to not wash too long.
But if I used a process that reduced the washing times for prints
to, say, 10 minutes, I'd likely still wash for twenty.

Also I prefer to use an acid stop. I like to arrest development
as quickly as possible.


As long as you use an acid fix what choice have you but an
acid stop.
Actually I don't think the acid 'stops'. The acetic acid molecule
in comparison with that of water is large, slow moveing and has
a short mean path. Stopping is due to dilution. After all stop
baths are 98% water. The acid is for the fix.

The acid is prevent carryover to the fix but it also
counteracts the alkalinity, and most (I say most cause I
don't know all developers...) developer activity requires
an alkaline environment...

I'm such a minimalist that I use S. or A. Thiosulfate with
nothing added, one-shot very dilute.
For some interesting reading search this NG for, alkaline fixers ,
and, high ionic strength .
Bill Troop has no doubts what-so-ever of the speed and water
advantages of highly alkaline fixers. Dr. M. Gudzinowicz does not
buy Troop's argument. The Doctor mentions other factors to be
considered which He at least feels outweigh Mr. Troop's
preference.

Well I don't doubt the use of an alkaline process. But acidity
doesn't bother me and I haven't a water shortage issue.