Pictorial Planet
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AGFA 304 Rapid Fixer
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Rapid fixers are useful, particularly with modern tabular‑grain films which, due to their higher iodide content, need a more powerful fixing compound.
Most purchased rapid fixers are made with ammonium thiosulfate, but this can be hard to source or more expensive than sodium thiosulphate. Here I provide an AGFA formula rapid fixer made with sodium thiosulfate and ammonium chloride. The ammonium chloride combines with the sodium thiosulphate to form the rapid fixer.
AGFA 304 Rapid Fix
Water 50c 700ml
Sod. thiosulphate (Crys) 200g
or
Sod. thiosulphate (Anhyd) 128g
Ammonium chloride 50g
Potassium metabisulphite 20g
Water to make 1000ml
To use teaspoons and Tablespoons:
Water 50C 700ml
Sodium Thiosulphate 11 Tbl
Ammonium Chloride 5 Tbl
Potassium Metabisulphite 3 tsp
Make up to 1 Ltr with water
• Working strength solution
• Recommended for flat grain films Kodak T-Max and Ilford Delta
• This is not very acidic and will work well with Pyro staining developers
• Keeps for one month
• Fixing times:
Film 1-2 minutes - longer for tabular grain films (always two times the clearing time)
Paper 2 minutes (see Fixing Tips)
• Capacity 10-20 films or 40 10x8 inch papers (or equivalent)
