THE DARKROOM COOKBOOK (Ansel Adams): Fixer TF-2 & TF-3

TF-2 Alkaline Fixer:
Characteristics:
- more rapid than acid fixer
- should odorless

Formula:
Water,                       750.0 ml
Sodium Thiosulfate     250.0 g
Sodium Sulfite              15.0 g
Sodium Metaborate      10.0 g
Water to make          1000.0 ml

Use undiluted for either film or paper.
Follow development by a 60-sec plain water rinse.
Fix films for 3 times the clearing time, or minimum 5 minutes, agitating for full 30-sec during each 1-min.
Fix paper for 10 full minutes with occasional agitation.
The capacity of TF-2 is twenty 8x10" prints or films per liter.

TF-3 Alkaline Rapid Fixer:

Characteristics:

- Fixing films & papers in less than half the time of TF-2 alkaline filxer.

- ammonium odor.

- similar to TF-4.

  - TF4 is more concentrated and slightly less alkaline.

  - the greater concentration of TF-4 increases the fixing capacity to 50 8x10" films/papers per liter,

     however it increase the ammonium odor as well!

Formula:

Ammonium Thiosulfate(50~60% solution) -----  750.0 ml

Sodium Sulfite ---------------------------------    60.0 g

Sodium Metaborate ---------------------------      5.0 g

Water to make -------------------------------- 1000.0 ml

Dilute 1:4 for either film or paper.

Follow development by a 60-sec plain water rinse.

Fix films for 3 minutes, agitating for full 30-sec during each 1-min.

Fix paper for 1 full minutes with continuous agitation.


Benefit-&-Cost Analysis:
Item                                             Cost(TWD)     Capacity(film135)    Capacity(8*10")         Price(TWD)
Kodac Rapid Hardening Fixer:      1.60/135-36        32 rolls/1L          26 sheets(RC)/1L        200/946ml
Ilford Rapid Fixer:                       3.17/135-36        24 rolls/1L          80 sheets(RC)/1L        380/1000ml          

TF-3: