E6 fixer - homebrew?

[Dave_P]

Hoping anyone with an encyclopaedic knowledge of photo chemistry might be able to chip in here...

I'm just approaching the end of my latest E6 6-bath kit and seem to have run out of the fixer before everything else, to the tune of about a batch of film or two. I probably cocked up and mixed the fix up too strong one session. Anyway, while I need to order a new kit for the time being I was just wondering if anyone knows if you can improvise a suitable E6 fixer from any of the chemicals I have knocking around? Stuff I have to hand:

- Ilford Rapid Fixer
- Ilford Wash Aid
- Sodium Thiosulphate crystals
- Sodium bisulphate
- Sodium Metabisulphite
plus the usual household stuff.

I may just chalk this one up to experience, but would be a shame to waste the end of the existing kit as they ain't cheap.

Cheers

 

[Ian Grant]

Simple

Sodium Thiosulphate (cryst) 160g
Sodium Sulphite (anhyd) 10g
Water to 1 litre

pH should be 6.9 to 7

Ilfird Rapid Fixer is a bit too acidic. Metabisulphite is also too acidic.

Ilford Wash Aid is essentially a Sodium Sulphite solution, a bit under 10%, so you could use it.

Ian

 

[Dave_P]

Brilliant, I was hoping something like this would work - cheers Ian!