Ilford rapid fix, hardener in stop bath, or pre-soak?

J

Johan

Guest
I'm struggling with scratches and scuff marks on my Fomapan 200. I very much enjoy the results I get and the price. But the black streaks make me sad.

I know that at least some of these marks are caused by me even though I'm careful so I'd like to try to use some hardener. I can get hold of Tetenal Stop and Fix hardener pretty easily but I currently have quite a bit of Ilford Rapid Fixer left which says it is not compatible with fix hardener.

Can I use it in the stop bath? Or will it still interfere with the ilford fixer?

I have a also read posts online alluding to the possibility of a pre developer hardening soak as well. Anyone have more information on that?

The Tetenal hardener contains acetic acid and Aluminium Sulphate according to the bottle.
 
Firstly, welcome to the forum.
Scratches and scuff marks are caused when you handle the film. Best to review your methods of loading and unloading the film holders, plus making sure they are dust free. You don’t say what system you use for developing, but no amount of hardening will cure scratches that are already there.
Pre-hardening will almost certainly affect your processing times. Other members will know more about this.
Could you post an example?
 
I use Fomapan all the time and don't have any problems since I started using water instead of stop bath. I'm using Ilford Hypam fixer without any issues. For 5x4 sheets I use a Jobo reel and tank or a MOD54.
 
I've used a lot of Fomapan 100 & 200 in 120 and 5x4, I use a water stop bath and Ilford or Champion Rapid Fixer.

When I used EFKE films in the late 1970s the emulsion was very soft, I used to add a few drops of Formaldehyde to the developer just before use, or a Chrome Alum hardening stop bath. EFKE improved their films hardening in the 1980 and while sfter than Foma emulsions I've not had an issue with just a water stop and rapid fixer.

You cannot use a hardener with Ilford Rapid Fixer, yo would have to switch to Hypam which has increased buffering to allow the use of the hardener.

Ian
 
I’ve used a hardener (which smells like formaldehyde) as a final bath after fixing and a rinse, on 10x8 Fomapan, as the emulsion seemed very soft indeed and I was damaging it while extracting it from the tank. Seemed to work.
Didn’t use it earlier in the sequence, because I had doubts about the effect on my processing times.
 
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