Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/07/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> I use HC-110 1:63. This dilution puts me in the 9-13 minute > range for most films/EI's. > > Will a water stop do it for me? I worry, just because HC-110 is > known to be such an active developer. There are two easy ways to slow down a developer (keeping the temp constant @ 20C), one is to lower the pH and the other is to dilute the formula several fold. Diluted HC-110 is still very basic (high pH) but a plain water rinse works fine as a stop when it's diluted this far. You don't really need an acid stop with this dilution. > > Also, I use pretty common fixers - Ilford Rapid Fix and Sprint > Speed Fixer. Easy to find here in DC. Are these "acidic fixers" ? Yes, they are all acid fixers. If the fresh working strength fixer has a slight vinnegary smell, it's acid. These can be made into neutral fixers by adding certain alkaline salts to them to neutralize the acid. But that's too much trouble. Neutral rapid fix is easy to make. Order some 60% liquid concentrate amonium thiosulfate solution from Photographer's formulary and all you have to do is dilute it 1:5 with water and add some sodium sulfite and metabisulfite to the mixture and you have neutral fix. I use a neutral darkroom now and nothing stinks! The developer is phenidone and vitamine C and nothing has acetic acid in it. My wife approves. JB