[pure-silver] Re: Adding Sodium Sulfite to Sodium Thiosufale.
- From: "Michael A. Smith and Paula Chamlee" <michaelandpaula@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 03 Apr 2011 08:13:24 -0400
Bogdan,
I use an acetic acid stop bath. I then use plain
sodium thiosulfate with 15-25 grams added of
Sodium Bisulfite per 1/2 gallon or 40-50 grams of
Sodium Bisulfite per gallon.
Many years ago, when I spent a month with Brett
Weston, watching him print most every day, this is
what he used. I figured if it was good enough for
Brett, who learned to do this from his father, it
was good enough for me.
Brett used the higher number in the quantity range
above. Paula does not like the smell of the
Bisulfite when she gets close to it, so she has
cut down the quantity with no adverse affect.
When the Bisulfite is not used, and there is only
the plain sodium thiosulfate, the solution soon
gets quite cloudy (though seems to continue
working). When the Bisulfite is added, it clears
right up.
I use a two-solution fixing bath. The first bath
only gets the Bisulfite. Then I use a holding bath
and at the end of the day I rotate finished
prints through a second fixing bath, this time
with plain sodium thiosulfite only and no Sodium
Bisulfite.
I then take the prints directly into a
Perma=Wash/Rapid Selenium Toner Solution. I have
never had any staining.
Using 480 grams of Sodium Sulfite per two liters
of hypo seems to me to be beyond excessive. That
is a lot of Sodium Sulfite. Mt recommendation is
to ignore Anchell's recommendation.
Michael A. Smith
On 4/2/11 5:48 PM, Bogdan wrote:
hi all,
In the discussion on using 2 bath Sodium
thiosulfate, someone mentioned adding Sodium
sulfite to prolong the keeping properties of
simple hypo.
I'm using Anchell's "Darkroom Cookbook" as my
reference for my chemistry.
For plain hypo, He recommends 480.0 grams of
Sodium Thiosulfate per 2 L of water; how much
Sodium sulphite should I add to assure longevity.
Till now, I have never added Sodium Sulfite to
the hypo and would tone the prints in 1:9 KRST
(no additives) and then wash.
Any suggestions of the amount I should add to
the hypo?
Cheers,
bogdan
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