[Leica] Ups and downs of stop baths?

[jblack at ambio.net (John Black)]

>
> Do you mix this yourself?  How long have you been using it?  Any
downsides?

Yes, I get the concentrated NH4 thiosulfate solution from PP. This is used
at a 1:5 dilution (200ml/L). It's fairly cheap and can probably be had
elsewhere. I buy it 5 gal at a time and that takes me about 2 years to use
up.  There is an agricultural grade NH4 thiosulfate solution (it is used as
a fertilizer in some areas, I think). It can be had for pennies a gal from
your farmer's co-op. They don't have it in Tennessee but it can be had in
Eastern Washington state. Check with your nearest co-op. The only downside
to the ag grade thiosulfate solution is that it stinks horribly! They may
put the smell in to restrict its' use but it works fine as a fixer.  Sulfite
and metabisulfite can be had inexpensively in dry bulk from PP.  Check with
Ryuji's site:  www.silvergrain.org for the particulars.

I am happy with it for film and paper, seems to work quite well.

>
> I'm looking for a good fixer.  I can't get Kodak's 5 gallon cube without
> paying as much for shipping as the cube itself costs.  Gallon size would
be
> ideal.  I'm not unhappy with the one I got from Photographers' Formulary,
> but I'm less than thrilled with their customer service.  The unique email
I
> used to order from them started getting spammed, and they didn't seem to
> care when I pointed that out to them.

Well.... so that's one of the sources of my continuing spam problem.
Hmmmph....   Oh well, I only order from them about every 2 years, I guess
that's a relatively small price to pay.

JB