Robert Ridyard Posted August 6, 2008 Share #1 Posted August 6, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have always been uncomfortable with the idea of wiping film as it hangs after washing and then soaking in photo-flo. Is there any other way than wiping to ensure that the film will be streak-free? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted August 6, 2008 Posted August 6, 2008 Hi Robert Ridyard, Take a look here To wipe or not to wipe. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
rob_x2004 Posted August 6, 2008 Share #2 Posted August 6, 2008 You can only do what works for you. I moved houses and had to change established practices because I now have timber floors, and a different water quality. What you could get away with in the dark room is not something your scanner can put up with either. Adjust your water flow or agapon concentration or whatever you call it so that it works for you, hang your negs wet and untouched and everything should run to the bottom carrying the crap with it, and, more importantly, dry from top to bottom so that you dont get blobs and streaking. Unreel them at the place you hang them, and dont play with them. The more you move them and the more your stirr up the air around them the more problems you make for yourself. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted August 6, 2008 Share #3 Posted August 6, 2008 Don't wipe. Use distilled or de-ionised water for your last rinse. You shouldn't get any streaks of drying marks if you do that. Only use 3 or 4 drops of wetting agent per film. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Ridyard Posted August 6, 2008 Author Share #4 Posted August 6, 2008 I am new to scanning negatives, but I have indeed noticed that scanners reveal a lot more than the enlarger ever could, or at least that photo paper could show. I'll try increasing the ratio of photo-flo to water and see what happens. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
R2-D2 Posted August 6, 2008 Share #5 Posted August 6, 2008 I have always been uncomfortable with the idea of wiping film as it hangs after washing and then soaking in photo-flo. Is there any other way than wiping to ensure that the film will be streak-free? Just use a salad spinner... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Ridyard Posted August 6, 2008 Author Share #6 Posted August 6, 2008 And I will also use distilled water. Thanks for the suggestion. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted August 6, 2008 Share #7 Posted August 6, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Just use a salad spinner... But take the salad out first <grin>. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted August 6, 2008 Share #8 Posted August 6, 2008 I'll try increasing the ratio of photo-flo to water and see what happens. You don't need much wetting agent. As I mentioned above four drops per film should be enough. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted August 6, 2008 Share #9 Posted August 6, 2008 I batch four or five litres at a time at 1:100 or whatever is in the printed recommendations, pour a bit in the last rinse then the scots sens of thrift cuts in and I fill up the rest of the way with tap water. We have proper water in Aus, not the seven pass? stuff the English have to use. Play around with concentrations shouldnt affect much, and the way things dry vary from one climate to another so you have to experiment and find what works. I now hang very wet, I used to finger squeegy. Maybe I had nice soft hands:D. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
R2-D2 Posted August 6, 2008 Share #10 Posted August 6, 2008 But take the salad out first <grin>. Plus, I wouldn't use it in the kitchen after drying films in it... ;-) Try it, it works very well! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted August 6, 2008 Share #11 Posted August 6, 2008 But take the salad out first <grin>. We use a clothes dryer to get fluff off stuff especially if someone left a tissue in a pocket. Maybe try that? <> Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pleeson Posted August 6, 2008 Share #12 Posted August 6, 2008 I use Photo-flo, hang the film, then dip film squeegee in the solution and give it one swipe. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted August 6, 2008 Share #13 Posted August 6, 2008 I keep thinking this thread is about bidets............. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
antistatic Posted August 7, 2008 Share #14 Posted August 7, 2008 I keep thinking this thread is about bidets............. :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vieri Posted August 7, 2008 Share #15 Posted August 7, 2008 I use Photo-flo, hang the film, then dip film squeegee in the solution and give it one swipe. Same here - works well for me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
christer Posted August 7, 2008 Share #16 Posted August 7, 2008 Just use a salad spinner... As a former user of salad spinners I can only warn against it. At one stage or another you will get small plastic particles on the film, particularly when the weight of the reels is not absolutely equally distributed and the spinner starts vibrating. After having seen the results, my grown up children stopped using salad spinners .... for salad! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted August 7, 2008 Share #17 Posted August 7, 2008 I'd avoid wiping the negatives at all costs. I used to, and no matter how careful I was using either a squeegee or just fingers I'd get occasional scratches - maybe only once in every 50 films, but why risk it to save a little time? It only takes one piece of invisible grit to ruin a roll of film. It isn't worth the risk IMHO in order to save a little time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
R2-D2 Posted August 7, 2008 Share #18 Posted August 7, 2008 As a former user of salad spinners I can only warn against it. At one stage or another you will get small plastic particles on the film, particularly when the weight of the reels is not absolutely equally distributed and the spinner starts vibrating. "at one stage"? Do I have to wait another ten years? :-) After having seen the results, my grown up children stopped using salad spinners .... for salad! I hope they stopped using inox dishes as well... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
R2-D2 Posted August 7, 2008 Share #19 Posted August 7, 2008 Only if you are scanning. Well, I'm scanning... ;-) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted August 7, 2008 Share #20 Posted August 7, 2008 Ah sorry, I'll put it back. What did I say? Only if you are scanning? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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