Tri-X is sticky

wintoid

wintoid

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As mentioned in another thread, I've given up on Tri-X. I like the appearance a lot but it seems to attract far more dust and lint than any other film I use. Am I doing something wrong, or is this the perception of other people as well?
 
hmmm ... before you give up on Tri - X , how about trying a Ionic Pro located in your drying vicinity?

Though would suck in the dust particles that go near the film... once dry just keep it in negative sleeves

edit:

Well for a less expensive idea ... just go over the entire area of the room with some sort of dust mop (or swiffer thing)... let everything settle and then try a go with the film
 
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I don't know about dust and other films, but the New Tri-X does (along with other Kodak films) seem to have a backing that seems staticy (if that is a word). I've tried turning the shower on in a bathroom while drying. But that drove my wife up the wall. I am presently experimenting with a piece of four inch PVC pipe that is longer than the 24 exposure roll that I use. I have caps for both ends, and I hang it vertically in the pipe. My wife hasn't seen it yet, so who knows. One problem I have is that the heater goes on during drying (blowing dust). But my wife won't let me turn it down in the Winter.
 
heater blowing == dust. I had to build my little hair-dryer-based film thing to solve that problem. I even put filters over the vent but to no avail.

I have not seen more dust on txt as a matter of course. In fact, for the most part, I don't have dust on my negatives at all that has gotten there during drying.

allan
 
Hmm, static. Interesting. That hadn't occurred to me.

So if the problem was static, would I be able to "earth" the film, and the problem would then go away?
 
I can literally develop Neopan 400, HP5, Delta 400, Neopan 1600 etc and have zero dust on the negs when I scan them. Tri-X is always covered in it. It's a very dramatic difference.
 
Wintoid - intriguing. not sure what to say, but you have some compelling empirical evidence there. I don't get dust on anything. Perhaps you should just send me all your TXT? 🙂

allan
 
When drying film, do it in a calm room where you won't be. Just hang it and go slowly away for at least 2 hours.

The shower is the best idea when correctly done! One must run the shower until the room gets steamy and then cut the water. No sense in letting it run while the film is drying. Leave the bathroom for 2 hours.
 
Static??? After thinking about this, I do remember that Old Tri-X didn't give me as much trouble as I have now. Or I wasn't as picky then. There are some anti-static sprays, or other devices around. I might look into that.
 
NB23 said:
When drying film, do it in a calm room where you won't be. Just hang it and go slowly away for at least 2 hours.

The shower is the best idea when correctly done! One must run the shower until the room gets steamy and then cut the water. No sense in letting it run while the film is drying. Leave the bathroom for 2 hours.
Click to expand...

The shower just proved too impractical for me. I needed something more permanent. I had to get a film dryer with a heater and a blower. If I was to do it again I'd make my own, though, using one of those hanging garment bags (like this).. With a little improvisation it would work fine.

🙂
 
The one thing about garment bags - most are not long enough for a 36 exp. roll of 135 film. Just keep that in mind when looking for one.

allan
 
you sure it is dust from drying and not particles in your chemicals? I have been using Tri-X pretty much exclusively for the last 6 months, and get no dust at all, and my bathroom floor is usually dusty. If you are seeing it in scans more than by visual inspection, it might just be grain artifacts from the scanner.

I did once see a fair amount of particles in my developer from leaving the mixing beaker out on a shelf instead of in a drawer, and I don't think it would be too difficult to think it would have ended up on the film, though after fixing and washing it probably would have disappeared.
 
The thing is it only happens with TriX. If I had particles in my chemicals, I'd see it on Neopan and HP5 too. As it happens, I'm a one-shot throw-away kind of guy.
 
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