Fujifilm Drywell

[kiss-o-matic]

Sparse information on this in the English or Japanese online world. Only one thread here. It was cheap so I went ahead and grabbed it. Other Tokyo residents can chime in, but just about anything I've seen in an online tutorial is not readily available here.

Instructions on the bottle say to submerge the film in the solution for 30 seconds and dry w/o wiping. Always thought the old finger squeegee did a lot of good. Boy that sounded bad.

 

[kurotama]

It is a housecleaning magic. I love using it to clean any greasy surface with a dash of Drywell in a half litter of water. Works the same way on films to clear any water drop mark by not squeezing the film. It takes a bit longer to get dry.

 

[kiss-o-matic]

So I just make the solution, soak the film in there for 30 seconds as the final part of the wash, and then drip dry -- no squeegee? Not worried about the extra time. I usually start drinking when I finish a roll anyway.

I use Simple Green to clean grease. 🙂

 

[jonmanjiro]

I'm using Driwel. Half a cap diluted in two litres of water. Soak the film for one minute. Vigorously shake off excess water while the film is still on the roll. Hang to dry. No squeegee, finger or otherwise. YMMV.

 

[kiss-o-matic]

Thanks. Not to sound too much like a tit, but can you describe this vigorous shake? There could be differences in a Yokohama shake and a Tokyo shake.

Sorry... re-read. Film still in the reel, yeah? I was having problems imagining a safe way to do that sans reel. I will give this a shot once I finish my current roll. Thanks.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Sorry my bad.

on the roll > in the reel

P.S. I initially used it as recommended on the bottle but found it left residue on the film. Was too soapy.

 

[maddoc]

Get yourself a small wash bottle (~ 20 ml, available in DIY shops like HOMAC) and use it to drop a splash of the Drywell into the tank with the reel (still containing the film). After that fill up with water, wait about one minute and finished. Just carefully remove the film from the reel and hang it up to dry. Discard the wetting solution after usage.

However, never bring plastic reels into contact with Drywell or similar wetting agents ... these chemicals are building up impossible to remove films on plastic surfaces and your plastic reels sooner or later gum up and become very difficult to load. If you use plastic reels then remove the film from the reels before using any wetting agent. (for example use a separate small container were you can dip the film into the wetting agent containing solution)

 

[Frontman]

Get yourself a small wash bottle (~ 20 ml, available in DIY shops like HOMAC) and use it to drop a splash of the Drywell into the tank with the reel (still containing the film). After that fill up with water, wait about one minute and finished. Just carefully remove the film from the reel and hang it up to dry. Discard the wetting solution after usage.

However, never bring plastic reels into contact with Drywell or similar wetting agents ... these chemicals are building up impossible to remove films on plastic surfaces and your plastic reels sooner or later gum up and become very difficult to load. If you use plastic reels then remove the film from the reels before using any wetting agent. (for example use a separate small container were you can dip the film into the wetting agent containing solution)

I have had no trouble with Drywell accumulating on my Jobo plastic reels, and I have been using them for a long time. I always rinse the tanks and reels after use, which should be done anyway.

I usually use half a cap in a one liter tank, soak for the recommended time, and am careful not to let the solution get sudsy. After a thousand or so rolls, the plastic reels are still clean.

 

[jonmanjiro]

Same here... my plastic Patterson plastic reels are also still working as they should after many soakings in Driwel. I clean them well (dry well, clean well 🙄) when finished of course.

 

[kiss-o-matic]

Japan represent. 🙂
I have plastic reels. Good to know they can be used.

P.S. I initially used it as recommended on the bottle but found it left residue on the film. Was too soapy.

I believe the bottle says 10ml per 2 liters. What do you reckon a cap full is? I will probably have a 1 liter bottle... I guess no reason I couldn't have two.

 

[jonmanjiro]

I believe the bottle says 10ml per 2 liters. What do you reckon a cap full is?

10ml is the cap filled to the uppermost thread according to the bottle. As I mentioned earlier, I found half (to two thirds of) a cap in 2 litres gives me better results though.

 

[k__43]

So drywell is like photoflo or any other wetting agent?

 

[kiss-o-matic]

So drywell is like photoflo or any other wetting agent?

Not familiar w/ that one... kind of new to this, but I clearly had spot issues. And the box said in very clear Japanese and surprisingly English, it prevents that. I'm going to go w/ the suggested-in-the-forum solution though. Hopefully here in a couple of days.