ForestCap
Well-known
I run the film tilted under a small stream of tap water, subtly make use of the water surface tension to take all isolated water drops on the film away. No need to use squeegee nor flo. 0 marks left.
Going Squeegee free... do you?
- Thread starter roscoetuff
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roscoetuff
Well-known
All very helpful, thanks! I've used a cap full of Photoflo and then squeegee-d, but won't go there again. Fingers sound right... maybe. Don't know where I got the idea? No bother. Will focus on looking ahead. Very helpful to know you guys don't go there, too. Can't thank you enough!
Timmyjoe
Veteran
Tried a squeegee once about 15 years ago, scratched the film. Went back to washing the film well, 30 seconds in Photoflo, and hang it to dry. No problems. I think the squeegee is a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.
Best,
-Tim
Best,
-Tim
PKR
Veteran
It didn't occur to me that many here don't filter their water. I use a 5 micron filter after a mixing valve. The filters can't handle high temps. So, when mixing powdered chemistry, I do it at around 100F, and let it cool for use. Filter holders and filters aren't expensive. I've used them since working in a color lab job I got after my schooling.
Looking at a dirty filter when changing them will convince you that they are good to use.
Looking at a dirty filter when changing them will convince you that they are good to use.
css9450
Veteran
A few drops per roll; the small bottle of Photo Flo is probably going to last me a lifetime! I am surprised it comes with a freshness date. The bottle I bought is marked SEP 2018. Surely it'll be OK for awhile beyond that!
CK Dexter Haven
Well-known
Wet fingers as a squeegee.
J enea
Established
three drops of photoflo in distilled water, then lightly use fingers. in 20 years ive luckily never had a mark on any film ive done it to.
some people who have drying marks use to much photoflo and that causes many of their problems.
some people who have drying marks use to much photoflo and that causes many of their problems.
creenus
Established
I let hot water run in the spare bathroom shower for 5-10 minutes. This creates lotsa steam. I rinse the film in Photo-Flo, shake the reel, run my wet Photo-Flo-ed middle and index fingers lightly over the film and then hang it to dry in the steam cloud, and dry overnight. No water marks, no scratches and it dries perfectly with zero dust. The steam seems to take care of the dust.
bhop73
Well-known
I guess i'm the only person that gets water spots if I don't squeegee. *shrug*
roscoetuff
Well-known
So thanks to the confirmation, last night's developing extravaganza was followed by a wet finger squeege. Didn't like the "look", so I rewet it with a spray misting bottle filled with a mix of distilled water and 1 drop of Photoflo. Didn't like that either. Ran a wet sponge sandwich (won't call it a sponge squeegee... though that's what it is that I bought some time ago from Freestyle... possibly) down it, and then more misting. Worked as a 1st time change in process. Did get one spot, but otherwise, the negatives came out sparkling. What's my take away? Probably to NOT use a finger squeegee either, and to simply hang the film and mist it. To be continued? Not if I can help it!
PKR
Veteran
Handling your film that much when wet (soft emulsion) is not a great idea..my opinion. I use a cap of Photoflo per a qt/L of filtered water. I dunk the reels in the solution, hang them and run my fingers down the strip. This all happens quickly. They hang until nice and dry. The are in a dust free area. Try your shower if you don't have a cabinet. That's it.
Maybe your spots are from your water?
D
Deleted member 65559
Guest
say no to the squeegee!!
rfaspen
[insert pithy phrase here]
Like others here. Photo-Flo in distilled water (I attempt to use only distilled water throughout my processes). Then I'll gently use the 2-finger method so many others here seem to use.
However, I know I can get away with doing absolutely nothing. Photo-flo in distilled water and a tilted hang of the neg strip during drying will suffice. Sometimes I skip the finger swipe. In fact, if the roll is of particular importance, I intentionally skip the finger swipe.
The sponge squeegee is a tragedy waiting to strike. I promise. It only takes a miniscule particle of something, anything, that will get into the sponge and remain there. You won't be able to see it, it won't easily clean off/out of the sponge. It may "hide" in the sponge and you think its gone, only to re-emerge on a phenomenal set of negs. And it will affect the whole roll. You can use the squeegee and squint at your negs, and everything looks fine. But, those scratches are probably there. They'll show up when you try to do something with your negs.
For most of us it was only a matter of time. Especially with that sponge squeegee. But, "Hey they included that sponge thing in the developing kit, it must be important". Very unfortunate it was included in the kit.
Did I mention distilled water? Magic stuff.
I have my routine such that I can use 1 gallon of distilled water (I'll get a jug from the supermarket) for a 2-roll development of typical B+W film. That includes the final rinse. However, now that I've said "1 gallon", I should say that I usually end up using more than 1 gal. Just because I like to be certain of my "stop" bath, I'll run it twice, and I'll take the Ilford final rinse method a little further with extra rinses. But, I always use less than 2 gallons of distilled water for a 2-roll session.
However, I know I can get away with doing absolutely nothing. Photo-flo in distilled water and a tilted hang of the neg strip during drying will suffice. Sometimes I skip the finger swipe. In fact, if the roll is of particular importance, I intentionally skip the finger swipe.
The sponge squeegee is a tragedy waiting to strike. I promise. It only takes a miniscule particle of something, anything, that will get into the sponge and remain there. You won't be able to see it, it won't easily clean off/out of the sponge. It may "hide" in the sponge and you think its gone, only to re-emerge on a phenomenal set of negs. And it will affect the whole roll. You can use the squeegee and squint at your negs, and everything looks fine. But, those scratches are probably there. They'll show up when you try to do something with your negs.
For most of us it was only a matter of time. Especially with that sponge squeegee. But, "Hey they included that sponge thing in the developing kit, it must be important". Very unfortunate it was included in the kit.
Did I mention distilled water? Magic stuff.
I have my routine such that I can use 1 gallon of distilled water (I'll get a jug from the supermarket) for a 2-roll development of typical B+W film. That includes the final rinse. However, now that I've said "1 gallon", I should say that I usually end up using more than 1 gal. Just because I like to be certain of my "stop" bath, I'll run it twice, and I'll take the Ilford final rinse method a little further with extra rinses. But, I always use less than 2 gallons of distilled water for a 2-roll session.
sr44
Newbie
Photoflo plus fingers has always worked well for me. I do still get spots from time to time though, I should probably try distilled water.
roscoetuff
Well-known
PKR:
Agreed. It's 120 and I'm not fully up on that yet as something brand spanking "new to me"... so new I found some of the film coming off the reel as it came out of the tank. Hmmm.
Didn't intend to handle it that much but when you see something "wrong" you fix it. So I did and 1 frame with marks out of 24 ain't bad (2 rolls). And it will get better now that I "know" what to do and what to be careful of. Having scanned the images, only one semi-casualty ain't bad. I haven't tried to clean the spot since dried, but will and we'll see what happens.
Thanks!
Agreed. It's 120 and I'm not fully up on that yet as something brand spanking "new to me"... so new I found some of the film coming off the reel as it came out of the tank. Hmmm.
Didn't intend to handle it that much but when you see something "wrong" you fix it. So I did and 1 frame with marks out of 24 ain't bad (2 rolls). And it will get better now that I "know" what to do and what to be careful of. Having scanned the images, only one semi-casualty ain't bad. I haven't tried to clean the spot since dried, but will and we'll see what happens.
Thanks!
Dogman
Veteran
Give it a bath in Photoflo and then shake the devil out of the reel to remove excess liquid.
presspass
filmshooter
50 ml 91% isopropyl alcohol and one drop of LFN in a liter of distilled water and then GENTLY wipe with a wet and squeezed piece of fake chamois. Hang in a Jobo dryer on low heat for a half hour. No water spots, no scratches, and the film dries flat. Works with Tri-X, HP5+, and Kentmere 400, all 35mm.
dmr
Registered Abuser
Uh, what exactly is LFN?
joe bosak
Well-known
I've not had much problem with scratches from squeegees, but mine are so rigiod they don't get the water off anyway. Our water is very hard so leaves marks. Last time I evidently used too much ilfotol so got a huge mark down the film so had to rewash.:bang: I've been trying to use fingers but that feel like it could damage the film. Think I'll have a look at the fake chamois idea.
