On drying strips of film....

[chikne]

Hi,

so last night I did it again, developed a roll but the film didn't fix properly (it's fogged) and this was only noticed after the roll was cut into strips.

The real nightmare is that there are between 10 to 20 rolls cut into strips that need to be "re-fixed", so far I went for the ones where the keepers are and hung the strips by the sprokets, this is way too slow....

I was wondering if it is possible to let the strips dry on the developing reel, it's the only thing that comes to my mind, otherwise any suggestions will be very nice!

Thanks

 

[gb hill]

No don't dry the film on the reel. Use Photo Flo. This is the best stuff. I have never had spots on my negetives & last for ages. Do you do a spot test on a leader of film to figure out your fixing times? You should get a rutine down & stay with it.

 

[Al Kaplan]

I have a dryer that blows filtered air down through the reels but trying to load all those little short strips on reels? You'll be there until Easter! Go buy some packs of WOOD clothes pins and clip the strips by a corner on wire coat hangers, with a second pin to weight the bottom of each strip. You can probably hang 8 or 10 strips per hanger. Hang the hangers someplace reasonably dust free like the shower curtain rod in your bathroom.

Next time make sure that you fix twice as long as it takes to clear. Was your fixer exhausted from doing so many rolls?

 

[chikne]

No don't dry the film on the reel. Use Photo Flo. This is the best stuff. I have never had spots on my negetives & last for ages. Do you do a spot test on a leader of film to figure out your fixing times? You should get a rutine down & stay with it.

Thanks, I thought photo Flo was to give a last bath, to prevent drying marks from appearing, I usually do it with detergent.
How exactly do you use yours?

Next time make sure that you fix twice as long as it takes to clear. Was your fixer exhausted from doing so many rolls?

I always get the same problems, but this time the fixer is brand new, my guess is that the solution should have been warmed to the right temperature before pouring it in instead of warming up before I start developing (cold weather).

Thank you all.

 

[gb hill]

Many use detergent but I happen to like photo flo. I use a couple of drops to 300 ml of water soak for around 30 to 45 sec. Then hang to dry. The way the water seems to slide off the negs I think speeds up the drying process.

 

[gb hill]

I always get the same problems, but this time the fixer is brand new, my guess is that the solution should have been warmed to the right temperature before pouring it in instead of warming up before I start developing (cold weather).

When I cut the leader off I put a few drops to see how long it takes to clear. Then I double that time to fix my roll of film. The fixer should be @ the same temperature as your developer & stop bath. In the summertime I pour my chemicals in the cups I use & put in refrigerator til I get around 20deg c.

 

[Ronald_H]

I never used photo flo but a tiny drop of detergent in the last wash improves matters already so much it's not even funny.

 

[chris91387]

you say your film is "fogged" but that term is usually used to indicate something else.

i wonder if you have a different problem.

how long are you fixing for? how new/old is the fixer? are you using stop bath? what do the sprocket holes and space between images look like (clear?). can you easily read the film inofrmation and image numbers? does the film have a purple color to it?

- chris

 

[mh2000]

yeah, how do you not fix something properly? One mistake I've never made I guess. The only thing I can think of is exhausted chemicals? Is the film still fogging more or is it stable?

 

[Bnack]

generally when I hear the term "fogging" I think of the film being exposed to small amounts of light when you're reeling your film. You're sure that this "fogging" you're experiencing is an issue of fixing, and not exposure to light? It Doesn't take much light in a room to start fogging your negs.