Sticky spots on my last few negs?

[rkm]

Occasionally I've been getting some small sticky spots on the last few negs of each roll after they've been drying (by hanging in the shower recess). Is this residue from photoflo?

I've been developing 2 rolls at a time in a Patterson tank, and my routine is to rinse using the ilford method of three changes of water with 5, 10, 20 inversions. I let the water sit in the tank for a few minutes between changes. Lastly I do another change of water with photoflo and do maybe 10 inversions and drain. I use a small amount of photoflo. I shake the photoflo bottle and add the bubbly residue of the photoflo lid to the 600ml of water for that final rinse.

Any ideas?

 

[V-12]

It sounds like it could be the wetting agent.

Two possibilities come to mind. As the film dries the water and photoflo form around a spot of dust that has landed on the film, and this gradually increases the local strength of the wetting agent around the spot, it sort of pulls in more of the detergent (there is a scientific term for it that I can't remember). The other idea is that as you are using the cap to put photoflo into the water is there any 'set' (like wax or jelly, or even dried completely) concentrate going into the water along with the liquid bubbles? If some photoflo has set around the cap it may not disperse in the rinse water, so producing super-concentrated spots on the film.

 

[mfogiel]

Try adding just a bit of pure alcohol to the final rinse, then pour the rinse water on the films after you hang them, and finally, pull away from vertical the bottom of the films for a minute, to let the water flow away along the edge.

 

[Photo_Smith]

Personally I wouldn't shake the photoflow, just add 2-3 drops to 300ml water then top up to 600ml and leave without agitation for 30 sec.
Works for me....

 

[Rogier]

I mix half a Gallon of DISTILLED water with photo flo and re use it until it becomes cloudy.