water marks on negatives

[giganova]

After the rinse I squeegee the negatives with my index/middle fingers

That's asking for trouble: Your skin is harder than wet emulsion and can easily scratch your film. I suggest to cut a slit into a kitchen sponge, pre-wet the sponge (so it gets soft) and slide the sponge down the negatives through the slit.

 

[bert26]

Maybe I'll give that a try. What about a Paterson squeegee? Or what about just not squeegeeing at all? I took a darkroom course in college years ago and I remember the instructor telling us to hang the rolls immediately after the wetting agent process..

Also, I've been hanging in my closet but perhaps I should be doing that in my bathroom instead?

 

[TenEleven]

Don't squeegee unless you want scratches, yes it's usually fine with a new sponge until a tiny bit of debris gets caught in the squeegee and the one picture you really wanted is ruined.

Photoflo, then hang as others have repeatedly said. Then also avoid going into that room unnecessarily. Avoid opening and closing doors to that room unnecessarily to avoid stirring up dust

And yes hang the negatives in the bathroom. If you're concerned about dust you can quickly steam up the room with the shower then hang the negatives.

 

[Freakscene]

I've been told a bottle of photo-flo should last a lifetime.

You were told something that is incorrect.

At the lab where I worked we used a 1L container of Photo-flo 2100 (1:2100 is the recommended dilution - I don't know if Kodak makes that anymore) every 6-12 months and the longest a 5L working batch of wetting agent was used for was 5 days.

I use Photo-Flo one shot and 3ml of this stuff is a ton. Umm. Can someone tell me like what the ratio should be for a Paterson tank with 2 rolls? ml to ml? 1.5 to 300/3 to 600 cannot be right.

The tank is irrelevant. Kodak recommends 1:200, I and many others find this causes marks and that 1:400 is better. 1:200 is 3mL of Photo-flo in a 600mL tank. 1:400 is 1.5 mL of Photo-flo in a 600mL tank.

My method is to wash the film, then soak in filtered distilled water, place into 1:400 Photo-flo, remove and hang to dry.

The only reason to use it one shot is if you have problems keeping it clean. Kodak says to use it one shot for absolutely best results. But if you keep a lid on it to prevent dust etc getting in, it is good until - according to Kodak - it "begins to bead, streak or leave scum" on the film or to change the solution "once per week". Kodak also notes that "Formation of slime on tank walls, and/or evidence of biological growth in the tank" also as indications to change the solution.

You don't say where you are located geographically. At Freestyle, let's say for example, a 473mL bottle of Photo-flo 200 costs $US9. Even if you use it as Kodak recommends, and one shot, you can treat 315 rolls of film with that 473mL bottle. That is three cents a roll. In the context of shooting film, it's nothing.

Marty

 

[giganova]

These sponges are great, super soft and no hard edges. Just make a cut along the long side:

https://www.amazon.com/Chuangdi-Scrubbing-Cellulose-Non-Scratch-Non-Stick/dp/B07JCS7613?th=1

 

[bert26]

You were told something that is incorrect.

At the lab where I worked we used a 1L container of Photo-flo 2100 (1:2100 is the recommended dilution - I don't know if Kodak makes that anymore) every 6-12 months and the longest a 5L working batch of wetting agent was used for was 5 days.



The tank is irrelevant. Kodak recommends 1:200, I and many others find this causes marks and that 1:400 is better. 1:200 is 3mL of Photo-flo in a 600mL tank. 1:400 is 1.5 mL of Photo-flo in a 600mL tank.

My method is to wash the film, then soak in filtered distilled water, place into 1:400 Photo-flo, remove and hang to dry.

The only reason to use it one shot is if you have problems keeping it clean. Kodak says to use it one shot for absolutely best results. But if you keep a lid on it to prevent dust etc getting in, it is good until - according to Kodak - it "begins to bead, streak or leave scum" on the film or to change the solution "once per week". Kodak also notes that "Formation of slime on tank walls, and/or evidence of biological growth in the tank" also as indications to change the solution.

You don't say where you are located geographically. At Freestyle, let's say for example, a 473mL bottle of Photo-flo 200 costs $US9. Even if you use it as Kodak recommends, and one shot, you can treat 315 rolls of film with that 473mL bottle. That is three cents a roll. In the context of shooting film, it's nothing.

Marty

I know the cost of using it one shot is nothing, I wasn't complaining, I was just wondering how the hell someone could think a bottle would last a lifetime.

Did a 10 minute wash, followed with 1.5ml photo-flo to 600ml distilled water rinse for a minute, and then hung to dry without squeegeeing. Appears to be much worse than before. Guess I'll rewash with 1:400 again but try squeegeeing with a sponge.

Oh and I'm in Portland, OR so I'm assuming tap water is okay. But I don't use it with the developer or photo-flo.

 

[vitaly66]

1. Do not use photo-flo, period.

2. Do not squeegee ever, period.

3. Thoroughly mix 5 - 10ml of isopropyl alcohol to 1 litre distilled water in a separate container. Use this as your final rinse after wash. Do not reuse. Do not rinse again.

4. Hang film to dry in a drying tent. I made mine out of a sweater bag, about 4 feet long, designed with hooks to hang vertically on a bar in a closet, very cheap, zipper on the front, just remove the cardboard shelves, add some binder clips at the top, good to go. Don't actually hang the film in your clothes closet where it is filled with dust and particulates, I use the shower curtain bar in my bathroom.

5. Allow to dry at least 24 hours, resist the urge to peek or touch or unzip the bag.

6. Enjoy clean, dry, dust-free negatives.

Note: as you've already been using photo-flo, make sure you thoroughly wash all of your tanks and reels before your next use, scrubbing with a toothbrush or scotch-brite pad. Get rid of that photo-flo, every last trace. It is nasty.

Failure to follow these instructions exactly will void the warranty with which they are supplied.