Wet Scanning Fluid alternatives

[Ong]

Just wondering what people are using as an alternative to Aztek Kami scanning fluid since it's prohibitively expensive to ship down to the land of Oz.

 

[xvvvz]

Many people are starting to experiment with Gamsol which is found in art supply stores in many countries. People who have researched it say that according to the material data safety sheet (or whatever it is called), Gamsol is the same thing as the $$$$ Lumina fluid and maybe Lumina is actually just repackaged Gamsol. There is a thread over on flickr about it.

 

[meloV8]

Gamsol - 100% mineral spirits

Mineral spirit = white spirit?

 

[icebear]

Regardless of the possibility that it might technically yield improved scans, who in their right mind would start to spray heavy petroleum distillate on their negatives and possibly use this indoors and consequently breathe in the fumes?

Here is a 2008 MSDS :
https://www.parrotcolor.com/data_pdfs/Lumina_MSDS.pdf
Quote:
[Inhalation:High vapour/aerosol concentrations (attainable at elevated temperatures well above ambient) are irritating to the eyes and the respiratory tract, and may cause headaches, dizziness, anesthesia, drowsiness, unconsciousness,and other central nervous system effects. ]

And yes this stuff is identical to Gamsol. It has the same CAS # identifier number: 64742-48-9.
Here Gamol MSDS (a new version acc. to latest standard safety requirements) that shows this is not harmless.

https://www.gamblincolors.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/SDS-Gamsol.pdf

And for good measure also for Aztek Kami :
https://www.freestylephoto.biz/pdf/msds/kami_scanner_fluids/Kami_Scanner_Mounting_Fluid.pdf

 

[Particular]

I've used 99% isopropyl alcohol. There is Kodak pdf sheet floating around the internet regarding film cleaning. They advise that the safest thing for the film is isopropyl alcohol of 98% or higher. A lower percentage contains too much water which soaks into the emulsion.
I figured I would just try it as I didn't have any of the special liquids, and it works just fine.
I've only done it this way, so I have no idea how other products may be better. It is cheap, and it doesn't smell bad, so it is kind of ideal in that sense.

 

[brbo]

Probably of no help to Australians, but I use SDS fluids (I'm from Europe). I think that I read somewhere that Prazio (US) fluids are basically the same.

These fluids do not come off film easy (SDS sells film cleaner that I never managed to use successfully). Now I just wash with water and stabilize after washing.

BTW, have you asked Aztek (I think I talked to Evan) if they could arrange for a less expensive shipping method. I ordered a few things from them and the shipping quote given by their web site was crazy. After contacting Evan it was much cheaper (still not cheap, though)...