Distilled water for Ilfotol final rinse

[Melvin J Bramley]

I have been having issues with 'slime' when using Ilford Ilfotol as a final rinse for negatives.
Suggestions are to use distilled water for a final rinse.
Can this water be reused after washing a film or should it be discarded.If so how many times?

 

[BrianShaw]

I don’t know about anyone else but I do my chemistry/wash as one-shot. There’s not enough savings for me to reuse.

 

[Paul Howell]

After a wash I used Photo flow mixed in distilled or de ionized water before hanging to dry. I do not reuse it, just not worth the trouble.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I agree with all who voted to not reuse.

 

[bernard_L]

I have been having issues with 'slime' when using Ilford Ilfotol as a final rinse for negatives.
Suggestions are to use distilled water for a final rinse.
Can this water be reused after washing a film or should it be discarded.If so how many times?

I use photo-flo (probably not very different from Ilfotol) and distilled water (actually de-mineralized water, much easier to procure where I live).

Are you sure you do not exceed the recommended dosage?

Use once and discard. So cheap! Plus, some chemical solutions can support some life forms.

 

[koraks]

I have been having issues with 'slime' when using Ilford Ilfotol as a final rinse for negatives.

That signifies you're leaving the solution to sit for way too long between uses.
In principle you can re-use this solution a few times, but over a short period of time (as you've noticed). Let's say within a couple of days.

Distilled water can help with any calcium spots/drying marks, but it won't hedge against the slime. The water is distilled when you buy it, but it remains being aseptic the moment you pour it into a beaker. There's spores etc. all over the place.

 

[loccdor]

As I recall in some kits the stabilizer contains wetting agent. It doesn't grow anything because it's toxic for life. You could try mixing it with something that life can't grow in, or just do what most people do and mix it fresh each time. By the way, the generic wetting agent works just as well as a brand name.

 

[bernard_L]

the generic wetting agent works just as well

You mean polysorbate 20 ?

 

[loccdor]

Whatever is in the bargain brands like Arista, LegacyPro, etc

 

[Bob Merlin]

I use distilled water for everything and everything is one and done. Final rinse is Photo-Flo/distilled water.
I feel the most important thing for fine grain is temperature consistency, 68 degrees start to finish.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Since @MattKing posted his formula for mixing up a stock solution containing isopropyl alcohol, I now use final rinse working solution, one-shot. I've been using Ilfotol, as nearby Kerrisdale Camera has it on their shelf. I've only ever just agitated for 30 secs, then let sit for 30 secs, before hanging to dry.

 

[MattKing]

This is what Andy is referring to: Photoflo Resource

 

[mshchem]

+1 here for Matt's formula. I bought a neat little dropper bottle with a narrow stainless blunt needle, works perfectly for dispensing. I use purified (RO) water, I immerse 1 reel at a time in a separate tank, gentle agitation, usually around 1 minute. Then hang in an undisturbed area, no touching till dry. Use the wetting agent solution for 1 session then toss.

 

[lamerko]

I use 2-2.5 ml syringes for this. In theory you can measure down to 0.1 ml, but small variations don't really matter. I reuse them and label them to avoid mix-ups.
I'll also reuse the solution sometimes, but only if I've added around 20-30% isopropyl alcohol to speed up drying.

 

[pentaxuser]

I have only used Ilfotol for wetting agent and keep it for several months on average in its diluted( plain tap water used) form in a bottle. I haven't developed any film this year and have just checked my wetting agent. It is still fine and clear with no signs of slime or any visible organisms. I did several films last year

In my part of the U.K we have some of the hardest water there is, kettles and tap outlets need regular descaling - maybe that works in my favour in terms of the agent's longevity?

I usually remove the film from the reel and swirl it around in the agent for 30 secs to a minute, remove the excess agent by my two middle fingers and shake the film then hang it upright in a UT100 film dryer with the fan on but no heat

I have yet to notice any marks on my films

Maybe I am plain lucky that I have not seen any issues over several years of this procedure but I can't help feeling that using it once and dumping may be unnecessary - this certainly seems to be the case for me

Yes there isn't a lot of money to be saved but there seems little point in using extra time to prepare new wetting agent each time if it is unnecessary

Your YMMV of course

pentaxuser

 

[rduraoc]

I use the exact same steps as @pentaxuser , also without any problem so far. In this case, MMDNV.

 

[miha]

I really don’t get why anyone would reuse a solution that’s the very last to touch the film. Whatever traces of the previous solutions would end up in the final rinse.