cleaning negs

I have some 120 negatives that have dust on them this doesn't seem to move with brushing so it looks like I need to wash them. This is not something I have had to do before so I would like some advice please/
1. what is the best way to do this (I forgot to say they have been cut into strips of 3 for storage)
2. How should i dry them as I cannot hang them as I would a newly developed film as the pegs wwould mark the negs.
many thanks
Richard

Hi, I solved this problem just a week ago, but with 35mm (also cut in 5 frames strips). I mage 10 minutes bath in alcohol, with just occassional agitation, in a tray, emulsion up. Then I washed neg. in water and left it in water with wetting agent for couple minutes. I wrote to the foreum here and people reccomend me paper clips to hang neg. It is easy, the 35 mm is perforated and can be hang easily. Anyway, I succeed, so negatives are now clear, what is most important.

r.

Thanks for the advice I would be worried about using paper clips with 120 fime (not perforated) anyone else got ideas on how to dry these negatives?

hallo

try it with "cloth pegs" (i hope thats the right word) made out of plastic .
situate them only on the sides. then you can stand or hang the negatives

thomas

Hi, I believe Thomas means "clothes pegs" and I agree. That's exactly what I use. Just do as Thomas says, and make sure you use only the edges, so that they only contact the rebate of the film.

Negs are pretty tough. I usually just rewash in wetting agent. I have no qualms about rubbing the neg with my fingers in the wetting agent to get rid of bits of grit if necessary. I tried some really aggressive rubbing on one neg once in exasperation not caring if I eventually destroyed it and it still printed fine once I removed the gunk that was on it.

For 120 negs you can also consider cutting sections of plastic tubing about the same diameter as one of the neg dimensions and resting it inside so only the very edges of the neg are in contact with the tubing and then stick it on a tray in the shower recess Usually though there is enough rebate on the neg to use a clothes peg. I have also used small bulldog clips for 120 rewash. Per the above post a daisy chain of paper clips is great for 35mm. I have a little collection of plastic coated paper clips bent to shape for this purpose.

Tony Egan said:

Negs are pretty tough. I usually just rewash in wetting agent. I have no qualms about rubbing the neg with my fingers in the wetting agent to get rid of bits of grit if necessary. I tried some really aggressive rubbing on one neg once in exasperation not caring if I eventually destroyed it and it still printed fine once I removed the gunk that was on it.

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My experience is the opposite of tony's - even the gentlest of cleaning my negs causes scratches which then show as obvious marks and imperfections in the print - especially if in an area of gradual tonal change or even tone (skies for example). I use a condensor enlarger which does tend to exagerate flaws when compared with diffusion enlargers.

The 120er, you usually cut in 3er or 4er parts. Then you can simply dry them vertical on a glass plate.

I mean they curl a bit anyway. Use this carefully to let them "stand" on their thin edge.
As long as they are completely wet and your fingers are clean you can grab&position them, no problem.

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Another method is to simply use a needle and a thin thread. You can carefully pierce the negs on the side. I suggest to make the holes for the needle before washing when the negs are dry.

The negs should not curl very much (at least hp5) after the second washing, because you de-curled them with the first washing. I washed my negs (when I realised much too late that the fixer was too old) like I usual wash my negs, nothing special.