Cleaning negs

[j-dogg]

The lady at Walgreens got her fingerprints all over my negs and its showing in the scan, what do I clean them off with while not scratching the hell out of them?

 

[zsas]

Supposedly the only thing Kodak ever would recommend touching a neg would be a Kodak Photo Chamois. It is a animal hide that you keep wet in a jar, then squeeze the water from it and clean off the film, that has prev been washed. These Kodak chamois cloths are no longer made (of course). However they pop up on the bay and here ever so often.

This is how their instructions read. I had a trashed neg that came clean following the below.

Here is what they look like (note this is a sold one):
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[edcculus]

I'm not too familiar with color negatives, but we use film kleen in the graphics industry. Those are single color separation negatives though.

 

[Bob-D659]

Isopropyl alcohol 99%, Ronsonol lighter fluid, depending on what's on the negative. A reasonable chance it is hand lotion. Are the prints on the back or emulsion side?

Pec 12 used to be mostly methanol, but they got a "trade secret" listing for it now.

 

[Newt_on_Swings]

Edwal film cleaner. Eclipse solution as well (it is still labeled as methanol based). Pec pads and fine soft brush.

If all fails just do a wash with a bit of photo flo.

 

[Worker 11811]

For ordinary dust and dirt, use lukewarm water with a drop or two of PhotoFlo.
Submerge the film and wipe, lightly, with a clean Q-Tip. Hang the film to dry in a dust-free area.

For more aggressive cleaning, isopropyl alcohol will work. Use the "91%" variety from the drug store.
Even if you buy "pure" alcohol, it will absorb water out of the air, anyway.

After that, PEC-12, as mentioned above will do a good job if you follow the instructions.

If none of that works, the only things left are carbon tetrachloride or trichloroethane but you don't want to mess with that stuff. Even if you can find them, stuff is toxic. (Harmful vapors.)

 

[tkamiya]

Another vote for PEC-12. I use it with PECPAD and the combo works wonderfully.

Randy, I think the OP is talking about C41 films, not B&W. Water and photoflo will do mor damage...

 

[brucemuir]

Do you guys know what the ingredients of Pec-12 are?

 

[j-dogg]

The prints are on both sides.

This is for C-41

 

[Worker 11811]

Another vote for PEC-12. I use it with PECPAD and the combo works wonderfully.

Randy, I think the OP is talking about C41 films, not B&W. Water and photoflo will do mor damage...

Right! I just assumed... You know what they say about people who "ASS-u-me?"

 

[ektachrome]

Use Fotospeed FC50. I don't know what it is based on but it works. Apply with a microfibre cloth and leave to evaporate naturally.
Does the job for me
Regards
Ektachrome

 

[bvy]

Right! I just assumed... You know what they say about people who "ASS-u-me?"

Uh-oh. I cleaned a few color negatives with Photo-Flo and water just last night. What's going to happen?

 

[Bob-D659]

Depends on when they were processed, and what chemistry was used.

 

[bvy]

They were processed a few days earlier, C-41 at Target. (I don't know what chemicals specifically. I think they're a Kodak shop.)

I have 91% alcohol. I wonder if I should clean them again, or just leave well enough alone.

Thanks.

 

[Bob-D659]

I think you are ok, current commercial C41 processes do not have a formalin type preservative in the final rinse.

 

[bvy]

Thanks Bob. Just the same, it will be alcohol next time.

 

[Slixtiesix]

Another vote for PEC 12. Its expensive, but usually a small amount will suffice to clean the negs/slides, so the bottle may last quite a bit.

 

[Bob-D659]

Ronsonol lighter fluid works really well for oily deposits, way less expensive than a Brand Name bottle of methanol.

 

[wblynch]

I find Pec-12 smears my negatives and slides. Especially if it gets on the emulsion side. Much better results with Ronsinol lighter fluid. Works great on both sides and evaporates quickly.

I have also had good results cleaning old, sticky and dirty negatives by very gently cleaning with hand soap and fingers under running water. Followed by a soak in C-41 stabilizer and hang to dry. (this measure only to be employed when more traditional methods fail).

 

[John Shriver]

There is still a stabilizer in the C-41 process. You still risk dye instability by washing with water. The Flexicolor final rinse is cheap to buy.

 

[AgX]

Pec 12 used to be mostly methanol, but they got a "trade secret" listing for it now.

When reading that disguised content statement on their current Material Safety Data Sheet and the following possible threats to ones health, my first thought was "methanol"...

Do you guys know what the ingredients of Pec-12 are?

see this old post:

A google search for pec12 msds finds...

Section II Composition and Ingredient Information
Chemical Identity :
Methanol, CAS# 67-56-1
N-Butyl Acetate CAS 123-86-4

N-Butyl Acetate is also a component of film splicing cement...