cotton or nylon gloves for negative handling

Is there a difference?

thank you.

Cotton.
Nylon generates static much more readily and can scratch.

Cotton gets dust all over the negs in my experience. I don't use any gloves. I wash my hands with Palmolive dish soap (the old style... still the best!!!) and whenever I feel my hands getting oily again, I stop what I am doing and repeat. Works like a charm and you have complete use of your tactile sense.

you can also get finger cots(just fingertips only). They work nicely too, and don't get your hands all sweaty and smelly

-Dan

hands....use one of those 'hygenic' alcohol gels for the hands....leaves hands oil free

DanielStone said:

you can also get finger cots(just fingertips only). They work nicely too, and don't get your hands all sweaty and smelly

-Dan

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How about Latex type gloves? Not tried myself on film however, works for handling brass, that is, keep finger prints off it and is non slip.

I try to handle the negs on edge, the thin part. Works fur me! Smiles!

I don't handle larger than 4X5, but odds of my negs hitting the floor went way down when I stopped using gloves!

I've gone from cotton to latex, too much lint floating about. Also started wearing a hat, it seems to help when enlarging 35mm.

Look for Polygenex ESD anti static gloves product code #3204-esd. They are dust free and washable. I originally got them from Light Impressions.

wear boxing gloves, hehe
I bought some variety gloves, never used one yet as cotton is getting dust and hair stuck and nylon will damage if careless as well, so i just not use any and keep my hand clean and dry by washing with soap and drying with soft good tissue.

I also just wash my hands and wait until they have dried thoroughly. I only handle the edges, but on the odd occasion I have touched the neg I've not had any problems.

kevin_c said:

I also just wash my hands and wait until they have dried thoroughly. I only handle the edges, but on the odd occasion I have touched the neg I've not had any problems.

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Same here.

Just keep your hands clean and handle the film by the edges.

You should be handling film by the edges regardless of whether you use gloves or not because, once scratched, there is no way to repair film. You can only mediate the damage. Often, the cure can be worse than the disease.

Unless you change gloves frequently, it is likely that dust and dirt that is picked up by the gloves will be ground into the surface of the film. It is far easier to keep your hands clean and handle film carefully.

Wash your hands with non-residual soap and water. (Dr. Bronner's is what I use.) Dry well. Use "Groom Stick" to remove residual oil and dirt from your hands before starting work. Repeat occasionally.

I have handled enough 35mm film to go around the world two or three times over the last 15 years. Haven't had any trouble.

The only time I would do it any differently is if I was handling irreplaceable archival film. Then I would try to work under "clean room conditions" as much as possible.

No matter how you do it, you still have to do it carefully!

Cotton.