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delayed print wash

Wayne

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Jul 8, 2005
Messages
3,622
Location
USA
Format
Large Format
Due to several vagaries of my life and darkroom setup, I'm going to have to do a one time delay of print washing after printing tonight. Might have to wait 24-72 hours. I can give them a thorough rinse. After that is it best to leave them soaking, or dry them and start washing from scratch? I dont think I'd want them to soak 72 hours but I wont know until 24 have passed if I can wash them then or have to wait another 24-48. Fortunately this is just a one time problem...
 
After rinsing my prints, and processing in hypo-clear, all I do to wash my fiber prints is two successive 30 minute soaks in my print washer, without running water.

At any rate, if your prints are soaking for a long time, it would be a good idea to change the water when you can, especially if the prints are not separated.

Also, whether or not the prints will survive such a long soak depends somewhat on the brand of paper—some are much more durable than others.
 
there is a thread posted just recently on this very subject and it was conducted by a very good source
 
I can (and usually do) the 2% sulfite, but I can not wash for 30 minutes for 1-3 days. That's the reason for my post.
 
Ann I guess you are referring to the optical brightener thread which I have not read. Will do so after skiing and dinner, before printing.
 
Wayne said:
I can (and usually do) the 2% sulfite, but I can not wash for 30 minutes for 1-3 days. That's the reason for my post.
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Then why not wait until you have the time, papers expensive these days so why risk damaging prints.

I often have to take prints with me wet after a printing session, and wash somewhere else, there's always ways around these issues.

Ian
 
yes, that is the thread, i think there may be some information of value there for you. It was about brightners but the wash times varied quite a bit which may help you make a decision.
 
Ian Grant said:
Don't risk leaving them wet. Use HCA or a 2% Sodium Sulphite bath, and wash for half an hour, and leave to dry.

Ian
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Wayne

I second Ian's proposal. It's solid advise and you can come back to these prints afterwards, tone them... whatever. I would only leave then in a water bath if I absolutely had to.
 
I just wasnt sure if drying them and then rewashing would make it more problematic to wash thoroughly-but I guess not so I wont worry.
 
Wayne said:
I just wasnt sure if drying them and then rewashing would make it more problematic to wash thoroughly-but I guess not so I wont worry.
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Wayne

Not to be misunderstood: You must wash a print thoroughly before you dry it. Dried fixer is impossible to wash out later. However, you can do most post-processing steps, such as toning, afterwards.
 
I misunderstood. Guess I'll be leaving them to soak for at least a day, if I get anything worth saving. I'm not expecting anything of great value, just getting my hands wet again after 3.5 years. Thanks for clarifying.
 
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