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Developing B&W Film is An Exact (Or Inexact) Art

P.E. what is your opinion about using only de-ionised water after film washing?
 
Do not use Photo Flo in any dishwasher. It is not designed for this sort of purpose.

DI water is fine if it leaves no water spots, but sometimes the spots do form even with DI or DW. It depends on the film and the surface's ability to repel water. I have seen large water drops that dry down and leave no residue, but do leave wrinkle marks in the film where the drop dried. The film is distorted. Photo Flo and other post wash chemicals are designed to spread any water out and prevent this problem.

So, look for these dry down wrinkles in your film and if you have them then you are having a problem even with DI water and should use a surfactant to fix the problem.

PE
 
PE,
Yeah, after all 5000 rolls isn't that much. But that's pretty much my count. I'm counting on shooting another 10,000 at least.

But let me tell you, 100 rolls from a good trip can get me busy in the darkroom for at least 3 full months of high quality printing. 100-150 20x24 fb sheets, 150 16x20 fb sheets, a few boxes of 11x14 and 8x10 sheets.
In my case, it's extra serious stuff. Last year I was starting to hurt my health badly when I cut on sleep in order to have more time in the darkroom. Lasted 3 years like that. I'm now back to normal (somewhat).

To get back on the photoflo topic, i stopped premixing gallons of the stuff when i saw the viscous stuff appearing and floating. I then when the simplest and best route: 2-3 drops in the tank directly, agitations and voila. No squeegee, only dry. Never a drying mark.
 
Truzi said:
I have to wonder if Photo Flo would help in the dishwasher - we always have spots on our glasses, regardless of what detergent we use.
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I've discovered a fix for this. I put no more than 1/4 to 1/2 oz. of Jet dri in the bottom of the dishwasher, which means the first cycle only gets the benefit. I don't put anything in the dispenser designed for this. Everything washes very nicely now. I had to cut way back on the amt. of DW soap/detergent I was using too. I was overdoing it.

If dish soap is bad to clean your tanks and reels with, what does one use?
 
All I've ever done is simply rinse in the 75 degree tap water after the photo-flo. The plastic reels and tanks got gummy but my SS ones have been going strong for a long time.
 
My comment about the dishwasher was a joke (I'd forgotten to add a smiley). I'd not do it because I don't know if Photo Flo would be bad regarding trace amounts of residue, but it would be interesting.

I wash my tanks and reels with hot water, immediately after use. On the occasion I actually use a soap, I will use dish detergent, or Formula 409, but I then soak and rinse the hell out of them.
 
Washing tanks and reels right after use with hot water (40C or 100F) and using a stiff brush will do the job you need.

PE
 
What I start with is one shot glass of Bombay Blue Sapphire Gin, two shots of tonic water and 1/4 fresh lime squeezed and dropped into the solution. Prefer to use heavy cut-crystal drinking glass. Gently stirred, then two ice cubes added to complete the process. Gently titrate over a period of half an hour, sitting only, no standing or semi-standing recommended. If processing doesn't take, mix and repeat.

Optional: Add one maduro-wrapped, toro-sized cigar.

~Joe
 

Soon you may be able to legally enjoy a Cuban cigar.
 
Sirius Glass said:
Soon you may be able to legally enjoy a Cuban cigar.
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Good, that will mean more money for Connecticut farmers again. Since the embargo, Cuban cigars aren't as good, little known fact, the secret to a good cigar isn't just the Cuban grown center tobacco, but the CONNECTICUT grown tobacco wrap.

 

you have realized something that a lot of people don't want to believe. film and paper and chemistry are forgiving.
developing images on film isn't hard, and you can do just about anything to get images
there is a guy on flickr who develops his film in PEEro, i'll let you figure out what that is on your own.

since you now now the secret .. don't forget to have a good time,
 
For cleaning inside plastic water bottles, the usual suggestion is a solution of sodium bicarbonate left over night. I haven't tried it for plastic film spirals, but can't see why it wouldn't remove grime and scale. It's available in any supermarket, and cheap.

Re. photoflo, I use a single drop of hair shampoo and vigorously agitate the spirals. Use too much and you'll get foam and residue on the film, about the head of a pin size is right. I've used this method for years without obvious ill effects.
 
And does it leave your films glossy, sleek and manageable? ... because you're worth it
 

Commercial shampoos contain dye, fragrance and selenium (as found in toners). Take care in what these chemicals do when left on your film.

PE
 
blockend said:
Re. photoflo, I use a single drop of hair shampoo and vigorously agitate the spirals. Use too much and you'll get foam and residue on the film, about the head of a pin size is right. I've used this method for years without obvious ill effects.
Click to expand...

Does it remove the curl?
 
Thanks PE for your information on surfactants in this and other threads. Since reading your advice I'm using a surfactant as per the manufacturers instructions and i have much cleaner, flatter negatives.
 
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