Diafine problem

Thomas Bertilsson · Aug 8, 2006

Just mixed a batch of Diafine to use for situations with the Holga where the light is a little dimmer than normal. When I developed a test roll I got some fairly large crusty deposits on the film that have me puzzled. I look at both bath 1 and bath 2 in a clear glass container and I can't see any particles floating around, so it seems like all of the contents of the powder has been dissolved.

Mixed @ 80*F with my darkroom whisk until I couldn't see any more solids. Not distilled water, but ultra purified (RO + carbon + UV).

What say you?

Thanks,

- Thom

Ryuji · Aug 9, 2006

Deposit you see on film is most likely from final rinse water. Did you use RO filter without any mineral added back after filtration? (just checking) Also, what about wetting agent?

Thomas Bertilsson · Aug 9, 2006

Hi, thanks for responding. I used RO water for final rinse and the wetting agent at the end. The deposits on the film are rather large. Should I filter the developer solutions? If so, would something like a couple of coffee filters do?
I'm starting to think that just because I can't see something doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

- Thom

dolande · Aug 9, 2006

Im pretty new to diafine but I mixed it until I couldnt see anything in distilled water and I havent got any problems. I bought mine two month ago from adorama (in case this info is important).

Thanks

Rafael

Paul Sorensen · Aug 9, 2006

I have also never had any deposits from Diafine. Sorry I am not more helpful here.

Thomas Bertilsson · Aug 10, 2006

On the package it says to use water 75*F to 85*F when mixing the ingredients in. Would it help to warm it back up again? To desolve the remaining solids? Or would that damage the chemicals?

- Thom

glbeas · Aug 10, 2006

Do you have an inline filter on your main rinse too? The deposits may have settled before the final rinse. Another thought, if the water is a high mineral content then what might happen is the film becomes saturated with that during the main rinse. The final rinse doesn't displace that, just the surface water, so when the wetting agent is applied and allowed to dry it may react and create the 'soap scum' deposit as it drys. Try soaking in two changes of distilled water as a final rinse, leaving it in for a couple of minutes or more each. If the minerals are particularly hard you might try a soak in salt water before the main rinse to convert the water in the film to "soft" water.

Thomas Bertilsson · Aug 10, 2006

Gary,

thanks for your efforts. This would result in deposits on the film with any developer, and unfortunately Diafine is the only developer to ever cause me grief like this. I use FA-1027, Rodinal, Pyro-HD (which of course are all one-shot developers) with not problems whatsoever.

The suggestion on salt water sounds like good advice. I'll try that. Would probably help washing the film quicker anyway.

Thanks again,

- Thom

Thomas Bertilsson · Sep 6, 2006

Problem solved!

Just wanted to divulge I figured this one out. Problem solved. It had to do with the container in which the fixer was stored. It was an inherited DataTainer, which was insufficiently washed. I used some fixer mixed at the same time as the one I used, and no more problem.

I'm relieved the problem was that simple. It looked really bad when I poured some hot water into the container, shook it up, and poured the contents out. Full of debris and deposits. It took several turns with a mild detergent and a round dish brush to get it all out, but it's now a usable container.
The negs were fortunately not important, it was a test roll, so no big deal.

Thanks everybody for your contributions,

- Thom

Diafine problem

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