Dry-ving me nuts

Dan,

I think if you try a real, professional squeegee that you'll retire that sponge. I used to use a sponge too (Kodak, even... remember them?), but find that the squeegee makes a significantly drier surface, especially on the base side of the print.

On the emulsion side, you'll find that, as the squeegee blade drops off of the edge of the paper, a tiny row of water drops ...may... be left behind, as I show on my TechBlog. (Ok, don't throw that sponge away, here's where it's still usefull).

To be fair, it's pretty easy to wrinkle a BIG print if you aren't careful. Just don't rush it, a light first pass lets the water float out from under the print so it will "cling" to the glass. A second pass with a bit more pessure gets the surface liquid down to zero. It doesn't seem to make any difference if I do the base or the emulsion side first.

The ability of a squeegee to remove surgface water is quite remarkable. To illustrate, wet a window with water and use a squeegee. Then draw a damp sponge over the same glass... Maybe my hands are getting arthritic, but I can't physically squeeze enough water out of a sponge to create the same state of dryness that exists under the nip of a squeegee.

What part if the Willamette Valley do you call "home"?

Cheers

Reinhold

www.classicBWphoto.com

[QUOTES=Reinhold;421171]
"Dan, ...but find that the squeegee makes a significantly
drier surface, especially on the base side of the print."

Perhaps so. I've my doubts though. At least the way
I use a sponge it seems as though it draws water from
the two surfaces. If I were well practiced with a good
squeegee I'd likely compare it with a good photo
grade sponge by weighing.

"...a light first pass lets the water float out from under the
print so it will "cling" to the glass."

I've no glass so use a counter. With a sponge there is no
draining of water. Any little water left is easily picked up.

"The ability of a squeegee to remove surgface water is quite
remarkable. To illustrate, wet a window with water and use a
squeegee. Then draw a damp sponge over the same glass..."

Glass? Not a fair comparison. Perhaps I'm more adept than
some but I do ordinarily use a sponge to clean windows.

"What part if the Willamette Valley do you call "home"?"

I'm just outside Salem. Dan