drying marks and different emulsions

[stet]

Hi all--

Can certain emulsions lend more to drying marks than others? I recently moved to a place where I can't get Photo-Flo, and I've been using a none-too-great tap water to rinse, tap flowing into the tank for a half-hour. When using Tmax or Tri-X, I may get a couple spots on a roll. Recently I've done some rolls of Fortepan 100, and I've got streaks and spots all over.

I read the recent thread (there was a url link here which no longer exists), and I'm hoping that I can re-rinse my film and get rid of them. (I also read a thread on PNet where one person said he used Zippo/Ronsonol fluid on a soft cloth to wipe away marks, but I haven't seen this elsewhere, and it sounds a bit risky.)

Has anyone experienced films having wildly different tendencies toward drying marks? I'm fond of Fortepan otherwise (half the cost of Tri-X in Thailand), but if it's going to be a pain to dry right I'm having second thoughts.

Bests,
Rick

 

[jrong]

I've certainly experienced this. I don't have problems with drying marks with 120 rollfilm, but 35mm is another matter. I have the worst trouble with Fuji Neopan Acros, and almost none at all with Neopan 1600.

The problem was alleviated somewhat with the introduction of distilled water and a minute amount of wetting agent (Ilford Ilfotol) in the final rinse and soak, but really, I could not get rid of drying marks entirely. I have resorted to wiping the dried negatives with isopropyl alcohol (100%) and lens tissue, which seems to help.

 

[Jim Jones]

Even without Photo-Flo, try to get distilled water for the final rinse. If it is difficult to obtain, it can be reused with a gradual build-up of sediment. Some people have used a drop or two of dishwashing detergent as a substitute for Floto-flo, although it sounds risky. All of my wash water is filtered through a 5 micron filter and then through a coffee filter. The final rinse is in distilled water with Photo-Flo.

 

[stet]

thanks. I haven't found distilled water at all. I'm using bottled drinking water now, which may have minerals, but at least it isn't the funky stuff that comes out of my faucet. I'm doing a soak in the tank, which is the only thing I can use right now. Can anyone point me to a good soaking/rinsing and final soak/rinse plan that I could use? One that would entail just water, no agents.