Edwal no scratch

zehner21 · Jun 16, 2015

Hi,
I wanted to try Edwal No Scratch but today I received a mail from my photographic supplier wich says:

" Dear XXXXX,
I'm writing to inform you that Edwal's production is now discontinued and it is not available anymore from the vendor. [...]"

So, are there any alternatives? I have negatives that shows damages from dust and scratches and while I could learn to spot the print I don't really know how to cope with colour negatives (which are not developed by me).

Gerald C Koch · Jun 16, 2015

What you need is something that has the same optical density as the film base. No-Scratch uses the same optical principle as microscope immersion oil. The following article is a bit advanced but describes the theory.

Dead Link Removed

By filling the scratches with a liquid with the same optical density as the plastic base the scratch becomes invisible. You are going to have to do a bit of research to find a good substitute. The No-Scratch MSDS says that it contained turpentine so whatever was used was insoluble in water.

Old time photographers used to use the oil from the side of the nose to fill I any scratches.

zehner21 · Jun 16, 2015

Gerald C Koch said:
What you need is something that has the same optical density as the film base. No-Scratch uses the same optical principle as microscope immersion oil. The following article is a bit advanced but describes the theory.

Dead Link Removed

By filling the scratches with a liquid with the same optical density as the plastic base the scratch becomes invisible. You are going to have to do a bit of research to find a good substitute. The No-Scratch MSDS says that it contained turpentine so whatever was used was insoluble in water.

Thanks! I have found a good substitute for a lot less money

jim appleyard · Jun 16, 2015

Some folks have used turpentine or nose grease. Yes, nose grease. You're supposed to use a finger to remove skin oil/grease from your nose and apply to the scratch. There used to be a member on one of the forums that used the name "Nose Grease" or "Nose Oil". this only applies to scratches on the base side of the neg. If the scratch is on the emulsion side, you'll have to do retouching which is different.

Sirius Glass · Jun 16, 2015

Nose grease or nose oil will work; I used it for years. Remember you can pick your friends and you can pick your nose, but you cannot pick your friend's nose.

samcomet · Jun 17, 2015

zehner21 said:
Hi,
I wanted to try Edwal No Scratch but today I received a mail from my photographic supplier wich says:

" Dear XXXXX,
I'm writing to inform you that Edwal's production is now discontinued and it is not available anymore from the vendor. [...]"

So, are there any alternatives? I have negatives that shows damages from dust and scratches and while I could learn to spot the print I don't really know how to cope with colour negatives (which are not developed by me).

I believe I've seen it recently on the B & H Photo Video site - they are in New York but ship internationally. But then again the nose knows .
cheers,
Sam

Roger Cole · Jun 17, 2015

jim appleyard said:
Some folks have used turpentine or nose grease. Yes, nose grease. You're supposed to use a finger to remove skin oil/grease from your nose and apply to the scratch. There used to be a member on one of the forums that used the name "Nose Grease" or "Nose Oil". this only applies to scratches on the base side of the neg. If the scratch is on the emulsion side, you'll have to do retouching which is different.

Nose grease works great and is easier to remove than No-Scratch. I use a cotton swab in the crease of my nose and then apply to the scratched negative, any cotton fibers will show when held tilted under the enlarger lens and you can pluck them off with tweezers.

Roger Cole · Jun 17, 2015

It ain't cheap anymore but Freestyle says they have it:

http://www.freestylephoto.biz/5415120-Edwal-No-Scratch-1-oz.

Rick A · Jun 17, 2015

samcomet said:
I believe I've seen it recently on the B & H Photo Video site - they are in New York but ship internationally. But then again the nose knows .
cheers,
Sam

B&H won't ship No Scratch even in the US, it's in-store pick up only item.

jim appleyard · Jun 18, 2015

Rick A said:
B&H won't ship No Scratch even in the US, it's in-store pick up only item.

Try Adorama. If they stock it, they'll ship it.

Rick A · Jun 18, 2015

Adorama doesn't show it in inventory. Freestyle has it, they will ship even overseas(for a high price). Be advised, it's an ORMD item and there's a surcharge for shipping, and it might not be allowed in Europe.

cmacd123 · Jun 18, 2015

Rick A said:
Freestyle has it, they will ship even overseas(for a high price). Be advised, it's an ORMD item and there's a surcharge for shipping

Freestyle will only ship ORMD items by GROUND in the CONTINENTAL USA. (most annoying for those of us who happen to be 70 Km North of the US border.)

Sirius Glass · Jun 18, 2015

cmacd123 said:
Freestyle will only ship ORMD items by GROUND in the CONTINENTAL USA. (most annoying for those of us who happen to be 70 Km North of the US border.)

Rent a mail box across the border.

nathantw · Jun 19, 2015

zehner21 said:
Hi,
I wanted to try Edwal No Scratch but today I received a mail from my photographic supplier wich says:

" Dear XXXXX,
I'm writing to inform you that Edwal's production is now discontinued and it is not available anymore from the vendor. [...]"

So, are there any alternatives? I have negatives that shows damages from dust and scratches and while I could learn to spot the print I don't really know how to cope with colour negatives (which are not developed by me).

One of the tricks I used when I was in college was to use the oil that was on the side of my nose. That worked great. Just don't put it on the emulsion side of the film.

zehner21 · Jun 19, 2015

Thanks for you suggestions!

David A. Goldfarb · Jun 19, 2015

I still have some Edwal NoScratch, since I don't use it as frequently as I once did, when I shot more 35mm film, but it is very effective. If I were looking for a replacement, I'd be thinking about wet mounting fluid for drum scanning.

Edwal no scratch

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