Emulsion cleaner

[shutterboy]

Hello,

I am new here, so I hope no one will be offended if I am posting this in the wrong forum. I am a recent film convert and have been having a hard time with "gunk" stuck to me negatives. Mostly, it is finger oil and other organic soluble material. I have been looking around and found Photosol advertising and selling PEC-12 as photographic emulsion cleaner. I was wondering if 99% pure 2-Propanol (Isopropyl alcohol) would be as good as PEC-12. At 17$ for 4oz, it does seem costly unless there is some distinct added advantage.

Thanks

 

[shutterboy]

Thought of adding some more information that I found:

As per Dead Link Removed, PEC-12 contains Methanol along with Butyl acetate. Can someone tell me what is the acetate used for and how does it help in cleaning emulsions? Also, if I just use just methanol, what changes?

 

[yulia_s_rey]

The best practice is to avoid contacting the negatives improperly (perfs are your friends) and to get 100% cotton gloves. Also, good old photo flo works magic. I bought a 16oz for somthing like $6 years ago and I still have plenty for years to come.

 

[Jim Taylor]

Steve Anchell's "The darkroom cookbook" has a 'film cleaner' recipe listed... propan-2-ol; ammonia and water (approx: 97:1:2)

This is what I use and it works a treat - great for cleaning many other things too!!

HTH

 

[Athiril]

PEC-12 leaves behind a lot of residue. Also that residue seems to bond with many surfaces. IMHO it is a fraudulent product.

 

[shutterboy]

PEC-12 leaves behind a lot of residue. Also that residue seems to bond with many surfaces. IMHO it is a fraudulent product.

Oh well, what do you recommend for cleaning then?

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Isopropanol.

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk

 

[shutterboy]

Isopropanol.

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk

Well, not to nitpick, but I believe you either need to call it Isopropyl Alcohol (common name) or 2-Propanol (IUPAC name) or more correctly, Propan-2-ol.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Or Isopropanol. How do I know?

Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk

 

[Rick A]

If you're leaving "finger oils" on your negatives then you seriously need to wash your hands before handling film. Whenever I have "newbies" in my darkroom the first thing we do is go straight to the sink and wash hands with plenty of soap and hot water. Cleanliness is everything.

 

[Neal]

I use Edwal film cleaner as well as Pec-12. Sometimes one seems to work better that the other.

 

[eli griggs]

Steve Anchell's "The darkroom cookbook" has a 'film cleaner' recipe listed... propan-2-ol; ammonia and water (approx: 97:1:2)

This is what I use and it works a treat - great for cleaning many other things too!!

HTH

Has anyone else tried tried this formula and have you formed an opinion?