Film squeegees

[bblhed]

Not to change the thread, but personally I believe photo-flo was a scam established Kodak and others to make money. It is nothing more than weak dish soap. Rinse in distilled water, and never wipe your negs.

:munch: I made sure I said my water comment was a joke, I'm just going to watch now.

 

[MattKing]

If Photo-flo is a scam established by Kodak to make money, it must be the lowest returning scam in the history of the corporate world.

A bottle of Photo-flo lasts forever.

Even if it were nothing more than a very pure detergent, it is still a very pure detergent.

I have no desire to have my negatives smell of the morning dew on a spring morning in Ireland, or some such possibly damaging foolishness.

 

[Rick A]

If it is "pure soap" then wouldn't trisodium phosphate (TSP)do the trick? I prefer Edwal's LFN, I put one drop in my developer( Ethol LPD ) and I dont get any foaming when returning to the storage bottle from the tray.

 

[Ronald Moravec]

never squeegee or finger or wipe film with anything.Sooner or later you will have a problem.

There is no good reason to do it, but people insist.

 

[removed account4]

If Photo-flo is a scam established by Kodak to make money, it must be the lowest returning scam in the history of the corporate world.

A bottle of Photo-flo lasts forever.

recently, i just finished a bottle purchased in 1981

 

[bobwysiwyg]

Ah, ha. So it really isn't "forever."

 

[randyB]

never squeegee or finger or wipe film with anything.Sooner or later you will have a problem.

There is no good reason to do it, but people insist.

After 40+ years of squeegeeing with a sponge squeegee I'm still waiting for my "problem" to happen. 41+ years ago I tried the rubber thing and didn't like it. I also tried not squeegeeing, I liked that even less. I use 1/2 the amount of PhotoFlo that Kodak recomends. I make sure the sponge has been wet for several minutes (30) before wiping, then hang them in my cabinet, turn the fan timer on and come back in 45 minutes. The OP has lots of techniques posted here to choose from, try them and use the one you like.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

All right. I will change my ways. I will not use that evil film squeegee. I got my first film squeegee with a Patterson darkroom kit over 25 years ago. I used it off and on. When I it wore out, I got another one. I worked in other photo labs and non of them use film squeegees. I'll probably use a sponge from now on.

 

[andy-b-photo]

Great thread -- I nver thought about using distilled water with photoflo, but it makes sense since it would be the minerals in water that might linger on the film. Rubbing alcohol??? I've always found that Crown Royal on some ice works best during the film drying process.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

Not to change the thread, but personally I believe photo-flo was a scam established Kodak and others to make money. It is nothing more than weak dish soap. Rinse in distilled water, and never wipe your negs.

I partially agree as Kodak's recommendations call for far more Photo-Flo thsn is really needed. One or two drops per 250 ml is all that is needed.

The active ingredient in Photo-Flo is Triton X-100 which acts to reduce the surface tension of the final rinse water. It is not a soap nor is it a detergent. The use of dish soap can cause spotting with hard water.