Film wipes

stevebarry · Sep 21, 2013

Can anyone recommend a good film wipe to dry negatives with? For a very long time I used viva paper towels that I stockpiled - but my supply ran out and the new ones scratch. I bought some pac-pad (sp?) from freestyle but they are not absorbent enough to dry the film. Any suggestions appreciated.

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Tom1956 · Sep 21, 2013

There's a reason not to use Photo Flo?

JLP · Sep 22, 2013

There's a reason not to use Photo Flo?

Yes, it is called Edwal LFN Wetting agent.

Never touch a wet negative with anything. Just my two pennies.

Tom1956 · Sep 22, 2013

JLP said:
Yes, it is called Edwal LFN Wetting agent.

Never touch a wet negative with anything. Just my two pennies.

agreed

Europan · Sep 22, 2013

Viscose sponge clothes

I have wiped down miles of movie and photo film with such, not one scratch.

Trask · Sep 22, 2013

I've actually started using Pec Pads recently for this purpose, because something about the water here in Pakistan doesn't like LFN and PhotoFlo works a bit better, but only if well wiped. Use the Pec Pad, squeeze out the water, and do it again. So far no damage to my films by so doing.

gone · Sep 22, 2013

I'm in the US, and always Photo-Flo. You have to use enough of it though, and I always use it w/ distilled water.

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Richard S. (rich815) · Sep 22, 2013

Trask said:
....something about the water here in Pakistan doesn't like LFN and PhotoFlo works a bit better....

Something about my water does not like Edwal either. Just does not work. Followed the directions on the package perfectly yet I'm left with water spots and streaks of chemical residue. So back to Photo Flo for me. But I still do not wipe with anything.

Roger Cole · Sep 22, 2013

rich815 said:
Something about my water does not like Edwal either. Just does not work. Followed the directions on the package perfectly yet I'm left with water spots and streaks of chemical residue. So back to Photo Flo for me. But I still do not wipe with anything.

You probably used too much. The recommended dilution of Photo Flo gives me drying spots. So does the recommended dilution of every other wetting agent I've used. When I use it at half strength, no spots. I suspect (after an exchange about this on another forum lead to an "ah-ha!" moment) that maybe the recommended dilutions are intended to be followed by a squeegee. I would never use a squeegee on film, though I do wipe the excess off very gently between two fingers dipped in the wetting agent. I mix the wetting agent with distilled water, which happens to be very cheap here at the grocery store.

Richard S. (rich815) · Sep 22, 2013

Roger Cole said:
You probably used too much. The recommended dilution of Photo Flo gives me drying spots. So does the recommended dilution of every other wetting agent I've used. When I use it at half strength, no spots. I suspect (after an exchange about this on another forum lead to an "ah-ha!" moment) that maybe the recommended dilutions are intended to be followed by a squeegee. I would never use a squeegee on film, though I do wipe the excess off very gently between two fingers dipped in the wetting agent. I mix the wetting agent with distilled water, which happens to be very cheap here at the grocery store.

I've tried 1 drop per 1000ml of water and then also tired 2, 3, and 4 drops. All either gave me streaks or the film was still covered in droplets that simply dried in place. Tried distiller too. Same. I only switched from photo flo temporarily to try Edwal as others sing its praises. I'm back to photo flo which works fine for me with 3ml per 1000ml.

George Collier · Sep 23, 2013

Another vote for PFlo at half strength, and always with distilled water. I also use a graphic arts product called Webril pads. One roll lasts a very long time, looks like a big roll of toilet paper, pads are very soft and thick, and are made for film work. I fold one up into a pad, soak it in the same PFlo mix, and sqeeze as dry as I can get it. Then just swab off each side of the roll of film, in separate passes (not squeezed) just after hanging up to dry. I've been doing this for 25 years, never one scratch, and never dust that I can remember (I built a drying cabinet in the darkroom, no heat or fan). I don't use these with sheet film.

Tom1956 · Sep 23, 2013

You beat me to the punch on mentioning Webril Wipes. Look for an Xpedx outlet store in your area or other printer's supply store. They call it "graphic arts", but I've always contended it's not art.

Ronald Moravec · Sep 24, 2013

After photoflow in distilled water, hang it up . Then use photoflow in a Zeiss eye glass cleaner pump spray bottle. Ot buy a pump spray from art supply store, Blick.

Never wipe film. Drip dry. Sooner or later you will pick up some debris and scratch the film.

Film wipes

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