True story propylene glycol is a food additive. I couldn't believe it first time I read the label on soft cookies, used in ice cream. It's in a lot of junk food.Do not use Calgon! Do not use Formladehyde. It was only used for color and has been replaced.
The ingredients in Photo Flo are non-toxic at the common dilutions used in processing. In fact, the Propylene Glycol is used in the dairy industry as a cooling agent due to its low toxicity. Of course, no raw organic chemical is good for you, but it is as safe as is practical at use dilution.
Fomaflo from the Formulary is good stuff.
PE
Whatta killjoy!The WW Fluid has a blue dye in it around here. DON'T USE ANYTHING WITH DYES IN IT!!!
The dye will remain in the film at whatever level used in the mix.
Rubbing alcohol contains a material that precipitates out in water. To check this out, add some to water and if it turns cloudy, DO NOT USE IT. However, additives vary around the world, so this may not be true as the blue dye above may not hold everywhere.
Just TWEEN 20 will do.
PE
there are some alternatives but most use a bit of Triton 100; not sure if that makes it any safer. Why not stock up on Photoflo? the stuff will last you forever because you need so little. BYW, that may also be the solution to your concerns. Use Photoflow200 aas 1+400; it will still do the job and cut down on possible contamination a subsequent dip in distilled water and Bob's your uncle.My crystal ball tells me that I'll eventually be using chems mixed from bulk ingredients exclusively. I'd like to wean myself off Photoflo. The whole "pouring formaldihyde down the drain" thing, not to mention covering my negs with something after they're all "clean" from the wash is something to which I'd like to explore alternatives.
Is there a homebrew wetting agent out there? I think I remember there's some folks who just give their film a distilled water rinse, then hang it to dry. What are the procedural and chemical alternatives to photoflo?
-KwM-
[added later]
Should have done a search first. Found (there was a url link here which no longer exists), where non photoflo folks seem to use a combo of distilled/filtered water, isopropal alchohol and something called LFN. What's LFN?
what about the anti fungical and anti bacterial properties of tetenal mirasol? how could we arrange that in a home brew? phenol?
thanks!
If you say so, sir.... Personally, I refrain from self-developing color due to the high PITA factor, and just send it out.This is a common misconception, that B&W films need the same treatment as color.
PE
Tween 20 would probably work at about 1 drop / liter.
PE
Well all of you have convinced me. No more PhotoFlo after this bottle is gone. At the current use rate, I should be 140 years old at that time.........Regards!True story propylene glycol is a food additive. I couldn't believe it first time I read the label on soft cookies, used in ice cream. It's in a lot of junk food.
Very wise—especially the darn near vertical Capitol Avenue hill!And I avoid driving through Pittsburgh, especially in snow!
PE
I've used Tween 20, probably a little stronger than 1 drop per litre but it does work. Not as good as Photo-Flo nor as good as the recipe I quoted above....but if you happen to have Tween 20 to hand, it does the job.
I will defiately give that a try.The WW Fluid has a blue dye in it around here. DON'T USE ANYTHING WITH DYES IN IT!!!
The dye will remain in the film at whatever level used in the mix.
Rubbing alcohol contains a material that precipitates out in water. To check this out, add some to water and if it turns cloudy, DO NOT USE IT. However, additives vary around the world, so this may not be true as the blue dye above may not hold everywhere.
Just TWEEN 20 will do.
PE
The WW Fluid has a blue dye in it around here. DON'T USE ANYTHING WITH DYES IN IT!!!
The dye will remain in the film at whatever level used in the mix.
Rubbing alcohol contains a material that precipitates out in water. To check this out, add some to water and if it turns cloudy, DO NOT USE IT. However, additives vary around the world, so this may not be true as the blue dye above may not hold everywhere.
Just TWEEN 20 will do.
PE
We shouldn’t hijack the thread over geography trivia, but neither is it a surprise you are familiar with the old Yellow Box HQ. The 9th is on the west side not far from the airport.I'm a native of the Pittsburgh area. Lived there on and off for about 25 years.
IDK where the 9th ward of Rochester even is.
BTW, my comments are from Rege Cordic, a noted Pittsburgh comic and radio host. Look him up. His humor should never be lost.
PE
Many years ago I bought the stock of specialist Photo Chemicals from my lab supplier, it had been a speciality of the owners late father and they'd publish a specific photo chemical list. They sold Wetting agent, essentially this was Tween 20 and IPA plus some distilled water.
Ian
Fungi are of course different from bacteria.i have seen fungi in BW negatives... is there anything i can put in the wetting agent to avoid it?
To be clear, IPA = isopropyl alcohol and not India Pale Ale?Many years ago I bought the stock of specialist Photo Chemicals from my lab supplier, it had been a speciality of the owners late father and they'd publish a specific photo chemical list. They sold Wetting agent, essentially this was Tween 20 and IPA plus some distilled water.
Ian
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