How can you clean the neg from a Polaroid 55?

Mike Té · Mar 25, 2006

Can any one tell me how to clean that gooey junk (the developer) off of a processed Polaroid 55 negative for the sake of storage and future use of the neg?

TIA

bill schwab · Mar 25, 2006

Sodium Sulfite. Go to www.calumetphoto.com and do a search on "Clearing Tank for Polaroid Positive/Negative Films". They have a convenient kit for doing this.

Bill

removed account4 · Mar 25, 2006

you can also use perma wash.
it is mostly sodium sulphite ( from what i have been told ).

john

morkolv · Mar 25, 2006

How about HOT HOT water??

Seems to do the trick for me. In the field i put the negative in a suitable zip-lock plastic bag with some of my drinking water (double shout of your favorite . One negative in each bag, several bags in a sealed plastic container. The Hot water when home however they seems almost cleaned by then.

Best Regards

drpsilver · Mar 25, 2006

25 Mar 2006

I purchased a 1 gallon pale and a 4x5 sheet film developing tank holder (conceivably one could use a JOBO sheet film reel) and use just plain water to soak the negatives. When I an done with my field work, or when I get home, I wash the negs in water (about 68F). This is lots easier than having to deal with sulfite in the field. However, I really like the bag idea.

The final step is to run them through a bath of Photo-Flo (or like) and hang them to dry. Under no circumstances should the processing jelly (aka "goop") dry, it it does the negative is ruined.

Note: I have noticed that if the negative is exposed to bright light during clearing the processing jelly the negatives may show some Sabattier effect.

Regards,
Darwin

vet173 · Mar 26, 2006

What's all this about soaking and washing, I thought you just taped them to the side of the car and ran it thru a car wash.

rbarker · Mar 26, 2006

vet173 said:
. . . and ran it thru a car wash.

I think that depends on the car wash, and whether they have big brushes or those floppy rag things.

Mike Té · Mar 26, 2006

Thanks for the tips, all.

I tried the sulfite trick yesterday on one negative and it cleaned up pretty well.

Given the price and the inconvenience of the Polaroid format in the first place (and the weight and the inconvenience of my bruiser Speed Graphic in the second), I think that my Polaroid use will be occasional.

Mike in warming-up Ottawa.

markbb · Mar 27, 2006

Mike,
cleaning negatives in the field is a pain in the arse, and Sodium Sulphite stains everything. Better to wait until you get somewhere nice and warm and then develop the film. Like others, I find warm water just as good, you just need to make sure you wash all the anti-halation dye (the purple stuff) off the film.

How can you clean the neg from a Polaroid 55?

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