Kodak Photo Flo

[redbandit]

The warning lables make it sound to be as deadly as radioactive waste, so perchance, what is the standard for dealing with the negatives after you do the final rinse of distilled water and photo flo?

wipe off? just air dry? And what kind of residue does it leave behind?

 

[MattKing]

Photo-flo is a highly concentrated surfactant. The concentration is the reason for the warning labels.
Once you delete it to working strength, it is just slightly different from water - water with less surface tension.
Just air dry the film.

 

[halfaman]

Take a look to the msds file. The concentrate is eye irritant and could be bad for your pet fish if you put them in the working solution...

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/static/pdf/msds/kodak/SDS_US_English_-_KODAK_PHOTO-FLO_200_Solution_(1).pdf

 

[BrianShaw]

Antifreeze and alcohol???? I always thought it was a detergent.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

The warning lables make it sound to be as deadly as radioactive waste, so perchance, what is the standard for dealing with the negatives after you do the final rinse of distilled water and photo flo?

wipe off? just air dry? And what kind of residue does it leave behind?

wipe off between two fingers and let it air dry. The residue left behind by Photo Flow is of no consequence unless too much of it was used, in which case rewashing is recommended.

 

[BrianShaw]

… and to answer the questions… air dry. No significant residue on film when used as directed (or at lower concentration). Wash film reels well if they were dunked in photo-flo.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

If you forgo a surfactant, try soaking your negatives in distilled water with Isopropyl Alcohol in it. Then gently squeegee film between two fingers. I don't remember the ration. I did this often in Japan, when I didn't have any surfactant on hand... The alcohol aided in quicker drying... it's pretty humid over there in Summer months!

 

[Kilgallb]

The water here is really hard so I mix Photo-flo with distilled water or I get water marks from the minerals.

I mix my stabilizer for C41 colour with distilled water and photo at 200:1 ratio for the same reason.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Hang the film to dry. Draw off the solution on the bottom corners of the film with a paper towel. Then wash hands and dry.

 

[logan2z]

Although Photoflo seems to be almost universally recommended as a way to eliminate drying marks/water spots, I had a terrible time with streaks when using it - and I did mix it with distilled water and at the 1:200 dilution recommended by Kodak. The problem could have been a function of my hard water or maybe I needed to use an even higher dilution than 1:200, but I switched to LFN and have never had a mark since - and no need to finger-squeegee. I also find it more convenient to use - just two drops in 32 oz. of distilled water and you're done.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Although Photoflo seems to be almost universally recommended as a way to eliminate drying marks/water spots, I had a terrible time with streaks when using it - and I did mix it with distilled water and at the 1:200 dilution recommended by Kodak. The problem could have been a function of my hard water or maybe I needed to use an even higher dilution than 1:200, but I switched to LFN and have never had a mark since - and no need to finger-squeegee. I also find it more convenient to use - just two drops in 32 oz. of distilled water and you're done.

When dealing with streaking from surfactants such as PhotoFlo and LFN one needs to vary from the recommendations to find what is needed to accommodate ones local waters.

 

[Radost]

wipe off between two fingers and let it air dry. The residue left behind by Photo Flow is of no consequence unless too much of it was used, in which case rewashing is recommended.

If you have rough skin like mine dont touch the film.

 

[Radost]

Just switched to LFN for first time today.
Negatives are drying.
Kind of cool my usual shake if the rollers almost no water came out.
WIth Photoflo I have to do at least 5-6 shakes.

 

[logan2z]

When dealing with streaking from surfactants such as PhotoFlo and LFN one needs to vary from the recommendations to find what is needed to accommodate ones local waters.

Maybe I just got lucky with LFN, but it required no experimentation in my environment. I just followed the directions and my film was free of spots/streaks. Because of that, I didn't see a need to continue futzing with Photoflo.

 

[cliveh]

After washing the film with continuous flowing water, empty the tank and refill with de-ionised water. Agitate the film in this for about 30 seconds and then hang to dry in ambient temperature foe about 24 hours. No drying marks and no Photoflo required.

 

[Sirius Glass]

After washing the film with continuous flowing water, empty the tank and refill with de-ionised water. Agitate the film in this for about 30 seconds and then hang to dry in ambient temperature foe about 24 hours. No drying marks and no Photoflo required.

Depending on the water LFN or PhotoFlo may not be an option but a requirement. Water is not the same worldwide and there is on one size fits all.

 

[cliveh]

Depending on the water LFN or PhotoFlo may not be an option but a requirement. Water is not the same worldwide and there is on one size fits all.

I appreciate that, but if the last ingress of liquid by the film is de-ionised water then no drying marks will occur. Try it and report back.

 

[redbandit]

My water is hard.

If i put a few ML in the bottom of a glass and leave it on the counter, come back in day and it looks like i left milk in the bottom. I can actually build up a business card layer on the bottom of my water glass in a few weeks.

What is the "right way" to clean the reels after using photo flo?

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

My water is hard.

If i put a few ML in the bottom of a glass and leave it on the counter, come back in day and it looks like i left milk in the bottom. I can actually build up a business card layer on the bottom of my water glass in a few weeks.

What is the "right way" to clean the reels after using photo flo?

If you get in the habit of giving your tank and reels a good soak and rinse with warm/hot water, right after you hang up your negatives to dry, you will be okay. My tank and reels are over 30 years old. No issues.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I appreciate that, but if the last ingress of liquid by the film is de-ionised water then no drying marks will occur. Try it and report back.

And exactly why should I mess with perfection and add a step that requires more work and regular trips to buy distilled water?

 

[Sirius Glass]

My water is hard.

If i put a few ML in the bottom of a glass and leave it on the counter, come back in day and it looks like i left milk in the bottom. I can actually build up a business card layer on the bottom of my water glass in a few weeks.

What is the "right way" to clean the reels after using photo flo?

I rinse them in hot water and use a brush if necessary, however I remove the film from the reels before I put the film in a container of PhotoFlo per the Jobo instructions.

 

[cliveh]

And exactly why should I mess with perfection and add a step that requires more work and regular trips to buy distilled water?

Because you don't have to buy Photoflo.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Because you don't have to buy Photoflo.

My local water requires it. Every camera store would tell you that. Did you bother to read post 16?

 

[Kilgallb]

What is LFN?

 

[cliveh]

My local water requires it. Every camera store would tell you that. Did you bother to read post 16?

Well people who sell Photoflo would say that. But whatever floats your boat.