Sprint Wetting Agent leaves Oily Residue on film

djkloss · Apr 4, 2019

After developing my way expired bulk film and getting fog from freezer and light leaks from either a leaky camera or leaky bulk cassettes (everything in my house is old) the final straw was the developing. The developing went fine. Distilled water, D76 1:1, water stop, Sprint Fixer, wash, then... Sprint Wetting Agent. First it smelled of isopropyl alcohol, then it left an oily residue on the film. I used a chamois cloth to wipe it, and the next day it was still oily. I couldn't put the film in sleeves.
The film isn't worth saving because, well, it just isn't. But for the future, not sure if I should just go back to the more reliable photoflo?

Or... is my Sprint Wetting Agent gone bad too?

Thanks!

Photo Engineer · Apr 4, 2019

Wetting agent should not go bad. It can get moldy if you dilute it for use and then keep it a long time, but as a concentrate, no.

PE

AgX · Apr 4, 2019

djkloss said:
Or... is my Sprint Wetting Agent gone bad too?

From this we can conclude that you used that concentrate before without issue.

Are you really sure of making the right working strength. (I ask by lack of better explanation...)

djkloss · Apr 4, 2019

AgX said:
From this we can conclude that you used that concentrate before without issue.

Are you really sure of making the right working strength. (I ask by lack of better explanation...)

It's possible I used the wrong amount. The bottle said as an alternative if you don't have a sponge, you can use the drip dry method as in sheet film. I figured I could do the same with 35mm. 3ml per liter. (I actually only had 3ml:700ml not 1 liter) and i did attempt to 'squeegy' with a cotton cloth after 12 hours of waiting for it to dry. but there is still an oily residue and it does smell like rubbing alcohol. I've only used this once before, normally I use photoflo. some one gave me a bottle to try, so i tried it on film/images that weren't important.

Kino · Apr 4, 2019

Are you sure the film base isn't breaking down from age?

Pull off a few inches of unexposed stock from the bulk loader in the dark and then take it into the light and examine the film.

If there is no evidence of mottling in the developed film, then contamination happened after development and you should be able to remove the oil with a solvent type cleaner like PEC or Edwal.

removed account4 · Apr 4, 2019

You might consider contacting Sprint Systems of Photography, either via email or telephone.
Their contact information should be here>>> https://sprintsystems.com maybe they can tell you what is going on.

AgX · Apr 4, 2019

Kino said:
Are you sure the film base isn't breaking down from age?

Good point. I did not quite understood "way expired". Well, old acetate film may have its plasticizer diffuse out and being cought between bulk windings and survive processing.

djkloss · Apr 4, 2019

Kino said:
Are you sure the film base isn't breaking down from age?

Pull off a few inches of unexposed stock from the bulk loader in the dark and then take it into the light and examine the film.

If there is no evidence of mottling in the developed film, then contamination happened after development and you should be able to remove the oil with a solvent type cleaner like PEC or Edwal.

The film has all been rolled onto cassettes, but I could pull the leader from one and examine it. as you said, in the dark, then take it into the light and examine the film - is that with or without development. I'm assuming with developing only?

Kino · Apr 4, 2019

djkloss said:
The film has all been rolled onto cassettes, but I could pull the leader from one and examine it. as you said, in the dark, then take it into the light and examine the film - is that with or without development. I'm assuming with developing only?

Without development. Just see if the base side has any contamination or waxy material upon the surface.

djkloss · Apr 4, 2019

Kino said:
Without development. Just see if the base side has any contamination or waxy material upon the surface.

nope, no waxy surface. as for the mottling, the film clip that went through the fixer only had no visible mottling, waiting to see the developed/fixed clip with and without the wetting agent. my guess is that's what the one problem was; the other's are all old age. i do enjoy the testing though

djkloss · Apr 4, 2019

"Way expired" = bulk rolled in 2018, expired in 2008 (TriX) and kept frozen in bulk container / unopened package/ stored rolled cassettes after that in fridg. all of them fogged / the mottling could be exaggerated film grain?

Kino · Apr 4, 2019

djkloss said:
"Way expired" = bulk rolled in 2018, expired in 2008 (TriX) and kept frozen in bulk container / unopened package/ stored rolled cassettes after that in fridg. all of them fogged / the mottling could be exaggerated film grain?

When you say "way expired", at least to me, it's +50 years or so...

Unless the film was stored on top of a steam radiator, I doubt it would have deteriorated in a decade.

Vaughn · Apr 4, 2019

"Unlike other wetting agents, END RUN also leaves a monomolecular anti-static coating to reduce dust attraction to dry films and prints, and hardens emulsions slightly to reduce swelling and scratching."

Did you shake the bottle before measuring out the amount?

djkloss · Apr 5, 2019

Vaughn said:
"Unlike other wetting agents, END RUN also leaves a monomolecular anti-static coating to reduce dust attraction to dry films and prints, and hardens emulsions slightly to reduce swelling and scratching."

Did you shake the bottle before measuring out the amount?

No, I didn't shake it. The ink on the bottle has smeared (someone gave me their old chemistry) and I didn't realize it was that different than photoflo. i read the instructions in the pdf and it doesn't say anything about shaking the bottle. So the negatives have been treated with Edwal's Anti-Stat Film Cleaner which didn't help. My scanner cleaned with Tru-Vue Glass Cleaner, and the negatives are in the trash. I just hope the residue didn't stick to the tank and plastic reels as well. There was nothing on the roll that was worth saving. Many lessons learned here.

From one of the worst rolls of film i've ever shot i managed to salvage one frame; the lens was a freebie Kiron 70-200mm complete with fungus and the camera body a broken down nikkormat fwiw. I was actually looking for a junker camera to take on a canoe trip in the boundary waters of Canada, so i was trying this one out.

Thanks for your response though.

djkloss · Apr 5, 2019

AgX said:
From this we can conclude that you used that concentrate before without issue.

Are you really sure of making the right working strength. (I ask by lack of better explanation...)

I only used it once, and this didn't happen.

Photo Engineer · Apr 5, 2019

Nice photo. Sorry you lost the rest.

PE

Valerie · Aug 2, 2019

My students use Sprint wetting agent (slightly more dilute than directed by Sprint) and a reside is sometimes left behind. Cleans right up with film cleaner.

Photo Engineer · Aug 2, 2019

Valerie, you should not have to clean it up. That can cause scratches or other problems.

PE

Sprint Wetting Agent leaves Oily Residue on film

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