Squeegee or no Squeegee

Do you use a Sqeegee on your negs?

  • Yes

    Votes: 28 15.9%

  • Somtimes

    Votes: 14 8.0%

  • No

    Votes: 130 73.9%

  • A what?

    Votes: 4 2.3%
  • Total voters
    176
  • Poll closed .

Vaughn

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I squeegee with my fingers -- always have, probably always will. Never have scratched a neg in 30+ years that way.
 

bsdunek

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Right, use photoflow and my fingers. Always worked for me. I can see using a squeegee, but I would be afraid it had collected dirt and would scratch my negs.
 

2F/2F

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Ditto to what Vaughn said (for roll film only).
 

removed account4

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what vaughn says for me too if it is roll film,
BUT if 4x5 or bigger i hang by a corner
and let them take a nap ..
paper negatives on the other hand,
i squeegee with a windshield wiper, as i do my prints ...
 

Vaughn

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jnanian said:
...BUT if 4x5 or bigger i hang by a corner
and let them take a nap...
Click to expand...

Same here...though I take a paper towel and dab off the big drip in the lower corner of sheet film a few times to speed drying.

How many of us see-saw roll film in the photo-flo? Old habits die hard! (Plus I never get photo-flo on my SS reels this way!)

Vaughn
 

Curt

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I have an old wiper blade cut in half that I have used since the '70s, dip it in wetting agent and with the film hanging I give each side one wipe. No scratches or I would have given it up years ago.

I remember starting out, I bought a stainless steel device with two sponges at the end. It worked fine for a couple of sessions then it was scratch hell so I ditched it.
Curt
 

Ian David

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I don't use a squeegee (or fingers) on any of my negs, roll film or 5x4. I don't find it necessary, and it means one less potential problem.
 

mooseontheloose

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The poll says "negs."

It didn't originally. I use my fingers to do a light squeegee, never had any problems.
 

thisismyname09

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photoflow seems to be enough to keep water spots off my film. No need for a squeegee
 

fotch

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I have used my fingers, photo sponges and the Jobo multi-blade squeegee, with is the best. I dip it in the photo flow then give it a sharp shake to get the excess off and then use it gently on the negatives. Never had a scratch problem. Of course, keep it clean. Film dries spontless. Works for me.
 

mike c

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Vaughn what is the problem with foto flo on reel. I keep film on SS reel with photo flo no sqeege.Use to see-saw but stopped.clumsy fingers.
 

reellis67

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I find that my film always gets water spots not matter what I do if I attempt to speed drying in any way (including using a squeegee). If I simply dip them in wetting agent and then hang them as is, and nothing else, I get clean negatives every single time.

- Randy
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Jesper

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Used my fingers for several years with no problem, then I tried a squegee, scratched the film and went back to my fingers again.

With sheet film I just let the negatives hang.
 

Shangheye

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Either with my fingers (roll film), Squegee for 35mm, or hang to dry for 4x5.

The water in belgium is very hard, so I can't risk not squeegeeing...and the sprokets on 35mm seem to act like magnets!
 

Andrew Moxom

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Water where I am at is horrible so I squeegee just the base side not the emulsion side as I find I get drying marks with regular water and distilled water as the final bath regardless of whether photoflo was used otherwise.
 

bill schwab

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NEVER! Not a squeegee OR fingers. A touch of Photoflo and a good drying cabinet is all that is needed. Anything else is just asking for problems IMO. Water has always been good where I've worked, so that is not a factor.
 

John Jarosz

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Never a squeegee. Photoflow and a wrung out sponge from both sides of the neg simultaneously while the neg hangs from clips.

Mainly to keep the floor drier.
 

Sirius Glass

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The poll should have been divided into using PhotoFlo or an equivalent and then squeegee or no squeegee. Followed by not using PhotoFlo or an equivalent and then squeegee or no squeegee.

Without that distinction, the results look like film that was not in hypo long enough to clear the negative.

Steve
 

snallan

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Sep 28, 2007
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Nope, don't let nuffink near my moist emulsion! Film gets a final wash in RO water, then straight in to the drying cabinet.
 

randyB

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Sep 7, 2005
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