Using Wash aid

Now that I have acquired an archival print washer I am in the position to have a go with Fibre Based paper.

The Print washer is a Deville and is of 16X12 size. it has a tube for water feed from the tap which goes to the bottom of the unit and inside there are a couple of pipes with holes in them to presumably distribute the water form the bottom upwards.

What I want to know is how do I use a wash aid?

Do I rinse the print first for a couple of minutes and then use a tray with a mix of washaid and then put back in the print washer? - I say this because the Ilford wash aid I have specifies a dilution - or is this a rough guide and should I just dump some in the print washer from the start?

Anyone got any ideas?
Thanks
Matt

Good Morning, Matt,

Not everyone does it exactly the same way. Most folks will be sure to rinse the print well to remove the bulk of the fixer on the print as it comes out of the second fixer bath. Hypo clear is optional, but is generally used because it reduces washing time significantly. I usually follow the initial rinse with a few minutes in a tray with a siphon, then put the print in the hypo clear, rinse again, and finally slip the print into the washer. I usually combine the hypo clear with selenium toner, but others make the toner a separate bath. Hypo clear or not, I normally exceed the "recommended" washer time. All this is for FB, of course. With RC, I wash a print or two at a time in the tray with the siphon, most of the time after a quick dip in the hypo clear.

Different people have different approaches; just be sure the fix is fresh and the wash is adequate.

Konical

use as your first suggestion indicates.

ALso, use the dilution and times that are recommended for the wash aid your using.

Don't put it in the print washer.

After the wash aid, then place the prints in the washer and continue from there.

Hi Matt,

I would give the prints a soak (1-2 min) after the fix to prevent the fix from getting into the wash aid and reducing it's capacity. Kodak recommends this with their hypo clearing agent and it makes sense to me.

--John

So basically this is what I should do.......

- After second fix give the print a good rinse
- Then put into tray of wash aid at correct dilution
- Then back into the print washer for full wash of half hour or 1 hour depending on whether single or double weight paper

Sounds straightforward.

Thanks,
Matt

Good Evening, Matt,

That should do the trick. With proper use of the hypo clear, your washing times could probably be slightly shorter without causing any real problems, but, with print washing, a little too much is usually better than not enough. As you gain further experience, you'll probably learn about various toners and will also find your own preferred technique (for example, some printers use a multi-bath soak in a tray instead of a print washer).

Konical

Matt5791 said:

So basically this is what I should do.......
- After second fix give the print a good rinse
- Then put into tray of wash aid at correct dilution
- Then back into the print washer for full wash of half hour
or 1 hour depending on whether single or double weight paper
Sounds straightforward. Thanks, Matt

Click to expand...

Were I in your shoes I'd consider this method. Working
with an 8 x 10 in that size tray I'd pour in a cup of water
and agitate 1 to 2 minutes then repeat with another cup
of water. I'd follow with a cup of fresh 1/2 strength hca
then work the print at least 3 minutes. That I'd follow
with another two one cup rinses.

I don't use a slot type washer. I make use of the
still water diffusion method. Works well if one includes
hydrophobic separators. A bit of innovation on my part.
After all, can't have the prints pilling up one on
the other.

Ilford BTW still recommends the 5, 10, 5 minute
routine. I find it particularly interesting; a 10 minute
hca twixt two 5 minute washes. Then there is Agfa
and their non-oxidizing S. Carbonate HCA. Dan