Washaid and Weting Agent (and detergent)... What is the difference?

marciofs · Sep 29, 2015

...or they are the same thing?

Can I use my Weting Agent to better wash and short the time of my Fibre paper prints? ...instead of washaid?

Rick A · Sep 29, 2015

Wetting agent allows water to slide off the film for spot/streak free drying. Wash aid helps remove fixer from paper so it dries without stains and the image lasts. I would not use wetting agent to wash prints.

pdeeh · Sep 29, 2015

no, they're completely different things.

Wetting agent serves only to ensure that water flows smoothly off an emulsion surface without drying in "blobs" and leaving marks.

"Washaid" or "HCA" promotes the speed with which thiosulfate silver complexes (have I got that right?) wash out of fibre-based paper after fixing - which is what reduces the wash time. It is usually based on Sodium sulfite plus a few bits and bobs to adjust pH & reduce or eliminate scum & sludge

You might very well use a wetting agent in your final-final rinse for paper as well as film, of course.

But they are not substitutes
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marciofs · Sep 29, 2015

Thanks.

I got get these washaid.

Ian Grant · Sep 29, 2015

marciofs said:
Thanks.

I got get these washaid.

You can use a 1-2% solution of Sodium Sulphite as wash aid, it's cheap and very effective.

Ian

marciofs · Sep 29, 2015

Ian Grant said:
You can use a 1-2% solution of Sodium Sulphite as wash aid, it's cheap and very effective.

Ian

Where do I usually find it?
Supermarket?
Construction Stores?

Xmas · Sep 30, 2015

http://www.moersch-photochemie.de/content/r
Or Kodak hypo clear...

Terry Christian · Sep 30, 2015

Wetting agent = Kodak Photo-Flo = Edwal LFN = Ilford Ilfotol.

Wash aid = HCA = hypo-clear = Ilford Washaid = Berg Bath.

marciofs · Sep 30, 2015

I just puchased mine online.

Gerald C Koch · Oct 2, 2015

Agfa recommended a 1% solution of sodium carbonate as a wash aid for prints. This chemical is probably easier to find for the majority of people than sodium sulfite. Washing soda (sodium carbonate) is usually available in the detergent sections of most supermarkets.

marciofs · Oct 3, 2015

Gerald C Koch said:
Agfa recommended a 1% solution of sodium carbonate as a wash aid for prints. This chemical is probably easier to find for the majority of people than sodium sulfite. Washing soda (sodium carbonate) is usually available in the detergent sections of most supermarkets.

Great!
Thanks.

Washaid and Weting Agent (and detergent)... What is the difference?

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