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

[marciofs]

...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]

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]

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
#

 

[marciofs]

Thanks.

I got get these washaid.

 

[Ian Grant]

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]

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]

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

 

[Terry Christian]

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

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

 

[marciofs]

I just puchased mine online.

 

[Gerald C Koch]

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]

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.