Welcome to condensor enlargers - how not to enlarge dust and scratches

[cmo]

So, I have a condensor enlarger now, the right tool for everyone who likes sharp images and dust spotting, a good enlarger if your lab is in a semiconductor manufacturing cleanroom...

It's also a good tool to find out which of my 35mm negatives have very tiny, almost invisible scratches.

I know how to remove dust and then remove dust again.

One thing I don't know is, how could I make some happy little scratches invisible?

 

[jerry lebens]

Nose grease.

Yep, you read it right the first time, nose grease...

Regards
Jerry

 

[Rick A]

Yup.
Purchase a small HEPA air purifier and keep it running in your DR, and run a seperate ground strap from the chassis of the enlarger to a good grounding source(dont rely on the grounded plug of the machine).

 

[Dan Henderson]

I second the HEPA filter. I quite honestly cannot remember the last time I had to spot a print. And I use a glass negative carrier with its "4 extra surfaces to attract dust" that some people are so fearful of.

 

[bdial]

Nose grease for the scratches, or else Edwal No-scratch which is an oily liquid stuff that smells like turpentine. There should be similar products on your side of the pond too, but nose grease works well and is always available cheaply.

For the dust, brushes, canned air, hepa filters, anti-static gadgets and a very anal attitude about keeping stuff clean.

 

[cmo]

Okay, I will stop using Clearasil now

The HEPA filter could be a good thing. My DR is very small, a small and cheap device will do the job.

Rick, you recommend a good grounding to eliminate static electricity, is that right?

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I would stay away from anything permanently left on the negative, including nose grease (unless the nose grease comes with a certificate of chemical purity). Who knows what that will do to your precious negatives over the years.

Cleanliness is the ticket. Yes to air filters and static straps but also to anti-static brushes and cleaning the negative just prior to placing it into the negative carrier.

Another problem, and very much a problem during the winter season, is a lack of humidity. This fosters electrostatic and makes things worse. A moist towel over the edge of the sink during the day before using the darkroom can help to minimize this variable.

See http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/phy00/phy00286.htm for more details.

 

[Mark Fisher]

I'd second Ralph's comments. Also. this may sound silly, but make sure you look at your negative carefully before putting it in the enlarger. Holding it in the carrier with light glancing off its face will show even the smallest particles. It can sometimes be time consuming, but it is a whole lot better than spotting.

 

[Bob Carnie]

As Ralph says , increase the humidity, carefully clean the negs before printing, even to the point of rewash, I use glass carriers so they must be spotless, and canned air from the side to cause the dust to move off the negative. I also use antistatic cloths.

Nose oil would only be used for salvaging a scratched negative, I cannot remember the last time.

MOST IMPORTANT> Process your own film in small tanks, in a clean, humid room, dry in a cabinate and do not open the door until the film is ready to be sleeved, use clean film sleeves and put your film not in a binder but in one of those archival portfolio boxes that closes completely from your film.