Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/04/21

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Subject: [Leica] Technical Question Film Processing
From: kcarney1 at cox.net (Ken Carney)
Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:36:18 -0500

Jim,

You should be able to buy a Jobo film drying hanger for little these days.
The important thing is a good final dunk in distilled water and Photo-Flo,
but only about _60 seconds_.  This, of course, is after the recommended
rinse time with filtered water.  (Whatever process you use, you must have a
darkroom water filter that is adequate.)  Before drying, you wipe the film
gently with two fingers as a squeegee. If you just hang the film up without
a filtered cabinet, you will always get some debris on the film.  Before I
closed my darkroom (sniff, snuffle) I made my own drying cabinet that worked
well.  I imagine all of the those are available for little these days.

I would think twice about the suggestions to use distilled water for
developing.  Sometimes that can lead to a slightly soft neg.  Here, we have
an Ozarka bottled water plant.  They bring water up, distill it, and then
add exactly the same amount of minerals to give "mineral water".  It was a
constant in the darkroom.

Hope this helps.

Ken

> -----Original Message-----
> From: lug-bounces+kcarney1=cox.net at leica-users.org [mailto:lug-
> bounces+kcarney1=cox.net at leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Jim Shulman
> Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 8:23 AM
> To: 'Leica Users Group'
> Subject: [Leica] Technical Question Film Processing
> 
> I recently (finally) set up a film processing station in my basement-which
> in 2009 makes me a bit like Rhett Butler signing up in time for
> Appomattox.
> 
> 
> 
> Amazingly, my first three rolls came out.  However, I had two major
> problems
> with the processed film:
> 
> 
> 
> First, it is filled with dust spots, even though my basement is clean.
> Any
> thoughts on how to avoid this?  I hung the film to dry from a ceiling
> rafter, with clips at top and bottom.
> 
> 
> 
> Second, I had streaks across the film, even after a five-minute wash cycle
> with photoflo.  Sample of the "syllabus of errors" at
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/focusit/george+records+2+sm.jpg.html (and
> this after considerable photoshopping).
> 
> 
> 
> Any assistance greatly appreciated.
> 
> 
> 
> Jim Shulman
> 
> Wynnewood, PA
> 
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
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In reply to: Message from jshul at comcast.net (Jim Shulman) ([Leica] Technical Question Film Processing)