washing and re-mounting color slides

[Bill Karoly]

I have some old slides that seems to have dust in them that I can't easily
clean without damaging them. Any ideas on how to clean them?

Bill

[farseer]

. Remove slides from cardboard or glass mounts.
. You can remove most surface fungus from film by gently wiping it with
a Kodak photo chamois, a soft, plush pad or absorbent cotton moistened
with isopropyl alcohol in a concentration of 98% or greater. ( ise 100%
picked up at a local pharmacy $4.75 a bottle)

DO NOT use water or solutions that contain water, as fungus growth
usually makes the emulsion water soluble. DON'T use ordinary rubbing
alcohol as it contains too much water.

. Remount slides in clean, glass mounts or new cardboard mounts. Wear
cotton gloves to avoid getting fingerprints on film.

There is no satisfactory method for complete restoration once fungus
growth has etched or distorted film emulsion.

Kodachrome film and color negative films processed before 1970 were
coated with a lacquer that must be removed with 98% isopropyl alcohol
before cleaning:
. Mix 1/2 ounce household ammonia in 8 ounces of denatured (shellac
thinning) alcohol.
. Dip and agitate film in solution, or wipe with cotton swab, then dry.
. Wipe as above with isopropyl alcohol 98% or greater

An alternative treatment exists that involves water, which may destroy
slides that are extensively damaged:
. Dissolve 1 level tablespoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) in 1
pint of water. For Kodachrome films, add 1/2 fluid ounce of 37%
formaldehyde.
. Agitate Kodachrome slides for 1 minute; color negatives 4 minutes.
. Rinse for 1 minute at room temperature.
. Bathe for 30 seconds in Kodak Photo-Flo solution.
. Dry in dust-free place, then re-mount slides.

Re-lacquering: Materials are no longer available for re-lacquering.
Duplicate slides to insure long-term availability of images.

HAVE FUN