Alternatives to Photo Flo

[Rene Galindo]

Does anyone know of any alternatives to photo flo?
(or other detergent based wetting agents).
Last night i was washing negatives (5x7) and then I
rinsed them in a light solution of Photo Flo to eliminate
water spots etc. Then I thought, this is a mild detergent of
some kind. When it dries there will be a soapy film on the
negative even though its a watery concentration. (I don't
see a film on the negative when they dry but there must be
some detergent residue left on the negative. Will that residue
eventually harm the negative?)

rene galindo
rgal...@castle.cudenver.edu

[Christopher Heider]

Rene Galindo <rgal...@castle.cudenver.edu> wrote:
>Does anyone know of any alternatives to photo flo?

A friend of mine who's a professional photographer uses Palmolive dish soap
instead of Photo Flo (just a drop or two with plenty of water). This alternative
was chosen mostly for convenience and economy rather than disliking Photo Flo.

>Will that residue eventually harm the negative?

If you mean Photo Flo, I can't imagine Kodak would continue to market a harmful
product for so long. I've heard no complaints.

------------------------------------------------------------
Christopher Heider, Webmaster
Dun and Bradstreet Information Services, N.A.
hei...@dbisna.com
http://www.dbisna.com/

"If you ain't the lead dog, the scenery never changes."

- Age Old Yukon Saying
------------------------------------------------------------

[Edward M. Lukacs]

In a pinch (ran out of Photo-Flow and forgot to buy more), it occurred to
me that photoflow was a wetting agent, as were (GASP!) most detergents!
Looking around toi see what I ahd, I spied a bottle of Ivory Dishwashing
Liquid. So I put one glop (large drop) in a quart of water and tried it.
It worked beautifully in the hard(!!) water in Homestead, FL, which contains
over 500ppm of combined magnesium and calcium. I still use photoflow,
but the Ivory was just fine!

Hope this helps.
Ed Lukacs

[Dana Rees]

I have not tried this and I make no claims, I do know a
gentleman who is a very good photographer. He uses non-ionic
surfactant, available at garden centers, used to break up
surface tension of water and help penetrate plants and insects.

He claims it works well, doesn't foam much, and costs about
$10.00 / gallon in high concentration. Mix is 1oz/gallon.

My question... (I am not reccomending this) From someone who
knows or cares, does this seem reasonable?

It doesn't really matter, wetting agents are not that
expensive:)

--Dana Rees
Orem, Utah

[Michael Gudzinowicz]

The last time I looked, Photo Flo was a diluted solution of Triton-X100
(a non-ionic surfactant).
--
Mike - ab...@osfn.rhilinet.gov

[Michael F Smith]

Rene Galindo <rgal...@castle.cudenver.edu> wrote:
>Does anyone know of any alternatives to photo flo?

>(or other detergent based wetting agents).
>Last night i was washing negatives (5x7) and then I
>rinsed them in a light solution of Photo Flo to eliminate
>water spots etc. Then I thought, this is a mild detergent of
>some kind. When it dries there will be a soapy film on the
>negative even though its a watery concentration. (I don't
>see a film on the negative when they dry but there must be

>some detergent residue left on the negative. Will that residue
>eventually harm the negative?)
>

While I'm not an expert on the chemical make up of Photo Flo. I always use it. I do
know of a guy who used distiled water for the final rinse.

Michael Smith

[Carolyn S. Lee]

I picked this recipe from a previous thread:

10 ml photoflo
100 ml 70% isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol)
mix with 1 gallon distilled water

the alcohol disrupts the hydrogen bonding of the water.
it works great with my negatives.

[Donald Martinich]

Rene Galindo (rgal...@castle.cudenver.edu) wrote:
: Does anyone know of any alternatives to photo flo?

Yes. I use plain distilled water and I have no residue problems. -D.M.
(I usually shoot in 120 for B&W.)

[Ted W. Simon]

In article <3s36hp$q...@mark.ucdavis.edu> Donald Martinich,

Don't you get water spots? I certainly do.

*************

Ted W. Simon
simo...@mindspring.com

Nothing is true. Everything is permitted.
- William S. Burroughs
- Cities of the Red Night

[mo...@eznet.net]

Well if photo flo is in short supply, ;-] you could always try lemon fresh Joy,
it has all the right surfacants, and it even smells good.

[Mel Proudfoot]

>Well if photo flo is in short supply, ;-] you could always try lemon fresh Joy,
>it has all the right surfacants, and it even smells good.
>
>

I recommend SUNLIGHT LEMON LIQUID, method.
Add a few drops of washing-up liquid to the final wash.
Swish the spool around a bit.
Take some kitchen paper and gently pull the film over the paper to remove the excess
water, both sides.
Go hang in the boiler room until dry!
No drying marks, not problem, no expense!

Happy drying!

Mel
(exiled Brit in Belgium)