Paul_RW
newbie
Reged: 14/07/2008
Posts: 4
Loc: Glasgow, UK
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I would be very grateful for any suggestions with this query. I have been using Paterson developing spirals very happily for many years, but recently have noticed a pale, blotchy mark/line of apparent under-development appearing down one side of the negative (as could be seen on the low-res. scan attached of a 6x4.5 B&W negative if I knew how to attach JPEGs to this post!). I don't believe this originates in the camera, though I'm not 100% certain. It isn't flare, which would be black on the negative and usually circular? When I put the spirals in the tank different ways round (i.e. with the film going clockwise or anticlockwise) the mark appears on different sides of the negative - always towards the bottom of the tank. It is worse in a 2- or 3-film tank vs. a single film tank and tends to be worse towards the end of the film, i.e. the outermost section. It has happened with various developers and various agitation techniques!
Could it be that I need to "seriously" clean the spirals - i wonder if I have some fixer residue??; if so what do people recommend?
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beejaybee
Marvin
Reged: 18/07/2007
Posts: 4976
Loc: Really Here In Name Only
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Quote:
When I put the spirals in the tank different ways round (i.e. with the film going clockwise or anticlockwise) the mark appears on different sides of the negative - always towards the bottom of the tank.
Are you sure it's not the top? Sounds possible to me that the liquid level isn't quite high enough!
"Fixer residue" should wash away very easily with plain water.
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Paul_RW
newbie
Reged: 14/07/2008
Posts: 4
Loc: Glasgow, UK
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The volume in the tanks is as required by Paterson, and this affects spirals in the middle and bottom of a multi-spiral tank as well!!
Cheers, PRW
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taxor
Reged: 09/07/2004
Posts: 571
Loc: Lancaster, UK
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I think you're going to have to let us see those jpegs, if poss. Maybe your tank has a leak along the bottom and/or edge causing ingress of water or leakage of solutions. A thorough cleaning of your spirals wouldn't do any harm though. I have heard of staining caused by residual wetting agent esp. when people dry their film on the spiral. Some developers (such as Dixactol) are also sensitive to contamination from improperly cleaned reels. I believe this problem can be compounded by using a semi-stand development process.
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"I wanna hold your gland". Lemming & McCartney
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Paul_RW
newbie
Reged: 14/07/2008
Posts: 4
Loc: Glasgow, UK
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Thanks for your suggestions so far. I can confirm that there is no leakage from the tanks - this has happened in 2 & 3 spiral Paterson tanks (spirals on 120 spacing), though less in the single spiral tank.
I have a low-res. scan of an affected neg. to show what I'm talking about - how do I post that so you can see it? - I can't see an option to attach an image??
Cheers, Paul
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Paul_RW
newbie
Reged: 14/07/2008
Posts: 4
Loc: Glasgow, UK
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This is the reply I received from Paterson's technical manager, which sounds like the answer to the problem hopefully:
"The marks are probably due to silver halide deposits on the spiral. The best
way of removing it is with Farmers Reducer that contains Potassium
Ferycinanide which is difficult to obtain. Alternatively new spirals may be
the only answer. You could try a pre-wet with a tiny drop of wetting agent
before development."
Thanks for your suggestions.
Cheers, Paul
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Terrywoodenpic
A whiff of silicon...
Reged: 21/01/2006
Posts: 369
Loc: Saddleworth UK
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A stronger bleach for silver halide is Iodine dissolved in potassium Iodide, as use for line bleach outs. the proportions are not important.
It may of course be a build up of gelatine emulsion, rather than silver. a soaking in caustic soda will soften it, followed by a good scrubbing with a tooth brush.
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63 happy photo years from amateur to professional and back to amateur
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nimbus
enthusiast
Reged: 29/08/2007
Posts: 316
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I would advise against using wetting agent before development. I had a problem with Kodak TMax 400 where areas of continuous tone took on an unpleasant effect, not unlike grain. This turned out to be caused by carried over wetting agent from the washing of previous films, an improvement of cleaning of the spirals cured this. It might be as well to renew your tanks and spirals, while they are still readily available, and wash them more thoroughly than previously.
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taxor
Reged: 09/07/2004
Posts: 571
Loc: Lancaster, UK
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Quote:
This is the reply I received from Paterson's technical manager, which sounds like the answer to the problem hopefully:
"The marks are probably due to silver halide deposits on the spiral. The best
way of removing it is with Farmers Reducer that contains Potassium
Ferycinanide which is difficult to obtain. Alternatively new spirals may be
the only answer. You could try a pre-wet with a tiny drop of wetting agent
before development."
Thanks for your suggestions.
Cheers, Paul
Far be it from me to refute the bods at Paterson but, pot. ferri/Farmers reducer isn't that difficult to obtain, although you won't find it at your local Jessops! Try Silverprint, Retro, Firstcall etc. Come to think of it, Nova make this stuff called 'Tarbuster' for such a purpose and, IIRC there is a product called 'Exargent' (made by Tetenal?) which does pretty much the same thing. I've always used household bleach to clean silver deposits from trays and my Nova processor. Never had a problem with it. Never used it on reels before, though I can't see it being any more difficult to wash away than pot. ferri. A toothbrush works wonders for cleaning reels - whatever cleanser you use. Regards, T.
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"I wanna hold your gland". Lemming & McCartney
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mediaman
Nearly Laid Back
Reged: 28/07/2008
Posts: 558
Loc: edinburgh
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have you tried a steradent tablet? followed with a good wash? cheap and quick spirel clean.
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Kenny.
The tears of laughter were running down my legs.
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Mojo_66
Rain Kat
Reged: 25/05/2006
Posts: 3378
Loc: Lancs
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Quote:
have you tried a steradent tablet? followed with a good wash? cheap and quick spirel clean.
Damn fine idea, might try that with mine. I also recall sterilising tablets for use with home brew stuff get things squeaky clean. I once ate one of my Dad's Steradent tablets when I was about 5 years old. I thought it was a mint. He got terribly worried when I started foaming at the mouth.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/mojo_black/
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