Recommend alternative to Photo Flo?

[Ari]

I've been getting a filmy layer of scum on my film recently.
I tested my procedure, and found Photo Flo to be the culprit, so I filtered it through a coffee filter, and tried again.
Less scum, but still there, so I'm tossing my Photo Flo.

What do you use as a wetting agent? Looking for something that doesn't breed micro-organisms.

Thanks in advance.

[William Whitaker]

Ari, do you use distilled water for that stage?

[Erik Larsen]

You might try Edwal LFN.

[Ari]

Ari, do you use distilled water for that stage?

Hi Will,
Yes, I used both distilled and tap water when narrowing down the cause, I wanted to rule out water quality. The result was the same.
I got very clean negatives when using no Photo-Flo at all, so that was pretty conclusive.

You might try Edwal LFN.

I've heard good things about it; thanks, Erik.

[Richard Wasserman]

+1 for LFN. I had similar problems years ago with Photoflo, before switching to LFN. Hasn't happened again.

[Ari]

Thanks, Richard; LFN it is, then.

[mdarnton]

I've had really good results with distilled water and nothing else. I also wipe my negs on a pad made of a pile of paper towels, and that's the cleanest they get. I was having real problems with dust on x-ray negs, like never before with any other film, and that made all the difference. I take three or four cheapest (so lint free) towels, pile them, lay the neg on and pull it off sideways, several times in all directions. I haven't had any scratches from this, and the negs are spotless.

[Ari]

Thanks, Michael; I used to squeegee my roll film, wipe a sponge along it to remove the bubbly Photo-Flo, and I agree, I never saw scratches on the film.

Just ordered me some Edwal, thanks all!

[Old-N-Feeble]

How much Photoflo did you use?

[Drew Wiley]

There are several direct alternative. Ilfotol is one of them. These are basically wetting agents that allow your negs to dry free of mineral stain. I never reuse this stuff. All it takes is a few drops in a rinse tray of distilled water, immediately prior to hanging your sheet film to dry. A single pint of the stuff might last a decade.