Neg-a-flat mystery

[Jac@stafford.net]

So I got a Neg-a-flat 4x5 carrier properly modified for my Omega enlarger.

Of course (or not), my 4x5 negatives do not stretch, clip-in flat as I expected. The negative looks like mid-ocean long wave.

Is it me? Or is the device simply lacking?

Net wisdom is very much appreciated.

Thank you,
Jac

[Tin Can]

Every person here will say you must use glass.

Mine works for me, is all I will say.

[Peter Gomena]

Mine worked fine, but I didn't like how the little grabbers scratched the emulsion and base of the film and abandoned it.

[John Olsen]

My Neg-a flat works very well, and has for 30 years. Maybe yours is damaged? Do the grabber bars on each side come down smoothly and symmetrically? Sorry to hear yours is not working for you.

[Graham Patterson]

You put the film in with the lever at mid-point. There are two moving metal plates on each side and the film goes between them. So you close it enough to get the lower one horizontal, then the negative goes in, and then it closes fully and the upper plate grabs the film.

The lower plate actually lifts the film when you open it all the way.

[Paul Ewins]

I used one successfully when I had my Beseler 45, but it was a bit fiddly until you got the knack of it. I rather suspect that these were meant for the thinner pack film.

[Greg Y]

Mine, bought used here, works like a charm, on a Beseler 45mXT

[EdSawyer]

I am with Peter - I had one, didn't like how it worked, sold it. Got an anti-newton glass carrier instead.

[Jac@stafford.net]

I am with Peter - I had one, didn't like how it worked, sold it. Got an anti-newton glass carrier instead.

I'm going to look for just that, Ed.
.

[Kirk Gittings]

Back inthe day, I shot a ton of Tri-x Film packs. These use a thin film base and tend to droop and also move with the heat of a long exposure. I use a Neg-a-flat when printing these. Yes it leaves marks that are outside the image area. I do not care about the marks as the NaF does eliminate the sagging and negative popping on long exposures. A very useful tool. In this dusty environment I live in, I try to avoid glass carriers that add surfaces to collect dust. I owned one but sold it.