Type 55 - Hard to Clear?

[Michael J. Kravit]

Recently I started using a new order of Type 55 after running out of my older supply. These new packets are a different color than the old ones (gray vs. black or the opposite as I forget what the new ones are). I find that even with a saturated soldium sulfite solution, not all of the goo is clearing off even with a prolonged wash.

Has anyone else noticed this.

[Steve Hamley]

Michael,

Yep, I've noticed the difficult clearing. I like to very gently rub off the majority of goop under lukewarm running water, using my fingers, then into the clearing bath. I haven't had any scratching or damage problems, at least yet.

Thanks!

Steve

[Tom Westbrook]

Hi Michael,

I've noticed that, too, in some I bought last winter but I thought it was because it's been sitting around too long. I've just been doing the same thing Steve described. I don't see any qualitative difference in the ultimate results after I get all the goop off, but it is annoying. My major problem with it recently is pulling it without getting an undeveloped spear-head-shaped area at the end of it.

[Keith Pitman]

The 'goo' will also come off readily under a stream of water. I use a sprayer, but holding the negative under the faucet should work as well. Seems there should be less risk of damaging the negative.

[s. gregory]

Yes! That spear-head shaped area at the bottom of the negative! I too have that problem, and don't run enough Type 55 (i.e. I don't have a second box I can compare my current lot to, or a second holder) to be able to readily ascertain whether it is a problem with the film or the holder. I cleaned the rollers on the holder and thought it might have reduced the problem a little bit, but it might have been my imagination. Any insight anyone can provide into THAT problem would be greatly appreciated.

I don't mean to hijack the question. I also find that the chemical goop needs a little encouragement with fingers and a stream of water to get it off the neg, depending on how long it has been soaking for, and that extra manipulation has yet to scratch the negative.

[Brian Kennedy]

I haven't had a problem clearing the goo in a Hypo Clear solution. My envelopes are grey, I think the newest are black, though, right?

Steven, about the "V" -- see this thread on photo.net: http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=005sBI

And this thread on photo.net: http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=005vPT

And this temporary page of mine (glad I've left it up, I've been meaning to take it down): http://www.briankennedy.net/temp.html

And this thread on naturephotographers.net (may require registration): http://forums.naturephotographers.net/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=8306088241&f=8556005841&m=57310932

Bottom line - it's a film emulsion problem. Return the box and get a new one. It's a crapshoot, as the new box may be faulty, too (I've had two faulty boxes in a row).

[Scott Walton]

I too haven't had a problem when using HCA and in particular, Permawash made by Heico. As far as the negs not getting the goop all the way down to the end, I have cleaned my rollers with 91% isopropyl alcohol and that works great because it gives the rollers a great cleaning and rejuvenates the rubber so you get a great gripping/spreading action. I have done this about once a week for about 10 years now with no degrading of the rollers!

[Peter Hamilton]

I have also found this clearing problem with both recent but old-style boxes of 55PN, and the new ones too. My solution is to agitate the film vigorously in sodium sulfite, leave it a few hours in the solution, then put through weakish fix (Hypam at 1:9) followed by a good wash. More worryingly I too have been having the 'spear' problem, across half a negative. I was using outdated 55 at first, and assumed that was the reason, but have also had it with more recent 'fresh' film. After a careful roller clean it did not happen again, but then I only exposed one or two sheets. Has anybody raised this with Polaroid? Is it a known manufacturing problem? Having recently moved over to a 405 back and film packs, I'm wondering whether it occurs with that version of the PN film as well...?

[Brian Kennedy]

In response to Peter - it sure seems like a well-known problem. Or at least, it seems to be common to lots of us using Type 55 film. I don't know if Polaroid has been notified. I didn't notify them, I just exchanged the box at my store for another one. The new box has the same problem!

[Amadou Diallo]

I've also recently used the newer (grey packet) batch of 55PN. Using a working solution of Heico Permawash, I haven't had any problems getting the goo off. My procedure has been 1. agitate and then soak in Permawash for 2-3 minutes 2. place neg in water for 3-4 minutes 3. repeat step 1 4. repeat step 2 5. soak in PhotoFlo for 30 sec 6. Hang to dry

So far the negs have emerged free of goo and scatches.

[Brian Kennedy]

For those who are interested in the portion of this thread dealing with the "V" problem in the emulsion, I received a good response from Polaroid, posted here: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/lfforum/thread.php?topic=496618.