scum or deposits on negatives driving me cuckoo

[Jordan]

I am always getting some sort of scum or deposits on my negatives after they dry. I use photo flo and dilute it out as I know this helps, but still always some crap on my negs. I read that rewashing in stop bath helps to get rid of this on already washed and dried negatives. After I use the stop bath should I refix or could I give the negs a little rinse then put them into some PermaWash and then back into the wash?????? Please let me know this is driving me nutso!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Would the second stop bath have an effect on the archival qualities of the neg? Is using the stop bath a bad idea to clear the crap off my negatives? I appreciate your time.

Jordan

[Ed Richards]

What kind of negatives? What kind of crud? Are you washing them in distilled water for the last couple of rinses? How are you drying them?

[Oren Grad]

I'm not sure about washing off the residue once it's there, but a couple of things to try for future processing runs:

* Mix your PhotoFlo with distilled water.

* Dilute the PhotoFlo a bit more than the instructions say - I used to get a bit of residue at 1+200, but it works fine for me at 1+300.

[Jordan]

Film is 8x10 Tri-X. Crud is white crust like deposit stuff that doesn't usually affect printing, BUT can. Haven't used distilled water, but will. Still though would you guys think that running a negative back through the stop after it's been already dry would some adverse affect on the film? You guys are awesome for your quick responses as I still washing my negs.

[Jan Pedersen]

Jordan, i have rewashed negatives without negative effect, as long as you handle your negs carefully there should not be any reason why you can't rewash.
Depending on your location which i forgot you could have a lot of minerals in your water and in case you have, distilled water really is needed for the last couple of rinse. I am real lucky here in the NW where water is soft, one drop of photoflo per 1/2L of distilled water is enough to make the negatives look spotless.
Keep trying and you will succeed

[Jordan]

How about something to remove the scum from old negatives?

[Jan Pedersen]

Try do a 10 - 15 minute rewash with a couple of distiled water rinse with photoflo in the end. No guarantie but i am pretty sure it wont get any worse than what you got.

[Jordan]

Thanks Jan, I'll give a try tomorrow.

[Jan Pedersen]

Jordan, Leave the negatives in the disitlled water for at least 2 minutes in the end with plenty of agitation.
Minerals are good for many things but very bad for negatives. Good luck.

[davidb]

Sounds like hard water.