[Leica] wiping wet negs

[mrvolvo at cableone.net (Randy Holst)]

Arche, Harvey wrote:

>...My current method is a slow pass down each
>side with a piece of wrung-out chamois that has been dampened in
>distilled water. Photo-flo and a pre- photo-flo rinse also of distilled
>water (we have hard water here). I'm still getting a lot of crud...
>

Arche,

That has been my procedure also and it works well.  Which side of the 
chamois are you using?  The rough side can sometimes shed little pieces 
of the chamois skin which will stick to the negative.  Make sure you use 
the smooth side, and a clean piece for each side.  I like to wrap a 
piece around my finger and gently drag it down the film as it hangs 
vertically.  If your pieces of chamois are old and deteriorating, maybe 
some new pieces are in order.  You might also re-evaluate the area you 
hang your negative strips to dry.  Is a ventilation system coming on 
which stirs up dust and lint?  (I turn my home heating/ventilation 
system off while working with film.)  Do you continue to work in the 
area where the neg's are drying or do you leave the room?  Do you hang 
them in an open room or a drying cabinet?  You might also check the 
water you're using.  Just because it is distilled doesn't necessarily 
mean it's free from contaminants.  It might need filtering. 

Good luck,

Randy Holst
Boise, Idaho