[Leica] wiping wet negs

[Harvey.Arche at jp2hs.org (Arche, Harvey)]

>Ted Wrote:
>FIRST OF ALL IMMEDIATELY STOP WIPING THE NEGATIVES WITH ANYTHING!! PERIOD! 
>fINGER SKIN, >CHAMOIS NOTHING IS FIT TO WIPE WET NEGATIVES AND I DON'T CARE 
>WHAT ANYONE ELSE TELLS >YOU! DON'T BLOODY WELL DO IT!

Ted, and everybody-
OK!!
I'm very happy to hear a method that involves no conact whatsoever. I gotta 
admit that the re-dip in water after photo-flo seems counterintuitve, but 
here goes. I also like Don's suggestion about denatured alcohol, but  
couldn't that get pricey, and can you get it at Wal-mart without a 
prescription? The snap-flick of the reels makes perfect sense. In case 
you're wondering, I hang dry, without air flow, in the plastic bag 
gang-drier at school when no one else is around. 
(BTW- last step in clean-up for me has been to dip the reels and tank in fix 
before washing thoroughly with tap water. I've never had any buildup of 
photo-flo junk.)
I was taught the finger-squeegee method too, and used it up to a couple of 
years ago, and I'll probably keep teaching it to my students. They're only 
in high school and there's a limit to how much technique you can burden them 
with, plus I'd be running out to buy distilled water all the time. 
Philosophical issue: weighing how much finesse of technique to burden them 
with when they are just going to leave class and get a digital p&s. The kids 
that stick with it get the secrets of the inner sanctum, otherwise its all I 
can do to keep them from whining about getting their hands wet. Fookin' kids!
Aside all the other wonderful things about the List, the thing it does 
absolutely the best is distill years of arcane and hard-won knowledge and 
throw it instantly into the lap of the asker. Gotta love it.
Thanks everybody-
Arche