Topic: Got my liquids - My first B&W film development

[Mind the Mix]

My first B&W film development - Here we go!
Wish me luck! this is my first B&W development.

T-max 100 & 400

I read that Photo-Flo is not needed with TF-4. Is that correct?

All recommendations and advice are truly welcome!

[Alan]

good luck !

main thing is make sure your temperature is correct.

check your dev times at the massive dev chart > http://www.digitaltruth.com/devchart.php

[Terry]

And have a look here too: http://www.covingtoninnovations.com/hc110/

[Mind the Mix]

Terry, Alan. Thanks for the tips! I'll post the results

[Francois]

Well, Photo-flo is a surfactant that is used to make water adhere less to the film (lowers surface tension) and prevent spots. Since the fixer is washed before drying, the film is still vulnerable to damage.

I use Peter's patented Photo-Flo application technique and it's one of the best tricks I've ever learned. I use a spray bottle in which I put some properly diluted wetting agent. It takes very little photo-flo. Being a bit of a clean freak, I sanitized all my equipment (spray bottle and graduated cylinder) with some alcohol before mixing it all in order to prevent bacterial growth in the solution. But that was probably going too far.

[original_ann]

Interesting, Francois!  I'd like to try this.  So... you hang your negatives and then spray them with photoflo? Is there a rinse afterward or... ?   

I like HC-110 with T-Max, Mind the Mix.  I mainly shoot the 100.  Develop at 20C/68F 6mins with inversions every 60sec.  Good luck!

[LT]

Well, Photo-flo is a surfactant that is used to make water adhere less to the film (lowers surface tension) and prevent spots. Since the fixer is washed before drying, the film is still vulnerable to damage.

I use Peter's patented Photo-Flo application technique and it's one of the best tricks I've ever learned. I use a spray bottle in which I put some properly diluted wetting agent. It takes very little photo-flo. Being a bit of a clean freak, I sanitized all my equipment (spray bottle and graduated cylinder) with some alcohol before mixing it all in order to prevent bacterial growth in the solution. But that was probably going too far.

It was Eddie Malin who gave us the spray idea... Although Peter might use it too.

Ann - no rinse after photoflo.

And on photoflo - don't touch the stuff, its nasty. Ilfotol or Tetenal anti-static is the only wetting agents I'll use. Photoflo = nasty build up of crud.

[Francois]

Exactly! There are so many good things about this trick it's incredible.

It uses very little solution. Just spray one side, turn over, spray the other side and use the fingers to squeegee the excess.
It doesn't gum-up your reels.
You get no hard water traces on the film since I used distilled water.
It's a neat trick to tell people

[original_ann]

Great to know this!  I've never had problems with photoflo but I've heard about it gumming things up - particularly plastic.  But I think I might look into this anti-static and the Ilfotol that you've mentioned, Leon.    Thank you!

[Mind the Mix]

Thank you everyone for all your useful advice and recommendations. I'm a little behing schedule with my development but I'll post the results this week.