Re: Reel scum

[Ken Sinclair <photo1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>On Tue, 10 Jun 1997, Ken Sinclair wrote:
>
>> OK. One of the notorious problems of plastic reels is that there is a
>> tendancy for a "build-up"
>
>Yes that is true.  Wouldn't metal reels have the same problem?

Yes, but to nowhere near the same degree. That is why users are reminded to
wash reels properly. I give my metal reels a scrub down (with very dilute
bleach) on a regular basis. I gave up on "regular"plastic reel use many
years ago and use them only as a last resort. (and for anyone who might be
intersested in loading them when still wet from the last batch... load the
film on the reel while both are immersed in a pail of water at processing
temperature ... acts as a pre-bath soak too)

>Do you know more about the mechanism for this?

The "scum" will absorb the surfactant and then "dry" When the developer is
poured in the surfactant is now "activated by the developer solution and
thus reducing the surface tension of the developer solution in close
proximity to the reel.
The same effect can be noted with "normal" panchromatic films

>Interesting!!!  I probably need to clean some of my tanks.

I would prefer that you pay more attention to the reels    8-)

Ken


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