"Pinholes" on HIE negs, help!

[Rolland Elliott <rolland_elliott@xxxxxxxxx>]

I know the problem of clear "pin hole" spots on HIE negatives has been
discussed extensively in the past, but I was hoping if someone could
provide a summary of the suggestions regarding getting rid of these
"pin holes." 

I've never had this problem in the past, but I  just developed some
film yesterday and unfortunately the negatives were speckled with tiny
clear area that look like tiny pin holes. Actaully most of the spots
are not a sharp image like a pin hole would be.  Most of them have
diffuse edges.  

If my memory serves me correctly the following procautions were
recommended to solve this problem:

1. Use distilled water to mix all of your chemicals.
2. Don't use an acidic stop bath. Instead use distilled water
3. Be sure to tap your tank firmly at the beginning of development to
dislodge air bubbles.
4. Allow your film to presoak in distilled water for a few minutes
before developing it.
5. Try using a liquid developer.  Powdered developers may not dissolve
well and cause problems.

Those are all of the suggestions I remember hearing about in the past
have I missed any?
Has the source of the "pin hole" problem ever been positively
identified?  Is it possible it is a manufacturing defect.

The exact conditions in my situation are as follows:
1. Used 70mm HIE film spliced down to 60mm.
2. Film was bought 3 months before it's experation date and stored in
a freezer for about 1 year.
3. Exposed through 25 filter most shots at f/11 & 1/125 sec in full
sunlight.
4. No Presoadk.  Developed in D76 for 9.5 minutes, 72F, mixed using
distilled water.  The d76 developer was probably several years old but
was just recently opened from it's metal canister, and was dry and
looked fine. Mixed according to Kodak's directions for a stock solution.
5. Used tap water for stop bath. Rapped on counter top 3 times. 
Continuous agitation for the first 30 seconds and then 6 inversions
every 30 seconds.
6. Fixed in Adorama fixer for 8 minutes. Mixed using distilled water.
Constant agitation for the first minute and then 5 inversions every 30
sec.
7. Washed using tap water for 2 minutes
8. Hypoclear for 30 seconds, mixed from tap water
9. Washed in tape water for ten minutes
10.  Photoflow for 30 seconds.  Used distilled water to make this.
10. Soaked in Rexiton Flash dry for 30 seconds. (This helps the
negatives dry quickly)
11. Hung up to dry in my bathroom.

Any help would be appreciated.
Peace Rolland





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