How much handling is too much?

[ron_crawford2]

Actually I have two questions. I am just learning how to develope my

4X5 B&W film and intend to use the drum development method. In

placing the film into the drum, I've found that I can't help but

sometimes touch the negative. I know you're suppose to handle the

film just by the edges, but sometimes I am forced to get another

grip, etc., and will sometimes touch about a quarter inch in from the

edge. Is this going to ruin my negative? How much touching is too

much? Also, I bought a used Chromega Dual Action Agitator (spins and

wobbles) to agitate the negatives. Is this "dual action" spinning at

about 40 RPM enough, or should I consider one that automatically

reverses itself? Thanks for your help. Ron

[steve_feldman]

Ron,

 

Congrats. You'll love LF. This first neg you do for yourself will hook you. A neg I had - I took the smallest part of a detail and raised the enlarger head to the ceiling. Looked for the grain in the final print - couldn't find any. WOW!!

 

As for your drum motor base:

 

Chromega Dual Action Agitator spins and wobbles - sounds kinky to me. Probably just as good as a reversing base. Sounds like a James Bond device for martinis - "Shaken AND stirred." A one-way base is not good.

 

How much touching is too much? That sounds kinky also. Don't worry too much about it. Just be sure that your hands are freshly washed and very dry before handling any film. Developer partially disolves silver. It disolves your finger oils also. I've never seen a finger print on a wet-from-the drum neg.

 

Good luck. Any questions - we're all here to help you.

[marv]

If your hands are clean and DRY meaning DRY, you should have little concern about damaging the undeveloped emulsion (sp). Sometimes the darn film just won't cooperate and I have had to do just what you have. I have never suffered any damage I can attribute to touching the film surface. Easy does it, not to much pressure and you should be ok. Did I mention that your hands need to be DRY?

[richard_cochran]

Make sure your hands are completely clean and dry. If you're

paranoid, you might want to wear cotton gloves (I don't). Attempt

to avoid touching the emulsion side, but don't worry much about

lightly touching the back. In fact, if your hands are clean

and dry, even touching the emulsion side lightly is unlikely

to be harmful, though it's wise to avoid contact as much as

possible.

<p>

I follow these guidelines.

I've occasionally lightly touched both back and emulsion sides of film

while loading it, and I've never seen any evidence that it caused

a problem.

[ron_crawford2]

Thank you all very much. Ron