Film HELP! Spots with home developing

KillRamsey

Hall of Famer
Location
Hood River, OR
Name
Kyle
A good friend has gotten into coffee developing at home, and the first roll or two went fine. This roll, which was Foma 400 (new to him, and me), came out with these awful spots in the emulsion, not on top. Anyone know what caused this?

21075361262_2277e29776_o.jpg
BrianSpots
by gordopuggy, on Flickr
 
That sure looks like something that's been damaged by age or radiation, or excessive heat.
 
Okay, I will offer real help....:)

  • Buy a kitchen Faucet water filter (200ppm minimum) and connect it to the faucet. (or buy distilled water for all the wet processes), Don't buy the cheapest water filter, they have a poor connector to the faucet)
  • When you mix any chemicals.... USE FILTERED WATER ONLY
  • When you wash the film, USE FILTERED ONLY
  • Use Photo Flo as the last chemical before drying (a 3-5 drops for 600ml -- a two reel tank)
  • When you are washing the film (15m), turn on the bathroom shower on HOT, and close the door, turn it off in 12m, and reclose the door. (to keep the steam in the room)
  • Turn off the AC when you first turn on the hot water shower...
  • After the Photo Flo is done, go to the bathroom and close the door, hang the film in the steamed bathroom WITHOUT ANY SQUEEGEE!!!!
  • Leave the bathroom and close the door
  • Wait a few hours until dry. Or after an hour or so, you can use a hair dryer on a medium heat to dry both sides if you need it faster
Steaming the bathroom will cause any dust in the air to collect on the water mist, and drop to the floor.

It took me a few rolls to get this workflow where it eliminated dust or hard water spots (minerals in the water) on my films.
 
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Try a stock developer... like D76, or HC110, never tried home "brewed" caffenol.... I would think the coffee needs to 100% dissolved in filtered water.
You want success at first, so standard developers are best to start with.
A bottle of HC110 will last over a year with occasional use stored in a dark cabinet that is an air conditioned room.
 
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