Re: filmscanners: Cleaning slides

["Moreno Polloni" <mp@dccnet.com>]

> The reason I say eeek, is because I was a mouse in a former life, and
> its habit...
>
> No, really, because you're are playing with the pH of the film.  Ammonia
> is very base (alkaline), and I have no idea how it responds with
> formaldehyde hardener, etc.  I do know that I once was playing with
> household chemicals on some B&W prints and full strength household
> ammonia dissolved the emulsion right off the print.
>
> Unless I read an authoritative source that says a certain concentration
> of ammonia is safe for film emulsions, you'll excuse me if I run into my
> hole in the wall and shiver ;-)

Probably the best and safest cleaner for slides and negs is Pec 12. It's
non-water based, which means that the emulsion will not swell, it dries
almost instantly, and evaporates completely.