Canvas flip-flop dryers - quick tip

I find my little canvas dryer to be pretty handy for smaller prints. Two issues though:

Many people fear fix buildup in the canvas;

Lightweight and even some heavier papers can get a "ripply" edge - the kind of thing a dry mount press tends to solve.

Months ago I posted instructions to remove and wash the canvas - in that thread, someone (I believe it was chemistry god Photo Engineer) suggested that the steam escaping the print essentially "washed" the canvas anyway. I've also tried to find a release paper or paper layer that would press things a bit flatter. But anything I use isn't reusable, and many papers just wrinkle up. Matte board will just get destroyed.

So, if you're using one of these - just wash a chunk of un-primed artist canvas and dry it (so it gets its shrinkage out of the way). Or maybe two pieces, trimmed big enough to cover the whole platen. Stack it/them on top of your print, close the canvas cover, and smooth any wrinkles.

This has two purposes - it makes the canvas tighter and the pressure higher - even my antique copy-paper thin single weight fiber gets nice and flat. And... you can wash those canvas pieces to your heart's content. Really made my cheap little dryer much more effective.

I use to use one of those to dry RC prints on top of the heated canvas. I used an old movie light in series with the heater to lower the temp so that prints dried in about 90 seconds. As long as I used a wet sponge to remove excess moisture the prints would dry without marks and the finish would set nicely. I would wash the canvas about once a year but I never had a problem with contamination. Once the canvas fell apart I replaced it with a large dish towel and secured it in place with clothes pins. A bit Rube Goldbergish but it worked. I'm glad to see others are finding these old dryers useful.

Mike

They are useful. I would think, if your prints are properly washed, there will be no fixer in the canvas. Otherwise, your prints are going to yellow or whatever due to fixer. I just wash my canvas occasionally. I bought my dryer in the 60's, used - have no idea how old it is. My Dads is newer - still in the box when he passed. Both are fine.

I find the extra canvas sheets just give me flatter prints... but in the previous thread, there was a lot of paranoia... the extra canvas could ease the minds of anyone concerned about it.

I use a sheet of hot press watercolor paper over the prints. I would guess the watercolor paper slows the drying enough to keep it even. It keeps the prints from touching the canvas, although if your prints are well washed it shouldn't matter.

I also use the dryer to flatten prints after they are dry by putting them upside down in a stack (emulsion away from the dryer) and pulling the canvas tight over them. Before I place the prints I heat the dryer on full blast for a few minutes. When I close the dryer I turn off the heat and let them set. When the drier cools, the prints come out flat or with a slight negative curve. Works well.

If you want flat prints and need them to dry fast, the best way I have found is to warm the dryer then put the print in it, run my hand over it pressing it down and smoothing it out, flip the print over, repeating until the print is nearly dry then put it in and turn off the heat and let it set.

I really want to build a corrugated dryer one of these days. That seems like the best all around solution.

Well, I didn't make that comment AFAIK. I'm old and forget too, but I am no chemistry god! I also make mistakes. Thanks anyhow.

Now, as for the canvas getting dirty, I worked in a photofinishing lab for years and also in many other production labs. I never saw a canvas get dirty enough to need cleaning. If you wash right, there is no fix build up. I've seen prints stick to the canvas, but the residue can be removed with a good soaking.

So, if you are doing your job, the canvas can be used for years and years even if it darkens or streaks from causes other than fixer.

PE