Cold Storage for film, paper, and chems

markd514 · Jan 22, 2015

Ok,
I am going to purchase a used refrigerator. I am wondering how big it should be.
I always thought you refrigerate color paper and film. I am reading on here that some freeze it.

What is the best practice? I am afraid this stuff wont be around for a long time in manufacture, so I want a stash. Right now I will refrigerate what I will be using in the next year.

How about black and white paper and film? Worth refrigerating?

Chemistry? I know freezing is stupid silly for liquid. How does c41 and ra4 hold up refrigerated? Is it even worth it? My basement stays 68 year round.

thanks

Ken Nadvornick · Jan 22, 2015

Although there has been a great deal of past silliness offered on this question, and which may still be found if you do some searching, here's the best practices answer from by far the most knowledgeable individual on this forum...

"Now, as for the effects of cold on raw stock keeping, yes there is one. Film kept at room temp gradually changes in speed and fog. You see, the last step before coating is something like this. You add a bucket of special chemicals, heat the emulsion to 60C for 1 hour, chill to 40C and coat. This process increases speed and contrast. Now, this process does NOT STOP. So, as the film ages at room temp, this process goes on and fog begins to creep in. We have worked long and hard on stopping this process and have almost succeeded at it. Color paper does not have to be refrigerated to keep for quite a long time at RT. Just one example, but the newest films include this same feature.

"So, cold good - heat bad - humidity bad!"

The full text of the original post may be found (there was a url link here which no longer exists).

Ken

bsdunek · Jan 22, 2015

I keep a good stock of film, both color & B&W, and printing paper in the freezer. That I will be using soon, I keep in the refrigerator. About the only chemical I refrigerate (not freeze!) is liquid emulsion.
As for size - how much are you going to store? You will have to estimate the cubic feet and find a suitable refrigerator/freezer. If I were to go out and buy one, I would look for one of those side-by-side models, as I think the freezer would be easier to use.
I have kept film for years in the freezer and had on problem with it. I recently used some Minox/Adox film my Dad had from 1982, and it looks great. If Minox size looks good, then larger film will be fine also. I hear about the gamma ray deterioration thing, but have never seen it. My refrigerator is in the basement, and is all metal, so it may minimize the effect.

markd514 · Jan 22, 2015

Yes, I don't have a problem with gamma rays either..lol
Although I heard it could cause some greening of the skin and super human strength when angered
thanks

L Gebhardt · Jan 22, 2015

I use a chest freezer. Holds a lot. Makes a decent work surface. I keep all my film and paper in there, except the open stuff I'm currently using. I also keep glycin in the freezer, but that's the only chemical. Film that is years out of date still looks new, at least to my eyes, when frozen.

Old-N-Feeble · Jan 22, 2015

If i were to ever have a large stock of film I wanted to freeze then I use a chest freezer. I'd double-bag everything in small groups. I'd place wire racks along the bottom to keep everything elevated at least 25mm and at least 25mm away from the sides should the freezer fail or in case of power loss to it. I'd keep the freezer in a climate controlled environment, not in a hot garage. This way, if there is a mechanical or electrical failure the film will never be subject to extreme heat.

Trask · Jan 22, 2015

I bought a small-ish upright freezer from Sears for around $200 IIRC. Holds lots of film, especially if you are shooting 35mm and buy bulk film. If buying prepared rolls, you can save space by tossing the boxes, but that means in the case of 35mm film marking each plastic can with film type and expiration date. Keeping the boxes makes it a lot easier to quickly identify the different manufacturers and emulsions.

The only down side to my freezer is that it needs to be defrosted about once a year. I do that in winter: put all the frozen film in a box and stick it in the shade out on the deck when the temps are below freezing, unplug the freezer and wait for some melting, and then use a plastic knife to gently pry off the loosening chunks of ice and toss them in the work sink. Couple of hours later the freezer is dry, running and the film is back inside.

RedSun · Jan 22, 2015

I use my 2nd full sized fridge in my garage. I can store everything now....

wildbill · Jan 22, 2015

you are the first person in apug history to ask these questions.

pdeeh · Jan 22, 2015

I shot film from ~1970 until 2006 without ever being told or reading anywhere that film should be stored under refrigeration.

It was only when I started shooting film again in 2012 and joined APUG that I found that for 30-odd years all my film had been on the brink of ruin.

However, since I took the sage advice of the Elders, and stored my film cold, my composition has definitely improved

Rick A · Jan 22, 2015

I have a 14 cubic foot chest freezer for film, no food in it, just film.

markd514 · Jan 22, 2015

wildbill said:
you are the first person in apug history to ask these questions.

I knew that! lol
Ok, I am guilty of not searching first. you got me.

DREW WILEY · Jan 22, 2015

The bigger your film and paper freezer is, the better. The only flaw with a big freezer is that the size makes it easier for your wife to discover
it, and then put a spare frozen turkey or two in it !

RedSun · Jan 22, 2015

I put frozen french fry, whole turkey, frozen garden surplus, and over-wintered seeds. The seeds are going to stay there at least three months.

Sorry, this is not a garden forum...

Rick A · Jan 22, 2015

DREW WILEY said:
The bigger your film and paper freezer is, the better. The only flaw with a big freezer is that the size makes it easier for your wife to discover
it, and then put a spare frozen turkey or two in it !

I have no wife, and my GF doesn't live with me. For the record, I have a second refrigerator in the basement next to the freezer, it's full of beer.

benjiboy · Jan 22, 2015

I bought a cheap and huge second hand chest freezer about ten years ago that I keep in my basement to store my film, it saves a lot of friction with "she who must be obeyed"

gone · Jan 22, 2015

"I have no wife, and my GF doesn't live with me".

Well then, you have no problem, as you'll obviously be eating out all the time, so you don't need a fridge.

Don't worry, film will be around. It has something digital will never have....a negative w/ full tonal rendering that can be enlarged to your satisfaction in a darkroom.

benjiboy · Jan 22, 2015

momus said:
"I have no wife, and my GF doesn't live with me".

Well then, you have no problem, as you'll obviously be eating out all the time, so you don't need a fridge.

Don't worry, film will be around. It has something digital will never have....a negative w/ full tonal rendering that can be enlarged to your satisfaction in a darkroom.

"I have no wife, and my GF doesn't live with me".
Your'e a lucky man, I've been married for fifty years, and now realize at weddings why the bride wears white and the groom wears black

MattKing · Jan 22, 2015

One of the prime advantages of using either a refrigerator or freezer to store film or paper is that both provide a temperature and humidity controlled environment.

You could accomplish just about as much with a temperature and humidity controlled room.

DREW WILEY · Jan 23, 2015

I guess if you bought up an old supermarket for your personal darkroom you would have a walk-in cold-room. Or maybe you live north of the
arctic circle and extreme cold just normal much of the time. But for those of us who can't build igloos in our back yard, or can't afford an undemolished meat warehouse, a freezer is generally the best option. Trying to control humidity in certain climates can be obscenely expensive in terms of utility bills. Fortunately, I live in a temperate coastal zone. But all my fussy film work is done in a very well insulated
room apart from the sink room, which is easy to control temp-wise.

Cold Storage for film, paper, and chems

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