DIY film drying cabinet

[Michael Firstlight]

I’ve been looking for a solution for an air-timed film drying system that is inexpensive, easy, portable, and effective. Growing up I used to hang my film to dry in a closet and fought dust, then in the shower which wasn’t convenient.

There are expensive, industrial metal film drying cabinets, Jobo Mistral film dryer (a complete one in good shape goes for hundreds), and more. I also didn’t want to build something heavy and non-portable; it needed to be easy to setup and really keep all dust out completely out in my makeshift darkroom that I’ve established in my garage which doubles as a portrait studio and darkroom – not the most dust-proof environment even though I keep it very clean.

I built the picture setup quite easily. I picked up this relatively inexpensive clothes closet from Home Depot. I liked the vinyl cover that is well sealed all around except for the base and clear zippered door and rod. I added a 5-inch block of foam to the floor of the portable closet and sealed it on the exterior and interior with wide gaffers cloth tape to the vinyl so that no dust can get in from the bottom. I then picked up a used filtered Ptrinz film dryer head for about $15 on eBay – these are virtually identical to the more expensive used Jobo Mistral dryer heads and usually sell for a fraction of the Jobo – same filtering, same timer etc. The one I bought has the clear bag attached that I didn’t need, but I left it attached and now have twice the dust protection. Even though I’m not using the full length of the dryer bag I don’t need it as I’m doing medium format and 4x5, not long 35mm rolls which might also fit.

Anyway, not a slick, sophisticated solution but it works. I don’t think I spent more than $75USD on the whole contraption – it is portable and assembly took literally minutes.

Mike

 

[JWMster]

Good work. I'm beginning to look at this sort of thing 'cause I'm moving out of an extremely clean house into an older home, and will need a clean dry place to dry film. Here's a youtube DIY that looks well thought out, but may take some real doing to build:



I stumbled on this about a month ago. Some variation on this might not be too hard. I've dealt with all but the electronics he mentions, but even those don't look all that tough - if you can find a source.

 

[AgX]

I stumbled on this about a month ago.

He is a fellow from Apug....

 

[JWMster]

...which attests to his sheer acumen, ingenuity and propensity to share. "We happy few..."

 

[Joel_L]

I do my film processing in my basement, all the dust you could want. I would hang film from the ceiling and watch the dust gravitate towards my film. I recently bought a plastic storage cabinet that is tall enough from a 36 ex roll of 35mm from Lowes. If I recall, it was about 80 dollars. It's kind of flimsy but tolerable.There are still things to do to make it a proper drying cabinet, but for now it's a big improvement. It has double doors that will pop into the cabinet when you try to close them, I'll address that by running a piece of wood on the inside between them to close against. Then at some point add filtered forced air into the top of it and make sure most of it exits through the bottom. Figure the positive pressure inside keeps the dust out. Ends up much like what you did but with a hard plastic cabinet.

 

[JWMster]

With a Jobo, I typically end up with 6 rolls of 120. I'd love to be able to push that to 12 so I can do 2 tanks at a time. So this describes the dimensions I'd love to be able to fill. Cabinet width aplenty I'm sure.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Good work. I'm beginning to look at this sort of thing 'cause I'm moving out of an extremely clean house into an older home, and will need a clean dry place to dry film. Here's a youtube DIY that looks well thought out, but may take some real doing to build:



I stumbled on this about a month ago. Some variation on this might not be too hard. I've dealt with all but the electronics he mentions, but even those don't look all that tough - if you can find a source.

ingenious!

 

[John51]

A diy drier I read of in the 70s was a length of pvc pipe with a dust filter at each end. Carefully load the film and clips, hang and allow to dry naturally.

A similar one I read of here was a short length of 4" pvc in which the reel and film was placed. Once again, dust filters at each end. Reports of no flatness problems but I'd use test films first just in case. Upside is that it's so cheap to make that having one for every reel you own wouldn't be that expensive.