Drying 10x12" sheet film

[David White]

What's the best way? I'm worried that if I squeegee the film it will scratch badly..I am using adox film which I believe is soft. Can I harden it up with conventional hardener enough to squeegee it or should I find another way of drying it..your help, as usual, much appreciated.

best,
David White
www.nospin.co.uk

 

[colrehogan]

I hang my 8x10 film by a corner in my shower (after a rinse in water bath with a little bit of photoflo) with one of those medium sized black metal binder clips. I would not squeegee the film in any way.

 

[clay]

I never squeegee film. I just slosh it in tray with a few drops of wetting agent mixed with distilled water, then hang it on a line. I then use a wash bottle (like you used in high school chemistry lab) and rinse both sides with pure distilled water while it is hanging. Then I leave it the hell alone until it is completely dry. No stains, scratches or marks.

What's the best way? I'm worried that if I squeegee the film it will scratch badly..I am using adox film which I believe is soft. Can I harden it up with conventional hardener enough to squeegee it or should I find another way of drying it..your help, as usual, much appreciated.

best,
David White
www.nospin.co.uk

 

[photomc]

..... Then I leave it the hell alone until it is completely dry. No stains, scratches or marks.

LOL Clay, took me a while to learn this...but it is so very, very true...just leave it alone and until completely dry.

 

[argus]

LOL Clay, took me a while to learn this...but it is so very, very true...just leave it alone and until completely dry.

That's why I mostly develop sheet film 1 hour before bed-time.

G

 

[jp80874]

David,

That squeegee scares me.

I wash my 8x10 film twenty minutes in the Jobo Expert tank per Jobo instructions. On eBay I found a stainless box measuring 2.5”x10.5”x 9.25”. It is open on the 2.5” x 10.5” side. You will need to find one a little larger. I fill this with a gallon of distilled water poured through the cap of a shaken photo flo bottle. That is probably a drop or two of photo flo. I put one sheet of film in at a time and let it sit for a second or two. Probably the movement in and then out does the final cleaning.

From Bed Bath & Beyond I bought the following rolling canvas covered closet. You want canvas rather than plastic covered. The dust can’t go in through the canvas. The moisture can slowly go out through the canvas. I bent wire hangers to fit. Each hanger has a couple of small Acco brand binder clips from an office supply store to hold the film sheet, one to a hanger.

My basement darkroom has low humidity this time of year. I let the film sit for a day or a night, what ever fits my schedule. You only have to try to take a damp sheet of prized film out of a plastic sleeve once before you believe in all the drying time possible.

Good luck.

John Powers


http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=11678653&RN=303

Extra Closet With Casters $39.99

Breathable canvas keeps moths out and absorbs odors. Easy-gliding nylon zippers won't catch, and casters allow for easy moving. Assembles in minutes. Dimensions: 30" W x 66" H x 20" D.

 

[Mike A]

I dry my ULF film overnight in 2 short garment bags from the "container store" /www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?PRODID=59799&CATID=149&searchId=2151714&itemIndex=3

Hang the film by one corner and "SET IT AND FORGET IT " sorry it is the info-mercial time of year.

 

[Jersey Vic]

[QUOTE


http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=11678653&RN=303

Extra Closet With Casters $39.99

Breathable canvas keeps moths out and absorbs odors. Easy-gliding nylon zippers won't catch, and casters allow for easy moving. Assembles in minutes. Dimensions: 30" W x 66" H x 20" D.[/QUOTE]

THIS is a great idea-Thanks

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I don't squeegee film. I treat it in Sistan, which contains a wetting agent and a preservative, and I let it hang on a line. I'll blot the little drop in the corner occasionally to prevent a drying mark.

As you go up in size, those Jobo clips become really handy. I know, they're like $44 for a bag of 10 clips, but they have a pin that pierces the film, so they hold any size sheet securely with minimal contact, and they hang the sheets perpendicular to the line, so you can dry lots of film on the line, no matter what the size of the sheet.

 

[David White]

Thanks all,

I didn't want to have to squeegee anything, so I'm glad that's out..too many years in newspaper darkrooms for you there ...
best,
David White

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

You squeegee in newspaper darkrooms? I thought you were supposed to soup the sheets in hot Dektol and print them wet using the same developer to make the late edition deadline!

 

[Ed Pierce]

Rinse the film in distilled water with a small amount of photo-flo; use one half the recommended amount. It's better to use too little than too much.

For a film drying line, I have a long piece of coated picture wire strung over my darkroom sink. An enclosed cabinet would be better. Slip a few dozen alligator clips over the wire.

Hang the film by one corner, far enough apart so that they won't touch.

After a few minutes, touch the bottom corner of the film with a kimwipe to wick away any extra water.