drying film

[Dan Henderson]

I have been thinking about constructing a drying cabinet for 120 film, likely using a computer or similar small fan, filtering the inbound air, and not really worrying about a heat supply. After recently purchasing a small negative ion/HEPA filter for my darkroom, it hit me that perhaps I could just construct a duct to direct the output air from the air purifier through the drying cabinet. Has anyone else explored a half-baked idea like this?

 

[Monophoto]

My negative dryer is a cabinet constructed of MDF with plexiglass glazing on the door. Air is drawn into the cabinet by a computer muffin fan. The fan is in a compartment that is separate from the film drying area by a replaceable furnace filter. The filtered air then flows down over the film to an exhaust vent at the bottom of the cabinet. There is a lamp base just below the filter at the top of the cabinet with a 200 watt incandescent bulb - heat from the lamp raises the temperature of the stream of filtered air about 20 degrees to speed drying.

Just below the furnace filter and lamp is a rack that started life as a scrap of Closet-Maid wire shelving. I have a bunch of "s-hooks" on the rack that I use to attach hangers. Some of my hangers are purpose-made negative hangers, while others are plastic clothes pins with eye-hooks embedded in the end to allow then to hang from the s-hooks. I chose to use plastic rather than wood clothes pins because they won't absorb any residual chemicals - while the film should theoretically be fully washed before it goes into the dryer, I wanted to eliminate any possibility of contamination.

Eye-hooks ordinarily don't want to screw into plastic - but you first heat the hooks with a torch, they screw in very easily.

 

[Alex Hawley]

Dan, I thought about a similar idea, but just hanging the film with clothes pins and air drying has always worked out fine. Never have been able to justify any mechanical aids based upon the added expense and trouble.

 

[Dave Miller]

Worth a try Dan, but I feel the fan may need help coping with the extra resistance.

 

[jeff4]

Hi Dan,
A slight variation that you may wish to consider is a small counter top dryer. I have an old "Kleen-Dri" unit that I got a few years ago for somewhere around $20. It is roughly the size of a kitchen blender. Unless you wanted to dry several rolls at once, it might be an option that could save you time, space, and money. Anyway, just a thought. Good luck w/ whatever you decide on using.
-Jeff

 

[JHannon]

This is a bit of work but might give you some ideas http://www.bonavolta.ch/hobby/en/photo/fdryer.htm

I just air dry my roll film using an inexpensive hanging bag used for clothes. Has a zippered front and is made of clear plastic. Seems to keep the dust away.

--John