Drying roll film in the reels with a food dehydrator

[Yuan Francois]

Ive been having a lot of struggles drying my negatives spot free. At present there is nowhere I can hang film to dry without getting filthy negatives. I'm also not in the position to build a drying cabinet though I'd like to. The chances of me getting one second hand are very slim as well as most ebay listings are for local pickup in the CONUS. I don't like in the US.

Instead, inspired by a comment on this thread https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/drying-roll-and-35mm-film-in-reels.23673/ , I want to try my luck at drying film on the reels with a food dehydrator.
These dehydrators seem to be simple devices. A fan that intakes air and a heating element at its base.

They have a temperature range of around 95- 158F. From what I've read, (95-110F) Should be safe temperatures for film but I don't intend to use it past the lowest 95F temp setting. I also intent to put an air filter in front of the intake fan to filter out dust. As an extra precaution, I will use an air purifier in the room. Do you think this method is viable or has anyone tried something similar? I've seen a few DIY reel film dryers that employ the same method and also the Honywell Kleen Dri film dryer seems to do something similar.

I'm aware that drying film this way will make the film have a strong curl but it isnt much of a con to me as I will be dslr scanning with an essential film holder and negative supply holder. Any feedback?

 

[Don_ih]

If there is an unfiltered air-flow, your negatives will get plastered with dust - guaranteed to be baked into the emulsion. I wouldn't do it.

 

[Yuan Francois]

If there is an unfiltered air-flow, your negatives will get plastered with dust - guaranteed to be baked into the emulsion. I wouldn't do it.

Would an air filter sheet in front of the intake fan prevent this?

 

[grat]

I would think a box with a filter at each end, and an intake fan (and possibly an exhaust fan), and some way to hold the reels in place inside, would be pretty easy to build, and work as well (if not better) than a dehydrator. I don't even know that I'd bother with heat.

Could be as simple as a cardboard box with a hanging dowel in the middle to put the reels onto. Might want to paint the inside to reduce dust.

 

[gone]

I always hang mine in the bathroom w/ little weights at the bottom and close the door. Also, filtering my chemicals through a coffee filter and using Photo Flo fixed my negative spot problems. Really, any room, area or closet that you can close a door on to keep people out will work fine for your purposes.

 

[Yuan Francois]

I always hang mine in the bathroom w/ little weights at the bottom and close the door. Also, filtering my chemicals through a coffee filter and using Photo Flo fixed my negative spot problems. Really, any room, area or closet that you can close a door on to keep people out will work fine for your purposes.

Thanks for the input but that hasnt been my experience at all. I don't know if it has to do with the hot climate and humidity where I live but no room or closet has worked well for me. I used to hang my film in the bathroom and it was fine. Now Ive had no luck with that.

I would think a box with a filter at each end, and an intake fan (and possibly an exhaust fan), and some way to hold the reels in place inside, would be pretty easy to build, and work as well (if not better) than a dehydrator. I don't even know that I'd bother with heat.

Could be as simple as a cardboard box with a hanging dowel in the middle to put the reels onto. Might want to paint the inside to reduce dust.

Probably. Id much prefer a ready made solution to DIY because of time constraints but thank you Ill look into it.

 

[Auer]

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threads/film-drying-2021.180018/#post-2353043

 

[eddie]

I once used something similar to this: https://www.amazon.com/Zilink-Garme...+Garment+Protector+Bags&qid=1615866607&sr=8-7

 

[pentaxuser]

As other have said it looks quite a good idea. A heated drying cabinet is common in colleges with darkroom facilities and at 95F there has to be many places on earth where that is simply the ambient temperature even in a house or very close that temperature - Jamaica being a good example

Caution may be the watch word in that I'd check on the device frequently to see how long it takes to dry the film and give it no longer than that minimum time. In the hotter months if it was possible I'd be tempted to run the fan only. The normal ambient temp in my darkroom is normally no more than 70 -75 and while my film hangs length-wise in the enclosed cabinet I usually find that 20 -30 mins is enough. I never need the heating element on but OK the film has its whole length exposed and gently swings in the fan created breeze which your film will not

If you get it, let us know how it goes

Thanks

pentaxuser

 

[Yuan Francois]

I once used something similar to this: https://www.amazon.com/Zilink-Garme...+Garment+Protector+Bags&qid=1615866607&sr=8-7

Thank you, noted

As other have said it looks quite a good idea. A heated drying cabinet is common in colleges with darkroom facilities and at 95F there has to be many places on earth where that is simply the ambient temperature even in a house or very close that temperature - Jamaica being a good example

Caution may be the watch word in that I'd check on the device frequently to see how long it takes to dry the film and give it no longer than that minimum time. In the hotter months if it was possible I'd be tempted to run the fan only. The normal ambient temp in my darkroom is normally no more than 70 -75 and while my film hangs length-wise in the enclosed cabinet I usually find that 20 -30 mins is enough. I never need the heating element on but OK the film has its whole length exposed and gently swings in the fan created breeze which your film will not

If you get it, let us know how it goes

Thanks

pentaxuser

Thank you, I've ordered everything and will report on my results in a week or so. Will be very cautious too. I don't expect that it will take more than 15 mins to dry the film.

 

[fs999]

There is also the solution of polypropylene alcohol, which dryes the film in a few minutes. You can combine it with an antistatic liquid like Ilfotol or mirasol 2000.