Dust and the bag mag.

[hamradio]

Yes, this is an uphill battle.

Is there anything one can do to help curb dust when using the bag mag? I use grafmatics in 4x5, but am kinda stuck with a bag mag for my 5x7 Series B...it's so much more convenient than using slotted holders. However, the amount of dust that this thing throws onto the film is ridiculous. I've tried vaccuuming the bag part out, blowing it out with air, etc. No go. I don't mind having to clone some dust here and there, but this is too much. Were these things this bad when they were new and people just put up with it, or as the bag gets old/dries out, does it kick up a bunch of loose fibers?

I'm about ready to switch back to plain old holders. They seem to hold the film flatter and in a more accurate plane, anyhow–finding straight septa is difficult (it appears they bend very easily from mishandling, since they are so large) and straightening a bent septum is an exercise in patience. Any bag mag users have input on this?

 

[Jim Noel]

Remove, reline and replace the bag, or make a new one.

 

[shutterfinger]

Get some pure Neatsfoot oil from a leather shop and coat the exterior of the leather bag with several coats. The dust is most likely the dried leather deteriorating.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Make a new bag.

 

[fotch]

The bag is rotting or disintegrating. Replacing the bag is probably not going to be inexpensive or easy unless you already work with leather, as some do. Anyway, that camera doesn't sound like it is going to keep up with a motor drive anyway.