Dust Busting when Contact Printing

kq6up · Apr 27, 2011

I would like to here some of your techniques for dealing w/ the contact printer's arch enemy -- dust.

Thanks,
Chris Maness

Mainecoonmaniac · Apr 27, 2011

Keep the enlarger baseboard clean. I also use a Swifer duster.

http://www.google.com/products/cata...X&ei=Qi-4TY7QD4e-sQODy7yoAQ&ved=0CJUBEPICMAY#

Using canned air is bad for the environment and only blows dust everywhere. Capturing dust is a better way. I keep my duster in a clean drawer. A quick wipe with the Swifer on both sides of the glass and your contact neg will really help.

jp498 · Apr 27, 2011

I run a hepa air cleaner in the darkroom part of the time. seems to remove most of the dust from the air before it settles on things.

Roger Thoms · Apr 27, 2011

jp498 said:
I run a hepa air cleaner in the darkroom part of the time. seems to remove most of the dust from the air before it settles on things.

I thinking of getting a hepa air cleaner for my print finishing area (living room in my apt.). Any recommendations on what brand/model I should look at.

Roger

jp498 · Apr 27, 2011

I just got something cheap ($50-60) from amazon. It's a little loud, but works well. A living room one you should probably go a little more upscale for something quieter. More money is probably quieter, prettier, and more energy efficient. I don't have any recommendations on mid-range or better ones. Eliminating pets is the most beneficial preventions. 2nd is using a central vac instead of a portable vacuum cleaner. A hepa vac would be also a better choice than a normal vacuum cleaner.

kq6up · Apr 27, 2011

jp498 said:
Eliminating pets is the most beneficial preventions.

) I about stomp the household Chiwawa/Daschund when he tries to run in to my darkroom.

Chris

Rick A · Apr 27, 2011

I keep a HEPA air cleaner running constantly in my dark room. Anti-static cloth or brush for quick dust off prior to session helps. My three dogs have free run of my DR and its no problem, my boxer usually sleeps under my feet when I'm in there.

bblhed · Apr 27, 2011

Clean and clean some more, but something that people often over look while cleaning the work area is the area where you will be laying out your negatives to cut and sleeve them, and where they will set them before doing whatever it is they want to do with them to print them. Clean your printing mechanism all you want, it will make little difference if you set your negative in dust while you are getting ready to print it. Also right before laying your negative down to make the print, dust it and the paper.

I have several microfiber towels that I use, then toss in the laundry. I have never had a scratch from the dust remaining trapped in them. I use one for the work area, another for the negatives, one for the paper to be printed onto (I do cyanotypes), and two for the glass, one for the first cleaning of the set, and the other every time I change the negative. This works for me, your actual mileage may vary. Please note, microfiber towels are dust magnets, and must be cleaned often even with that they will, not might will scratch something during a print session.

No you can not clean too often during the contact printing process.

paulie · Apr 27, 2011

practice at spotting prints, and use correct print viewing distance ;0)

jp80874 · Apr 27, 2011

It is always great to have new ideas, but if you search on "dust," here and in the LF forum, much has already been written.

John Powers

ic-racer · Apr 27, 2011

HEPA filter and bunny suit.

Mainecoonmaniac · Apr 27, 2011

I hate spotting

paulie said:
practice at spotting prints, and use correct print viewing distance ;0)

As your mom said..Don't spot your prints too much because can make you blind

I prefer to clean that spot.

pawlowski6132 · Apr 27, 2011

I'm moving to a new house and I'm going to attack this problem holistically (sp?). I really hate dust. I think if you don't want dust on your contact print you should focus on keeping it out of your house first. That means, making sure you have a clean furnace filter, keeping your house at the proper humidity, getting your ducts very clean on a regular basis. Keeping your house vacuumed and dusted regularly. And keeping an air clener/purifier running locally in your darkroom. Then, running through your darkroom with a slightly damp rag prior to your session and finally keeping an anti-static brush (I use the same kind to clean my records) and a can of compressed air handy should do the trick.

jp80874 · Apr 27, 2011

Do you make house calls?

John

Joe VanCleave · Apr 27, 2011

ic-racer said:
HEPA filter and bunny suit.

And a class-10 laminar airflow cleanroom!

~Joe

Sal Santamaura · Apr 28, 2011

pawlowski6132 said:
I'm moving to a new house...That means, making sure you have a clean furnace filter, keeping your house at the proper humidity, getting your ducts very clean on a regular basis...

I you really hated dust, you'd ensure that the new house had hydronic radiant heat instead of a furnasty. No ducts, no moving air currents from baseboard convectors, no dust.

Dan Henderson · Apr 29, 2011

I am with Rick: the smallest HEPA air cleaner that I could find for my small darkroom, leave it running 24/7. Always keep the darkroom door closed. An anti-static brush and a small air compressor set a very low pressure to move any specks of dust that might still be around. I almost never have to spot prints.

Dust Busting when Contact Printing

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