Easy DIY film drying cabinet - help needed

winger

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For years, I've used the stall shower downstairs to hang my film. I clean it often enough (and it doesn't get used much) and I run the hot water before developing so any dust should be down before I hang the film. But I'd like to make a dedicated film-drying cabinet if I can. I don't really need to blow air through it or heat it - I just want to keep dust out of it. I'm used to letting it hang for 24 hours. Are there any easy options for this? Most of the time, it'll be 120 or 4x5, but I do shoot some 35mm.
Are garment rack things close enough to dust-proof? I mean, anything is better than just hanging film in my darkroom, but still...
 

ic-racer

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I got an easy-to-assemble clothes cabinet at Home Depot back in 2001. It has worked great ever since. No heater or fan. They stay over night and are dry in the morning.
The shelf comes out and rollfilm can hang.


 

Paul Howell

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Depending the number of rolls you process at a time, you can check Craigs list and any Industrial recycle shops in you area for a tall metal clothing locker. Many are stand alone, with some weather srips on the edge of the door it will be dust proof.
 

Kino

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I got my Arkay film dryer off of Craigslist for $25, but you have to be lucky and keep looking...
 

koraks

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ic-racer said:
I got an easy-to-assemble clothes cabinet at Home Depot back in 2001.
Click to expand...

That's what I'd think of as well. Maybe check out the IKEA catalog if a local DIY or furniture store doesn't yield anything.

There's a couple of DIY film dryer projects involving PVC drainage tubing. Those are all focused on forced-air drying; if no forced air is desired or needed, some kind of tall clothes cabinet etc. sounds ideal.
 

RalphLambrecht

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I often thought of but never built a DIY version. I planned to get a narrow but tall cabinet from IKEA and start with that.Drilling openings on top and bottom and placing a common light bulb at the bottom inside should create a sufficient draft to create a soft, heated airflow. Make the vents large enough so you can fit some kind of DIY filter into it. Quilt stores sell quit batt, which is an ideal filter material for that.
 

loccdor

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In my testing (your mileage may vary), I found that hanging my film on a window curtain rod that I clean around once a week results in almost no dust fixing itself to the film.

I do take precautions:

In the first hour of hanging, keep the forced-air furnace and/or any fans turned off
Don't leave the film hanging for more than a week
Don't smoke inside or burn food
Don't let pets near that window
Do use a blower bulb on the film before doing anything with it

The film dries in 2-3 hours with no squeegeeing.

I find I have a much bigger dust problem from glass surfaces - the film itself is usually nearly spotless.
 
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winger

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Thanks all! I don't really have a ton of floor space I can take up. Something tall but slim that I can easily move would likely be best. But your posts give me more ideas. I may check Lowes or Home Depot soon. Ikea is farther away, but might also be worth a trip.
Had to chuckle at @ic-racer using the locking hemostats.
 

Alex Varas

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I like this idea of the bulb for creating small air flow going up.
 

eli griggs

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I use a hanging wardrobe, suspended by a celling hook, with the bottom "floor" panel cut out and fitted with a medium HAVAC filter, to allow a small electric ceramic heater/fan to circulate air into the zippered unit.

Also, there are Velcro straps on the bottom panel that will keep the empty space, up above my head when working at the sink, so I won't knock it about.
 

eli griggs

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RalphLambrecht said:
a regular incandescent light bulb of 60 or 100W creates sufficient heat for a chimney effect in a small, tall cabinet.
Click to expand...

You might also consider a drying bar ment for gun cabinets which have about 22V requirement.
 

StrangestStranger

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I used an outdoor tool storage cabinet from Lowes or Home Depot. I drilled some 1x6's into the side to support dowels to hold the film. Works great, no heat, no forced air, just timed drying over night. no dust.
 

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