Hanging your strips. Clean enviroment?

dwdmguy · Mar 9, 2009

Good evening.

I'm getting a lot of dust etc., on my negatives, shown when scanned, I've been drying over the kitchen sink as I have no darkroom to speak of.

What is my best solution, location to dry the strips.
(Ok, I'm a single guy and don't clean every day... ok, ok, back off, I don't clean every week either)

Thanks
Tom

David William White · Mar 9, 2009

Similar problem. I found this great garment bag at Ikea for 9 dollars that I'm really happy with.

dwdmguy · Mar 9, 2009

Geez David, Great idea. Just a plastic one I guess? I'm thinking any type of material would have lint....
Thx

chriscrawfordphoto · Mar 9, 2009

The trick is hanging it somewhere where NO ONE will be walking through while it dries. That stirs up dust in the air. I dry in my apartment's bathroom. It is not b any means dust-free, yet I never have dust problems. I hang the film, SLOWLY close the door (to avoid the door moving air fast enough to stir up dust) and don't go back in the room for an hour, by which time the film is generally dry or nearly so.

Bob F. · Mar 9, 2009

The high humidity in the bathroom helps to keep the dust down too. If you have a shower cubicle, that makes a good location. Run the shower with hot water for a few minutes and hang the film.

Jeff Searust · Mar 9, 2009

Here are several home built dryers. My personal favorite is the last and is somewhat similar to what I have used. Mine does not have the bulb in the bottom, but is rather just a pipe with a hanger.

http://www.mediabaron.com/filmdryer.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21652620@N08/2624247217/

http://www.shutterbug.com/techniques/film_processing/0902sb_how/

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70122

http://www.darkroomsource.net/filmdry.shtml

http://www.phred.org/~josh/photo/neg_dry.html

ChrisC · Mar 9, 2009

I have a spare (thankfully) toilet I hang mine up in, with a 5-fin oil heater on half power. They dry within 30-60 minutes and I've never had a problem with dust. If you could manage crossing your legs for an hour whenever you develop, it seems to work quite nicely.

2F/2F · Mar 9, 2009

I also have used a plastic collapsible clothing wardrobe with good luck. I had a little filter that I put in and ran for a little while. When I started processing, I turned the filter off to let any dust settle. Then I put a freshly peeled big black plastic garbage bag in the bottom to draw the dust right before I started processing. It worked well while in a small rental. Who knows how much the air filter or plastic bag actually did to help out, but they could not have hurt too much. Now I have the luxury of a college drying cabinet....probably disgustingly full of dust, but darned convenient.

Ian David · Mar 9, 2009

Another vote for the shower cubicle.

dwdmguy · Mar 9, 2009

These are all just awesome suggestions and I'll be following them. Thank you so much for your time and help.

Anscojohn · Mar 9, 2009

The steamy shower for a few minutes first is the key in the bathroom. Good for the sinusus, too.

Laurent · Mar 9, 2009

The shower is so fine that I'm afraid I may still use it after my darkroom is ready (please don't tell my wife ;-) ).

This and using a wetting agent in the final wash (Tetenal Mirasol in my case) has removed all dust from my negatives.

archphoto · Mar 9, 2009

Simple, easy and more: your shower !!!

Rinse the walls first than hang your film to dry.

Peter

Anscojohn · Mar 9, 2009

Co-ed showering first also has it's advantages, methinks!! (nudge, nudge, wink, wink!)

keithwms · Mar 9, 2009

I have found that a kitchen cabinet works just fine for drying film.

Hanging your strips. Clean enviroment?

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