How Do I Use A Kindermann Film Drying Cabinet?

zsas · Jun 29, 2013

I've said piece of equipment, however I'm not too sure how to situate the film with these bars that came with it.

There seems to be less than four feet of drying space (top to floor) which holds about 27 35mm frames before hitting the floor, then the rest are all buckled and just not elegant. Anyone have one'a these and know how to setup the thing up? I'm not seeing anything after a few Googles, so I'm askin the experts

Thanks in advance for your solution

Bill Burk · Jun 29, 2013

Dang, It doesn't look like it's made for 35mm film.

Guess you had better cut the strips and hang them in half.

Because if you loop or drape it, you will have heavy water marks at the loop.

zsas · Jun 29, 2013

^Yeah I learned that the hard way

I feel like I am doing something wrong?

I got this from a high school who only did 35mm

Cutting each roll down to about 24 frames to allow good head and tail room is such a drag, I think (could be wrong) that I'm missing something???

Bill Burk · Jun 29, 2013

It might be expected that you dry the film on the reels. But I always hated dryers that did that.

I'd cut 36 exp rolls just before hanging. Then hang with the cut up, original ends down.

tkamiya · Jun 29, 2013

From your images, looks like a lot of space is wasted at the top. Is that the only way to hang your film strips??

zsas · Jun 29, 2013

^Yep, that's as high as the film can go. Above the "film top part" is a heater and fan. The top 25% of the unit is a heater/fan....here's the whole thing...

zsas · Jun 29, 2013

Found an image of one...still cant tell what's going on here??

http://books.google.com/books?id=k1pjs8DK4SwC&pg=PT535&lpg=PT535&dq=kindermann+film+drying+cabinet&source=bl&ots=EDGMVzxLci&sig=o1_U80IH9NTNwrpiDqAqhzZ_0B0&hl=en&sa=X&ei=zZPPUaKQLMqNyAGxs4DQCw&ved=0CFkQ6AEwBQ

MattKing · Jun 29, 2013

Waste frame 15, 16, 17, or 18 on each film you shoot (depending on how you sleeve your negatives).

Cut each film in half for drying through the wasted frame.

tkamiya · Jun 29, 2013

I wonder if the equipment was really made for 120 films and someone donated it to the school before you got it? Is there a model number of any kind on that thing?

Photo Engineer · Jun 29, 2013

You seem to be missing the "C" shaped weights which are used to form a loop of 35mm film. The film is attached at both ends to the top and then weighted by the clamp which only contacts the base side of the film. The film should be wiped with a very dry but damp sponge before placing in the cabinet to prevent contact marks at the end of the loop.

PE

zsas · Jun 30, 2013

Photo Engineer said:
You seem to be missing the "C" shaped weights which are used to form a loop of 35mm film. The film is attached at both ends to the top and then weighted by the clamp which only contacts the base side of the film. The film should be wiped with a very dry but damp sponge before placing in the cabinet to prevent contact marks at the end of the loop.

PE

Ron thanks for the intel!! Are these weights and clamps outta my league to make myself? I am ok with tools, no arch welding or German metalcraft skills though

I can't seem to find a decent image of one'a these cabinets with the weights/clamps to even visualize what you describe....should I do as Matt suggests below and call it a day?

I might send an email to Kindermann too, worth a shot

MattKing said:
Waste frame 15, 16, 17, or 18 on each film you shoot (depending on how you sleeve your negatives).

Cut each film in half for drying through the wasted frame.

AgX · Jun 30, 2013

zsas said:
Are these weights and clamps outta my league to make myself? I am ok with tools, no arch welding or German metalcraft skills though

Even with two American left hands one should be able to do it...

Get your self/have cut pieces of plastic tubing about 40mm long.
Bend pieces of wire (eg. electrical wire) to a kind of triangular loop taking a weight (eg. large nut)
Insert the loop into the tube so that the tube rests at one leg of that triangle.

Take your wet type 135 film still in the rinse container, fit one clamp to one end, hang that clamp at the dryer, wipe the film from above to the other end, insert the free end into the loop of the weight, emulsion out, fit the other clamp and hang it in the dryer too.

Voila!

In case you fear scratches on the film base you might even cover the tubes with textile or velvet tape. (Watch for migrating adhesive in case of very hot drying.)

(Kindermann have abolished the lab part of their business years ago.)

zsas · Jun 30, 2013

AgX - Wow thanks a bunch for your description; however, geometry is not my best (probably why I got into programming), anyway, I'm having trouble visualizing what you say. Are these tube-triangle-loops secured to the inside of the cabinet?

Are these the materials you describe?

Is this it??

I thank you for your help thus far!

AgX · Jun 30, 2013

Are these tube-triangle-loops secured to the inside of the cabinet?

No. (At least not if the cabin is long enough to take half the lenght of type 135)

The tube (one per film) is to make contact between weight and film. The tube may even act as weight itself, but then still the loop with another weight is necessary to hold the tube nicely in oosition.

Thus you have one tube located as in lowest position in your sketch, but with the triangle facing downwards, to the bottom of the dryer. In that angle of that triangle should sit the weight. It strectches the film and keeps the roll from turning over.

In case the cabin should not be long enough for such, then the film indeed must be hung in zig-zag, as festoon using three tubes. Quite some hassle, and then the problem would come up of the tube acting as hang-up hook for the film to touch the emulsion side... A kind of undercut tube must be used at that position.

zsas · Jun 30, 2013

AgX · Jun 30, 2013

X YES

I would shorten that tube a bit.

zsas · Jun 30, 2013

Wooooohoooooo!!!!! APUG to the rescue again!

tkamiya · Jun 30, 2013

How would that avoid having a strange drying mark where the tube contacts the film??

I know PE said that's basically how the product was initially sold and that you are supposed to have it wipe-dry, but still.... the film contains moisture....

zsas · Jun 30, 2013

Will do re shorten tube, btw, the tube was from one of my kid's toys, he wants it back, plus his St. Louis souvenir (aka weight)

zsas · Jun 30, 2013

I will pick up some fabric tape or silk to coat the tube like AgX suggests, I wonder if the drying mark will not appear?

Ohhhh Ron, I've just the piece of equipment to sponge dry the film:

Photo Engineer · Jun 30, 2013

The weight only contacts the back of the film. It leaves a tiny drying mark which can be wiped off with film cleaner on a wipe such as a PecPad.

In festoon drying, noted above and used by some manufacturers, it does leave a mark because the emulsion has just been coated, is not hard yet and is wet. This is different.

Our weights were about 1/8" stainless steel "C" shapes and were just slid over the looped hanging film to keep the film taut.

PE

wiedzmin · Jun 30, 2013

I think it will be easier if you will cut the film in half and use this type of clips http://www.freestylephoto.biz/635111-Arista-Plastic-Film-Clip-Set-of-2

They do not punch the holes but use the perforation sprockets.

Bill Burk · Jun 30, 2013

zsas said:

Great APUG team! That's gotta be it!

With all those hooks on the bottom, must have been designed to use with a spring or rubberband to hold the film down so it doesn't wave around and touch adjacent rolls.

zsas · Jun 30, 2013

Here I thought those hooks on the bottom were homages to Nessie:

zsas · Jun 30, 2013

Did I find it?!

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/26221-REG/Kindermann_EKM3060_Roller_Weight_Film_Clip.html

Now whose got any a these?!

How Do I Use A Kindermann Film Drying Cabinet?

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