How to keep the paper IN the box...

[Ricus.stormfire]

Hello everybody

This might be a stupid question but here goes:

I have a 50 sheet, 12x16 Ilford MGIV box that I can't close properly, you see the problem is the black plastic envelope/bag, I can't seem to fold it in a way that it fits snuggly back into the box, it keeps pressing the box open. I now stuff this box into a Kodak Xray box (that opens on top) to keep the box from being open in normal light.

Is there a trick to folding the plastic, or should I just (try to find &) buy/make a papersafe or something. I've noticed that Kodak 12x16 doesn't do this (plastic bag seems smaller) & Agfa does this as well (pops open the box). No problem with 8x10 boxes but the 12x16's plastic seems too large (thus needing more neat folding).

Regards
R.C.

 

[nick mulder]

Same with sheet film !

Could be problematic with Foma etc... where there isn't a light trap - just a standard box

I use tape

 

[Dan Henderson]

yes, those slightly oversized bags are sort of like trying to refold a road map while knee-driving down the expressway.

Maybe a very large rubber band would work?

 

[Rick A]

Very exasperating, makes me wanna cuss. I fold mine and jamb it in the box, then stick a weight on top to keep it closed. I like the rubber band idea, would be good for long term (between sessions).

 

[tkamiya]

I use painter's masking tape (the blue stuff) and tape the box closed.

 

[mwdake]

The large over-sized bags can be a pain; it is kind of like folding a map.
Fold the bag the reverse of how it unfolded being careful to expel all the air.
I should fit back in to the box.

 

[Worker 11811]

Isn't this why God invented the paper safe?... So you'll only have to open those dumb bags once or maybe twice per printing session?

I saved an empty box to use as a paper safe. Plus, I have three drawers right under the enlarger. The top drawer holds tools and stuff I need to access quickly. The second drawer holds my makeshift paper safe. The bottom drawer holds my stock of paper.

The bottom drawer only gets opened once per session when I take out the paper I need and put it in the paper safe and store it in the middle drawer. The middle drawer is my double-failsafe in case the lid of the box isn't on straight or in case some doofus turns the lights on.

I have a second box I use to keep cut sheets and test strips in, stored in the middle drawer.

Haven't had any accidents yet... <cross fingers>
And I don't have to contend with those bags but once per session.

 

[Mahler_one]

Paper safe during the printing session, but only a limited number of sheets just in case human error puts on the enlarger "focus" at the exactly wrong time, or the dog somehow manages to find a way into the darkroom!

Close the box and secure with tape, marking the number of sheets that remain in the box on the outside of the box.

Whatever system works be sure that you "do it" all of the time! Shortcuts lead to inadvertent errors....we have ALL managed to fog some film or paper, usually when distracted.

 

[Sirius Glass]

OP,

Put something heavy on the box, like another box of paper.

Steve

 

[DanielStone]

gaffers tape.

works great. one piece 2-3" long on each side.

fold the sides of the bag in first, then the end underneath.

-Dan

 

[Ricus.stormfire]

Thank you all for the ideas, some are so obvious, I kinda feel stupid for posting this in the first place. But I quess it never hurts to ask.

Thanks
Ricus

 

[2F/2F]

Minor P.I.T.A. that we all have to deal with.

I move the stack of paper or film to one corner of the bag, fold the length under and push the air out of the bag, then fold the width under, put it in the box, and close the top. If the top still bulges up, I put something on top of it. I store all my paper and film in the fridge (or freezer with color), so the boxes are stacked anyhow. My Emaks papers are the only ones that seem to want to lift the lids of the boxes.

 

[fotch]

Thank you all for the ideas, some are so obvious, I kinda feel stupid for posting this in the first place. But I quess it never hurts to ask.

Thanks
Ricus

Stupid is only when you don't know and don't ask. Plus, in the answers, there were more than one way to solve the problem.

Take care.

 

[eddym]

gaffers tape.

works great. one piece 2-3" long on each side.

fold the sides of the bag in first, then the end underneath.

-Dan

That's what I use, too.

 

[Martin Aislabie]

I find the key is making sure all the air is expelled from the bag before you try to fold it again and put it back in the box.

For some reason, the bag seems to seal itself when folded and only very slowly releases the air.

I decant a handful of sheets out of the 50s box into a 10 packet.

Firstly is stops the ballooning problem of the trapped air

Secondly, if I accidentally mess up and haven't closed the bag up properly when the lights go back on, I have only ruined a few sheets and not the entire box.

Martin

 

[Mark Fisher]

After ruining a "few" sheets, I finally decided to get paper safes for all the paper I commonly use. They are pretty cheap now so it seems like a reasonable solution.