Replacement filter for Durst UT-100 Film Dryer

[djdavies]

A while back I purchased a used Durst UT-100 film dryer on a popular auction web site. The foam filter in the top of the unit had perished and so for a while I ran it without a filter. I am now looking for a suitable replacement and hit upon the idea of using a section of grease filter from a cooker extraction hood. The idea being that this is basically an air filter and also, being flame retardant, should not be a problem close to the heating elements in the dryer.
Can anyone see any problems with this idea? I wonder if the grease filter might be too dense and cause overheating due to inadequate air flow.
What have others done for replacement filters for this type of dryer.
Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[pentaxuser]

Does the grease filter allow air through as well as a sponge? If it does it may be OK. I had the same problem with my secondhand UT100 and got some sponge from the local aquarium centre which works well. I probably over-paid for it as it was the only shop selling such sponges but I think any sponge of the right thickness which isn't too dense will do

I don't use the heater element anyway so no problem with heat. I find that any film will dry very quickly with just the fan on

pentaxuser

 

[paul ron]

Cut up a car air filter or an ac filter to fit.

 

[bdial]

I doubt that a grease filter is fine enough to stop dust particles that would be a problem.
That is, the ones I am familiar with used in my stove hood are coarse enough to almost see through.
How close is the filter to the heating element?

 

[Blighty]

Does the grease filter allow air through as well as a sponge? If it does it may be OK. I had the same problem with my secondhand UT100 and got some sponge from the local aquarium centre which works well. I probably over-paid for it as it was the only shop selling such sponges but I think any sponge of the right thickness which isn't too dense will do

I don't use the heater element anyway so no problem with heat. I find that any film will dry very quickly with just the fan on

pentaxuser

This was my approach. A piece of suiatably thin foam cut to size. Occasionally, I use it with the heater with, so far, no probs. MOTN, I use it with fan only

 

[RobC]

since the original filter is foam and the air is being sucked into it from outside before it gets to the fan and heater element I would have thought heat should not be a problem. The original filter is not a particularly dense foam and should obviously not be closed cell foam otherwise you won't get any air flow.

 

[djdavies]

That you everyone for your replies. I will investigate getting some foam as a replacement. In the mean time I will use the cooker hood material and not use the heaters.

 

[Hal Reiser]

I've had a UT-100 for at least twenty years and ran into this problem several years ago.
I don't know if this might be an option for you in England but in the States hardware stores sell replacement foam air conditioner filters for use in window mount air conditioners. The material is a very close match to the original factory supplied filter. They come in 15 x24 inch sheets over here and are designed to be trimmed to fit different size air conditioners. I have not had any problem with the replacement filter and have not noticed any difference in the dryer's performance.

 

[Rick Jones]

I found exactly the same 15 X 24 sheets of replacement foam filters for window air conditioners which I use in my UT-100. The foam is about 5mm thick and is easy to cut to size. I actually use 2 layers of the foam on top of my dryer. When not in use I set a piece of mount board over the filter which drastically reduces the accumulation of dust in/on the filter. Seems to work great.