Using a film dryer

PhotoManiac3000

Member

Joined

Aug 3, 2005

Messages

72

Location

Flatbush, NY

Format

Multi Format

• Aug 11, 2005

• #1

i guess i'm a rank ameture at this, not nearly the kind of expert a lot of you guys are. anyway, so i was hopng you could help me out. i just setup my own lab and i've got everything i need...but i thought it was appropriate to let film dry on its own. i have heard things from like using a hair dryer to dry your finished print to buying your own film dryer. what do you guys recommend?

 

kaiyen

Member

Joined

Nov 17, 2004

Messages

330

Location

bay area, ca

Format

Multi Format

• Aug 11, 2005

• #2

Best way is to setup some kind of dust-free cabinet and let the film hang dry. You can also add maybe a computer fan at the top to push air into the cabinet (with a filter, of course), which will speed things up a bit.

Of course, right now I'm using a hair-dryer-based Senrac-style dryer, but that's because of severe space constraints. The curly negs aren't worth it if you have the room.

allan

 

John Cook

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Joined

Sep 5, 2004

Messages

123

Location

Massachusett

Format

4x5 Format

• Aug 11, 2005

• #3

As a pro working with impossible deadlines much of the time, there was often a need for me to force-dry films with heat and a fan.

These methods introduce dust and/or expensive attempts at adequate filtration. Heat is not the best thing for film either.

If you have the time, just air dry the film in a closed empty room in still air. No need to go crazy with bathroom steam nor excessive cleaning. Hang up the film, get out fast and stay out of there, lest you stir things up.

 

Erkki

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Joined

Jan 8, 2005

Messages

8

Location

Helsinki, Fi

Format

Multi Format

• Aug 12, 2005

• #4

I would recommend TETENAL Drysonal. I have dryied first the water from the film. Drysonal is used simply as last bath (2 minutes) and evaporates then 10 times faster than water (in 3 minutes) in warm air.

It is mostly ethanol (not as good as it sounds, it's denatured to prevent drinking). Cleanly shining and free of marks dried films wait for you.

 

jimdavies

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Joined

Jan 7, 2005

Messages

9

Format

4x5 Format

• Aug 12, 2005

• #5

I use a closed box (sealed swing top bin) with a 60w bulb in the bottom. Raises the temperature to about 28 deg C from 18. I've strung the opening with wire to hang film.
Regards