DIY Film Drying Cabinet?

[MaxElmar]

Has anyone here a good DIY plan for a film drying cabinet? Links? I had access to a great one at my last job. About 72" high with a filter/fan/heater at the top kept just a little positive pressure in the cabinet - enough to keep the dust out.

After loosing access to a darkrom in a job change, I'm getting stuff together to process at home again. But with dogs, cats, kids, etc. around the house I thought I'd help myself out with a cabinet.

Thanks for any help.

 

[pagpow]

I think I remember seeing an article like that in Shutterbug, quite a while ago. Have no idea how much they have digitized, but you might try.

 

[Vics]

I have been using two Honeywell Kleen-Dri film dryers for a long time. Got mine at a garage sale. You just put the film in, reel and all, put the top on and turn it on and run it for 45 minutes. I have also used a garment hanging storage thing, Kind of like a big garment bag which zips closed. Worked okay, but the honeywell Kleen-Dri is the bomb. You have to cook the desicant in the oven every so often, but that's no big deal.
Good luck, Vic

 

[Pablito]

make tall, skinny wood box with a door, allow room for a low- wattage light bulb at the bottom for heat, drill holes for ventilation, paint with primer and a good enamel, cover holes with air-conditioner filter, attach a latch to keep door closed, if you want a tight seal use adhistive backed door insulation, put cup hooks in the top or wire rods for the film clips.... you might want a sheet meal shield to protect the lighbulb from drips of water. I have made a few of these, work great...

 

[Niall Bell]

Chris,
I found this link. Looks reasonable if a little Heath Robinson-esque.

Niall

http://www.bonavolta.ch/hobby/en/photo/fdryer.htm

 

[like2fiddle]

I do the clear plastic garment bag. Different sizes available, inexpensive and easily movable.

 

[rpsawin]

I do the clear plastic garment bag. Different sizes available, inexpensive and easily movable.

Yep....pick up a used hair dryer at a yard sale and you are set.

Bob

 

[sculpin]

fILM Dryer

fILM Dryer

In my darkroom, i dry my film on a cloths line in the horizontal position held with dental clips. The film dries in less than a hour at room temperature. Hope this helps.

 

[JohnTF]

In my darkroom, i dry my film on a cloths line in the horizontal position held with dental clips. The film dries in less than a hour at room temperature. Hope this helps.

I have kept an eye out over the years for the best film clips, good film clips, and distilled water rinses seem to do the trick. I would guess good ones might be the ones you like that do not rust, or drop your film. ;-)

I have that strange feeling that most clips made in the past 20 years just are poorly made metal.

If I worry about dust in the dryer parts of the year, I keep a spray bottle of water and wet some areas down to keep the humidity up and dust down, I know, it sounds counter productive, but the air is going to be a lot dryer than your film. Basically leave it alone and have a cup of coffee or a beer before you start putting your paws on the film.

You might get lucky on finding a cabinet, but the commercial ones were expensive for some reason.

I think I saw the same article in Shutterbug, and even remember the light bulb powered print dryer I built from the plans in Pop Photo, and putting out the fire it started when I fell asleep. There used to be a device called a "golden rod" that was a low wattage heating element used in safes to keep the air warmer than ambient and keep items from rusting.

Perhaps best to stick to the safer heating devices.


John

 

[Roger Hicks]

I'd be VERY wary of a hair dryer unless you filter the air first. Likewise, garment bags: the film jumps sideways and sticks.

I'd certainly go for a rigid cupboard, maybe 30-40cm (12-16 inches) square, around 2m (6-1/2 feet) high and the LOW WATTAGE bulb (15W) with some form of filtration such as an automotive air filter on the intake -- or better still, buy a second-hand drying cabinet, which is what I did after unsuccessful experiments with hair dryers and garment bags...

Drying on the diagonal (you needn't go full horizontal) also greatly speeds drying: see

http://www.rogerandfrances.com/photoschool/ps how process 35-120.html

Cheers,

R.

 

[eli griggs]

You can buy Goldenrod devices at MidwayUSA.com starting at $26.

The best cabinet dryer I ever used was a simply wood construction, with an elevated floor, about 12" above the floor, fitted with air-conditioner filters in the bottom and top. A small space heater placed as needed in front of the cabinet blew warm air up into the elevated space below the first filter and convection dried the film as the warm air rose and exited the top. When the heater was not in use it was pushed beneath the cabinet for storage.

Cheers

 

[wontonny]

I put mine in a closed drawer, but it has a hole for a handle and it allows for air to ventilate, but no direct contact to dust.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

I think there was a DIY article in UK mag. 'Black and White' - a few months ago?
Dave.

 

[Steve Litt]

I built a small wooden cabinet in the corner of my darkroom and use a 60w bulb as recommended in The Ilford Monochrome Darkroom Book by Jack H Coote.(It may be out of print but worthwhile if you can get a copy.)I have a bukhead light fitting on the base so the lamp and fitting are waterproof_its big enough for 3 films and about 2mtr tall.

Regards
Steve

 

[literiter]

make tall, skinny wood box with a door, allow room for a low- wattage light bulb at the bottom for heat, drill holes for ventilation, paint with primer and a good enamel, cover holes with air-conditioner filter, attach a latch to keep door closed, if you want a tight seal use adhistive backed door insulation, put cup hooks in the top or wire rods for the film clips.... you might want a sheet meal shield to protect the lighbulb from drips of water. I have made a few of these, work great...

I have built one of these and used others. They are very good when nicely built. When designed well, they take up little room and dry films gently but quickly.
For what it's worth I'd recommend this as well.

 

[gns]

I've built a couple out of wood, but the easiest was a recycled steel gym locker that I found for free. I never felt the need for any heater or blower but I live in California and am never in a hurry.

Cheers,
Gary