FB drum paper dryer - what is this worth?

M

M like Leica M6

Guest
Hello, I own a huge drying machine with a 19.5 inch drum, fully working and functional. This is not for RC paper, only for FIBER based paper. It was made in the 70s and is probably a rare thing.

What do you think could I ask for such a baby? I guess there are some people left that use FB paper?
 
M like Leica M6 said:
What do you think could I ask for such a baby? I guess there are some people left that use FB paper?

I still use FB paper. You are making me feel old. There are still papers our there for me to try out -- Berger, Kentmere. It'll take a few years to try them out and form an opinion. Your roller dryer, I've used something like that before at a lab I worked at. They work great. I don't know what they are worth but I paid about $100 for a 16x20 fiber dryer that does 1 16x20 at a time.
 
Manolo Gozales said:

Hey Manolo...you still doing the PAW list? I had to leave. Couldn't do the once a week thing. Wayyy to busy. I love your shots on them.
 
I have to go look at the one in my father's attic. I wonder what type that is? 20 plus years since that has seen use.
 
In general, those big drum dryers with a blanket, and motorized transport were designed to work with single weight glossy paper to dry large production runs of single weight glossys for press releases, etc. Most had a highly polished "ferrotype" drum surface to give the glossy prints the high gloss. Don't work so well for drying prints matte, as you have to turn them face-down on the blanket, and they pick up lint as they dry that sticks to the surface. Ugh.

Also, the blankets over time absorb residiual chemistry from the paper and then transmit this residual contamination to all prints thus shortening the lifespan of all the prints. These big dryers were used for work that was not intended to be archival.

Best to air dry double-weight glossy "F" surface paper on screens, to give a semi-gloss surface, and then flatten in a dry-mounting press for a few seconds, after dry.

Never try to dry "matte" or "silk" surface fiber paper face up on these dryers, as the drum will try to put a glossy surface on them with terrible results. Splotches.

I would imagine that a person could find one of these for "free" just for hauling it away, from many places.

Phototone
 
FB Drum Dryer

FB Drum Dryer

I have one too, one you crank the paper into by hand. It has low and high heat setting. I'd say they're worth about $75 depending on condition and market desire. I paid $50 for mine. You might put an ad up at your local junior college in the photo department. Yeah, the issue with the white fabric is a big one.

I prefer to air dry my FB prints by putting them between 16x20 acid-free matte boards. I do this after squeegeeing water off the surface, then hanging them over my stove for about ten minutes or so (until the FB still feels damp but not dripping, and before any curling begins to occur). I stack heavy photobooks on it for about 2-4 days. Usual results are NO curling on the edges. If they do curl, then I trim off an inch. Perfectly flat.

cheers,

Chris
canonetc
 
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