Dan Daniel
Well-known
I have found two ways to make cheap drying cabinets for film.
For 120 film, find a large-format digital printing house, or a sign shop. A common size for paper and vinyl printing rolls is 54 inches, and the rolls come in cardboard boxes. Maybe 6-8 inches per side, 54 inches plus in height. They should be happy to give it to you. Tape up one end of the box. Poke a couple of holes on the other end and push a chopstick through as hanger. Now just drop your 120 film on clips into the box, hang from the chopstick (ok, dowel or string is fine), close up the top, and wait overnight.
For 35mm film, I found a 7 inch diameter compressed heating duct material at the hardware store. About $9 I think? It comes about a foot in length, but is meant to be pulled out up to 8 feet of length. Like an accordian, or variation on a Jiffy-Pop container. I pulled it out to about 6-1/2 feet. Put in a corner or against something to keep it stable. Another chopstick across the top opening with a cap- I use clothe for the cap, but cardboard, a book, whatever would work.
I spray a fine water mist into the 'cabinets' a bit before putting film inside to settle any dust.
Well, two cheaper, relatively dust-free drying cabinets. Both are slow- count on overnight for drying since there is no active air flow, etc. But beats tying up the shower and negatives are cleaner.
For 120 film, find a large-format digital printing house, or a sign shop. A common size for paper and vinyl printing rolls is 54 inches, and the rolls come in cardboard boxes. Maybe 6-8 inches per side, 54 inches plus in height. They should be happy to give it to you. Tape up one end of the box. Poke a couple of holes on the other end and push a chopstick through as hanger. Now just drop your 120 film on clips into the box, hang from the chopstick (ok, dowel or string is fine), close up the top, and wait overnight.
For 35mm film, I found a 7 inch diameter compressed heating duct material at the hardware store. About $9 I think? It comes about a foot in length, but is meant to be pulled out up to 8 feet of length. Like an accordian, or variation on a Jiffy-Pop container. I pulled it out to about 6-1/2 feet. Put in a corner or against something to keep it stable. Another chopstick across the top opening with a cap- I use clothe for the cap, but cardboard, a book, whatever would work.
I spray a fine water mist into the 'cabinets' a bit before putting film inside to settle any dust.
Well, two cheaper, relatively dust-free drying cabinets. Both are slow- count on overnight for drying since there is no active air flow, etc. But beats tying up the shower and negatives are cleaner.
