How do you dry your film?

Pirate

Guitar playing Fotografer
Local time
7:33 PM
Joined
Sep 27, 2009
Messages
1,864
Does anyone have a special drying closet or custom made type of closet for drying?

How do you dry your film?
 
I have a string from the light fixture in the middle of my office to a curtain rod over one of the windows. I use binder clips to hold my film to the string and another binder clip at the bottom to weigh it down. I keep things pretty clean so dust isn't a real problem. I close the windows and doors to minimize dust. Photoflo helps, too.

I've thought of making a drying closet or possibly making a film dryer using a blow dryer and pvc pipe. Never gotten around to it though as I'm happy with the results I get using my string and binder clips.
 
I have a wire hanging between the 2 sides of a doorway and use clothespins. One at the top, one at the bottom to prevent curling.
 
For me, pretty simple, I just hang it from a curtain rod. I have hot water baseboard heat, and, this time of the year (winter), the heat rising from the pipes can dry a roll of film in less than an hour. Minimal dust too.

Jim B.
 
I made a rack that sits on the top part of our shower (rest on the top of the shower tiles)
I glued wood clothes pins to it and I use clothes pins to weight the film ends down...
And of course they hang inside the shower...
 
I hang them in a room with the least amount dust in the air - the bathroom. I use the curtain rod too. With bit of heating on (in winter) they dry in about 2 hours.
 
I bend a metal coat hanger so the hook hangs from the shower head. The film hangs from the lower flat part of the hanger. I usually turn the hot water on for 10 seconds or so to steam up and clarify the air in the shower stall first.

Main thing for me is to just forget about the film for the good part of a day. There have been many times Ive taken the damp negs in haste to scan and its nothing but a nightmare. We've all been in that situation where they stick to the plastic preservers. EEEK!
 
In a very small closet with no heat or AC outlets that would stir up dust. My bathrooms and walk-in closets have those outlets.
 
Use an old cheap Jobo Mistral plastic drying cabinet that has heat and filtered positive pressure. I hang clips from the bottom of the strips to straighten the film and cobbled together some 4x5 dev frames for drying LF - 4 sheets will just fit.
 
I have a steel rod, attached to the ceiling in the darkroom. On it are about 25 clips for attaching the film and then I have weighted clips for the bottom of the film. I leave them to dry overnight and the room is fairly dust-free.

IKEA used to make a kitchen cabinet - a bit more than 6ft tall - about 18 inches wide and 18" wide. You could get a sliding rack for the top and attach the clips to that and just pull it out to remove the film.
I built one for another darkroom, cut a hole in the top and stuck an airfilter (from an older model Civic at the top) - sealed top of it, Then I stuck a small computer cooling fan in the bottom - air would be drawn down over the film and as there was no heat, just airflow, it would dry film in about 2-3 hours. Now I dont need to have the film ready in that time - overnight is fine.
 
I've got a cabinet outside my darkroom with wires strung across the top. I never got around to making the door for it, so it is just open. When we re-did the kitchen a new heat vent blows air, cat and dog hair right at my drying cabinet, so I just keep the studio door closed in the winter.
 
I borrow one of my wife's quilting pins and tack it up on the kitchen bulletin board. Works great!:D

With best regards,

Pfreddee(Stephen)
 
amazingly i have a Arkay CD 80 film drying cabinet (see the following B&H link to see a picture) http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1950-REG/Arkay_601878_Film_Drying_Cabinet_CD_80.html

it says i can dry 80 rolls of 35mm or 40 rolls of 120 at once but while I have not tried that kind of volume yet, I do not know how I ever lived without it. the best part is that I received it for a wedding present when I got married four years ago ( the place where my friend worked went all digital and they did not want it anymore)
 
Last edited:
Just finished hanging some. I use a tall cardboard box with a wire hanger running through the top.Holds 3 120`s.Each cut into 4 frames. Once closed it is quite well sealed and i can move it around the house.
regards
CW
 
pakeha, you just gave me an idea. I have a box like that I can use to make a drying box.

Thanks!!!
 
I use Photo flo. hang on a clothes hanger using a small clip on top & a more weighter clip on the bottom to keep film from curling. Never have a problem with water spots or dust!
 
Just finished hanging some. I use a tall cardboard box with a wire hanger running through the top.Holds 3 120`s.Each cut into 4 frames. Once closed it is quite well sealed and i can move it around the house.
regards
CW

I like that idea.
 
I ordered a kite last week and it came in the other day. The box is huge, almost as tall as me. It'll work perfectly like that! And just in time. I've been having some terrible trouble with dust on the last couple rolls of 120 and 220 film. I need something to help and this should work great.
 
I hang them up in my Bathroom on the curtain rod with weighted clips.
I first run the hot shower for 15min-20min with the door closed, while the film is washing.
Photo-Flo - 1min
Hang Dry, No wiping or squeegee
(Oh, keep the door closed) About 2 hours.
Cut and sleeve
 
Back
Top Bottom