Storing Slides/Negs without AC...

[jlamarca]

How can I protect against summer humidity when I don't run my AC every day? I store my slides in archival slide boxes from light impressions (six long slide boxes fit into each drop front box) and my negs in archival binders or boxes.

But my concern is, can these boxes keep out the humidity? I would guess not, as they are paper and not sealed/airtight. The fridge/freezer is not an option. I am thinking:

1) Place all my slide/neg boxes in some kind of airtight trunk with silica gel packs. But I really can't find anything suitable in plastic or steel that would fit in my tiny apt.

2) Place the boxes inside big ziplock bags with silica gel (light impressions sells these).

3) Just throw a silica gel packet inside each archival box on top of the slides/negs. Maybe this is sufficient?

Or perhaps the temperature alone is just as bad as the humidity, and that's something I can't control without running the AC. But it seems to me that humidity is the worst enemy of slide/neg storage.


I'm thinking #2 seems like the best option. What ya'll think?

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

What did people do before aircon?

 

[wontonny]

Put it in an empty latch-able cooler

 

[Glenn2]

Just yesterday while searching for a misplaced piece of gear I found a tray of slides from 1967. Other than a bit of dust they looked non the worse from 40+ years without any special precautions. Will attach one of the Ektachromes.

I have had problems with colour negatives in the form of reticulation. Fortunately digital ICE was able to almost totally remove the flaws from scans using Nikon CS-5000.

Properly fixed and washed B&W seems to last best of all. I have family negatives from early 1900s that are still fine. Think the best way to store is away from cool damp places that encourage mold and fungus.

Jlamarka , what you are doing sounds a logical way to preserve your images..... Go for it, they will probably outlast you.

Glenn