Where do you hang your films to dry?

[ChrisN]

Where do you hang your films to dry?

Lately I've been hanging my film outside of the house, in a breezy spot in the shade (under the car-port). I'm getting a lot less dust on the film this way, compared to drying the film inside the house. I develop my film late in the evening, and leave it to dry overnight. I'm getting fewer scratches on the film too by not handling it before it has dried properly.

 

[LazyHammock]

From the ceiling fan (turned off). It is in a room I rarely use other than as a darkroom,
Nick

 

[nikon_sam]

I made a wooden rack with clothes pins glued to it and it fits in the shower...

 

[erikhaugsby]

The shower--string some clothespins between the curtain rod and tape them to the opposite side, then let the film be. No dust and no disruptions.

 

[sienarot]

In the shower. I tied two clips on each end of the string and secure it around the shower head and the curtain rod and use another clip to hang the film from the string. I also add another clip to the bottom of the film to weigh it down.

 

[nightfly]

In the shower on one of those hangers with the little clips built in and additional clothes pins for more rolls and to weight the bottoms.

Much easier than stinging up a line.

Best after you've showered recently since the moisture takes the dust out of the air.

 

[Never Satisfied]

An el-cheapo old film drying cabinet that looks like a converted school clothing locker. $50AUD from the trading post. Cheers Andrew.

 

[Fotch]

I use a film drying bag that I think I purchsed from Spirotone many years ago. Its about 12 inches round and 5 and 1/2 foot tall with a zipper opening. It also has an opening at the top for a hair dryer. Works great.

 

[Sisyphus]

In the shower. I have teo eye hooks attache from one end to other, then I steam the bathroom so all the dust will stick to the walls, and let the film dry!

 

[RML]

In the bath room. A string from one side to the other. Hang the films with a clothes pin, and one at the bottom for weight.

 

[thanatos]

Lately I've been hanging my film outside of the house, in a breezy spot in the shade (under the car-port).

I suspect that's much easier in subtropical Canberra. Yesterday, approaching midsummer in Yorkshire, we had one month's rain in 4 hours.

One month's rain in one month is reasonably wet here too 😀

So for me, it's in the kitchen, off the light fitting (but I've only ever developed two rolls). I think I'll try the shower for he next roll as dust is an issue.

PS: Did my second roll yesterday and a few snaps are in my gallery. Comments welcome!

 

[oscroft]

I have an under-stairs cupboard in the kitchen where I hang my films (using Paterson film clips). I always do my developing in the evening and hang them to dry overnight, so there isn't much air movement even in the kitchen.

As for getting scratches from handling, are you talking about cutting, storing, printing, scanning etc before they've properly dried? If so, well, you know the answer 😉

Best,

 

[Ronald M]

Just in my wet processing area. But there is a coarse air filter and another HEPA one I use.

Filtered water and cleanable glass bottles and not reusing fix more than 24 hours old on film have solved all my print spoting problems.

There is another HEPA one in the printing area. Small Hunter one $60 USD @ at Menards.
Worth every penny

 

[JoeV]

Clean, calm, humid air, no static

Clean, calm, humid air, no static

Where do you hang your films to dry?

Lately I've been hanging my film outside of the house, in a breezy spot in the shade (under the car-port). I'm getting a lot less dust on the film this way, compared to drying the film inside the house. I develop my film late in the evening, and leave it to dry overnight. I'm getting fewer scratches on the film too by not handling it before it has dried properly.

Your kidding, right Chris? In my part of the world, dust and pollen is ever-present in the air, along with low humidity. The problem I have with active air filtration is that I can't control the ingress of 'new' dust into my darkroom area, since I don't have a double-door airlock. I feel the air disturbance caused by the filter unit's fan may stir up just as much dust in the air as it supposedly removes. It may be filtered, but it's not laminar airflow like in a cleanroom.

So I've taken to using my second bathroom, which is all ceramic tile and cultured marble. I remove all towels and throw rugs ahead of time (i.e. no lint-trapping fabrics), run the shower on hot to humidify the room.

I transport my finished sheet film from the darkroom to the bathroom using a tupperware tub of distilled water and photoflo, covered. I also throw in some 90% IPA right before hanging the negatives.

Then I use metal bulldog clips, hung from a metal curtain rod using metal wire christmas ornament loops. My idea is that the use of metal will help eliminate static problems caused by using plastic materials. Then close the door and don't go in for at least 4 hours.

 

[sepiareverb]

I've got a small cabinet of sorts, no door, with three copper wires strung lengthwise next to my darkroom. Films go in there and are almost always dry in less than 20 minutes.

Chris- Photo Wipes may be your salvation if you're having trouble with dust. I use one cut in half for every film- they dry faster and I never have dust despite living in one hell of a dusty house.

AAH! just went to look for them on B&H and don't find them!!! are they gone?

 

[Pepe]

you'll all yell, but I hang 'm from curtain rails in the living room so i can feel if they are dry while watching tv

never had dust issues