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trink5.0 · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 21 Location: Wisconsin

I need some more help. I got back from my trip out west(weather was terrible), and I just started developing my negatives. I'm having a problem with dust and lint settling on the negatives while they are drying.
What are some options for drying negatives to help protect them from dust and lint? Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated.

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Nick · Joined: 16 Oct 2002 Posts: 494

A drying cabinet? I've seen plans that range from an old locker to nothing more then a plastic bag hung over the film.

How are you drying your film now?

Graflite · Joined: 08 Nov 2001 Posts: 103 Location: Southeast US

One idea that has worked for me in the past is to run the hot shower for about 5 minutes with the bathroom door closed, which causes the steam to move up and along the ceiling where it slowly drops down to the floor carrying the dust particles with it.

After the steam clears then hang the negatives in the shower stall or bath tub and let them dry, it might take longer than usual because of the humidity, but hopefully there will less dust particles in the air to contend with now.

Porter's Camera Stores of Cedar Falls, Iowa sells a Quart of Rexton Flash Dry for $ 12.95 that I have used in the past to safely dry negatives in 1 to 3 minutes after hanging and sponging them.

Some people like Photo Flo or it's equivalent, but if used in too high of a concentration with water (distilled is preferred), can cause streaking of the negatives or sometimes a scummy film.

I use an Alpine Air Purifier/Negative Ion Generator made by Eco Systems that grabs the dust particles out of the air and drops them to the floor using negative ions, sounds strange at first, but it works for me after I tested it, and it seems to cut down on the dust problem on the negative and spotting of the prints.

Good luck with your negatives.

graflite

t.r.sanford · Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2004 3:04 am Post subject:

"Photo-Flo" diluted to Kodak's specification and used, as recommended, as a brief post-wash bath certainly speeds things up, and (more importantly) prevents "drying spots."

The quick film dryers work well. In the old days, hardy souls used denatured alcohol -- I did it a few times, and it works, but it is rather scary, and I don't know what long-term effect it may have on the negatives. Probably none, but I've not seen archival tests...

glennfromwy · Joined: 29 Nov 2001 Posts: 903 Location: S.W. Wyoming

Try to hang your films where there is no moving air. If you have A.C., turn it off while drying film. To speed drying, denatured (rubbing) alcohol works great. Just dunk the film in it after washing and hang by a corner. Do not squeegee! Dries fast. If you use PhotoFlo, the dilution Kodak recommends is way too strong. A few drops per liter of water is plenty. It can make one hell of a mess on your film if too strong. Now that you're back home, the weather is splendid. Sorry ---

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Glenn

"Wyoming - Where everybody is somebody else's weirdo"

45PSS · Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2004 4:36 am Post subject:

[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2005-12-26 18:46 ]

glennfromwy · Joined: 29 Nov 2001 Posts: 903 Location: S.W. Wyoming

One last thought - if a few fine specks of dust should get on your damp negative, don't touch them. After the film is absolutely, totally dry, they will normally come right off with a wipe of the anti-static cloth and a blast of canned air

_________________
Glenn

"Wyoming - Where everybody is somebody else's weirdo"

RichS · Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2004 2:48 am Post subject:

All of those replies are good ones! I personally use Photo Flow as a final bath as per the direction right on the bottle. I hang the negative from wood clothespins and a bent wire coat hanger, hanging from an open door. I haven't had any dust 'problems' that I have had to solve. The few particles I do get come right off after they're dry and I get very few. I don't take any further precautions and I consider this a pretty dusty place...

But what we haven't heard is how you have tried drying your negatives? maybe that would give a clue to solve your problem?

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alecj · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 853 Location: Alabama

I wait until I'm through with other tasks in the darkroom before hanging my negs [everything, incl. exhaust fan and dehumidifier is turned off]. I use Photo-Flo [Kodak's instructions seem OK - it is easy to use too much!].

One thing not yet mentioned is hanging the negs. I use the small SS clips Kodak made for this purpose [never figured out why they called them "color clips". Hang the film by one corner. The water will then flow down to the bottom corner. Before I leave, I dab a paper towel to each bottom corner several times. That way, when I do get out, 99.9% of the water is already gone. Don't go back in for at least 1-2 hours. I think trying to use heated air creates more problems than it solves.

trink5.0 · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 21 Location: Wisconsin

Thanks for all the advice.

To answer one of the questions, I was just letting them dry in the film rack from the Yankee tank. I just set them in a room and left them dry. I have been using Ilford's wetting agent that is supposed to help them dry.

I now started putting them in a cabinet to let them dry. I have not noticed any more problems with dust, but it does seem to take longer to dry.
Thanks again guys

RichS · Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2004 8:10 pm Post subject:

That may be a workable idea but here's the reason I've never done that...

You are allowing the wetting agent to dry on your developing rack! It may not do any harm? But I like to keep anything that come into contact with other chemicals as clean as possible. Maybe someone else knows whther or not a wetting agent could do someting to future developing? I don't know? But I make sure I was out all I can while things are still wet...

But the cabinet idea sounds good

trink5.0 · Joined: 03 May 2004 Posts: 21 Location: Wisconsin

I actually never thought about that. I wonder if that would have an effect.

I think my next plan is to build a little drying rack right into my cabinet. That way I don't have to worry about that.

Thanks

Nick · Joined: 16 Oct 2002 Posts: 494

You're not supposed to let photo-flo or c-41 stablizer touch film reels. I have no real idea why-) I found a reference claiming sludge builds up. No idea. I just know you're aren't supposed to.

glennfromwy · Joined: 29 Nov 2001 Posts: 903 Location: S.W. Wyoming

PhotoFlo will leave a residue on plastic reels that is next to impossible to remove. It can quickly make a 35mm or 120 plastic reel virtually unloadable. I don't think it would have much effect on Yankeee sheet film tank and rack. It would, however, cause the film to retain a bead of water along the bottom edge. With Photoflo that can be bad news.

_________________
Glenn

"Wyoming - Where everybody is somebody else's weirdo"