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Hovmod
2-Dec-2010, 04:00
I was in a hurry before I went to NZ earlier, and my film pusher didn't have a proper changing tent. So I bought a Paterson changing bag. Looks OK, with tight double sealed holes for your arms and a velcro flap over the zipper. Enough room to load 4x5 holders.

However, after having my arms in there for about a minute, they start sweating.
After one or two holders my hands are wet.

One or two of my negs from this trip has visible fingermarks - do you think that my sweaty hands in the changing bag could do that?

eddie
2-Dec-2010, 04:12
how about wearing latex gloves?

David de Gruyl
2-Dec-2010, 05:34
or even cotton gloves.

Brian C. Miller
2-Dec-2010, 05:40
Yes, that's quite common. I'm not sure that I would use fiber gloves when loading film, as that could leave fibers all over the film. Thin latex gloves sound good, as that would isolate the sweat. How about wiping your hands on a lens cleaning cloth?

Sascha Welter
2-Dec-2010, 06:47
My changing bag is of the "extra large size" kind. When I have to keep my hands in there longer, I put a stool in there. This helps the material from laying directly on my hands and reduces sweating. Something custom made with an aluminium frame would probably be more elegant (and leave more usable room).

Hovmod
2-Dec-2010, 07:40
Gloves it is then. :)

Maris Rusis
2-Dec-2010, 16:28
I always stuff a cardboard carton inside a changing bag to create clear working space for my hands. A beer carton with cut-outs to let my arms in works well. Even so loading 4x5 holders in a smallish bag is a harrowing experience well worth a cold one afterward.

Gloves don't work for me. I need the sensitivity of touch to handle film by its edges only.

Roger Thoms
2-Dec-2010, 17:20
Best thing I did was get a tent instead of a bag. Although I never thought to try a box or a foot stool to give me more working room. I have a hard time with gloves and handle the film be the edges instead. I also try and and load/unload my film holder when it's cool. Might be worth while to get up nice and early. I do use gloves in the darkroom and will occasionally unload film holder with gloves. I have some vinyl exam glove that are a size to small, it a bit of work to get them on, but with the tight fit I can handle the film with no problem.

Rambling a bit, so to summarize, try a snug pair of vinyl exam gloves, try to work when its cool, and if your are using the bag a lot think about getting a tent.

Roger

ki6mf
2-Dec-2010, 20:52
You could also wash your hands and that would help to remove oils from your fingers! Don't forget to dry with a clean lint free towel!!

tbeaman
2-Dec-2010, 23:04
I keep one hand gloved, and one ungloved. Different strokes for different... hands.

Putting some sort of frame in a changing bag always seemed like an obvious idea to me (especially given the prices of those tents), but alas, I have yet to actually do it. Explains why paying a premium is often the smarter thing. :p

Thalmees
3-Dec-2010, 03:40
For the reason of hot weather almost always(In the summer mainly), I used to wash hands first with cold water/soap and load/unload films in the holders or in the processing tanks during night time.
The control over temperature of the processing chemicals during night time is better.

Bob McCarthy
3-Dec-2010, 08:59
I don't have the problem, but I can see where it could be an issue as I sense the heat buildup.

I rarely load more than 3 or 4 film holders at a time. I don't see more as being an issue.

My house is airconditioned and is usually at or below 70 deg. F

I've been loading film holders for a number a years and I'm very proficient at getting in and out.

I do wash and dry my hands.

I don't touch the film other than by the edges.

I use Kodak T max so I have paper wrapped film. I remove a fair amount of the excess paper so I don't fumble with the film removing it from the box/envelope. I leave the film envelope always oriented in the open box with the emulsion up while loading. If it comes otherwise flip the packet in the box. I do not have problems with the film fogging in the box after loading and storing.

I NEVER touch the emulsion so I can't get fingerprints.

Tents are for woosies <G>.....

bob

Roger Thoms
3-Dec-2010, 09:05
You could also wash your hands and that would help to remove oils from your fingers! Don't forget to dry with a clean lint free towel!!

Good point, I always wash my hand first, generally with Dawn dish soap.

Roger

Gem Singer
3-Dec-2010, 09:39
Clean, dry hands, and keep bare arms outside of the bag or tent. They tend to perspire.

Insert arms into the bag or tent inside of the arm extensions with the elastic cuffs around wrists. Use as sleeves.

Work quickly in warm environments.

Chris Strobel
3-Dec-2010, 10:14
I always wear powder free nitrile gloves when handling sheet film, both in my changing bag and in the darkroom.

Drew Wiley
3-Dec-2010, 10:26
When I'm in the field (backpacking), there are a few extra things I carry along with the
changing tent. There are always a few little disposable alcohol wipes, like the kind you
can find at the pharmacy. Don't confuse these with hand sanitizer which has extra
ingredients and might leave a residue. These weigh next to nothing and will remove oil
from fingers. Another things are little powderless nitrile finger cots. These cover just the tips of the two or three fingers which actually handle the film, so take up a lot less
space than gloves in the kit and are more tactile. I don't like vinyl because it contains
plasticizers. Then I carry a few very thin small poly trashcan liners. There can be
attached from the inside to the roof of the changing tent to make it completely dust
free. Used liners can be used like a groundcloth. Then I add a small sponge to the kit
and little brush or blower for cleaning the filmholders themselves. The film boxes for
change-out have the edges slightly sanded so they won't shed any dust, then have
been sprayed with clear acrylic lacquer which has been allowed to completely cure
(several months) before accepting film. A little extra fuss, but I don't get dust spots
or fingerprints at all.

John NYC
3-Dec-2010, 18:39
My hands tend to get hot and this is what I do... Wash your hands in very, very cold water with some good hand dishwashing soap (it will remove ALL oil on your skin) before you start. If you find you start perspiring, get to a stopping point and get out of the bag and take a break, rewash your hands before starting again. I never have any issues when I work this way, and I find that taking a break after you are working in a tent/bag for a while is a good idea anyway.

Wally
7-Dec-2010, 22:10
When I was using a changing bag and had the same problem - my hands get claustrophobic quickly.

Then I remembered I had an old cardboard tube of TinkerToys. So I used them to make a cube about ten inches on each side, and put that in the changing bag.

It's big, round corner pieces, made of wood, were gentle on the changing bag, and it kept the changing bag off my hands while they were loading holders.

Somewhat later in my photography obsession I got a 'Shadowbox' and put my TinkerToys away.

Lynn Jones
8-Dec-2010, 09:53
Dry hads, dry film OK, wet hands wet film OK, if you mix these up, lots of marks.

Lynn