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Thread: What kind of freezer you are using to freeze your film?

  1. #1

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    What kind of freezer you are using to freeze your film?

    Do you use no frost or static freezer for your film?

    If static then what is your defrosting procedure?

  2. #2
    multiplex
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    Re: What kind of freezer you are using to freeze your film?

    PERSONALLY i think
    the whole freeze your film
    is a bunch of bunk.
    if you don't ... have HUGE fluxuations and massive humidy
    you just need to keep your film someplace "cool"
    basement? root cellar?
    best of luck with your predicament !
    ps i shoot film and PAPER .. non refrigerated with no issues
    and some of it is 20+ years old ...
    johh

  3. #3
    Jac@stafford.net's Avatar
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    Re: What kind of freezer you are using to freeze your film?

    Do a search on deep freezers. Consumer Reports is a fair source. I found so many small freezers to be disappointing that I gave up. I have a calibrated linear gauge in my fridge-freezer. Good enough. But my wife reminds me often to "get all that film out of there!" During our Minnesota Winter I do put it outside.

  4. #4
    8x10, 5x7, 4x5, et al Leigh's Avatar
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    Lightbulb Re: What kind of freezer you are using to freeze your film?

    Photographic film is a chemical product.
    It reacts with elements in the atmosphere and degrades over time.

    Every 10 degree C reduction in temperature cuts the reaction rate in half.
    That doubles the length of time required to get to the same level of degradation.

    I keep my film in the freezer compartments on top of my refrigerators.
    They're set about 5 to 10 degrees C below freezing.

    - Leigh
    If you believe you can, or you believe you can't... you're right.

  5. #5

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    Re: What kind of freezer you are using to freeze your film?

    Magic Chef chest freezer Model HMCF7W2, capacity 6.9 cubic feet. Got it at Home Depot for around $150.00. Estimated Yearly Energy Cost around $30.00. Manual defrost but have yet to have to remove any frost from inside it. The top seal is excellent. Run it in a dry basement with an average humidity of around 40%. Freezer also sometimes doubles for ice storage, and the bags of ice are always double bagged in large freezer bags. Original bags that ice is sold in are usually thin and not at all sealed that well.

  6. #6

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    Re: What kind of freezer you are using to freeze your film?

    During the summer I do not have guaranteed low temperature anywhere in my house. I have only hot or hotter. Possibly also quite humid if it rains a lot like in this year.

    So I definitely do need something that is climate controlled. Colder the better because I may have to store some of the film for a long time.

    My only question is that is a no frost freezer better option for me or not.

  7. #7
    Tin Can's Avatar
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    Re: What kind of freezer you are using to freeze your film?

    All freezers fail. I seldom have seen anything made in the last 40 years last past 10 years. Ancient ones worked for decades.

    A melting freezer may be very detrimental to any film.

    Some film is sold sealed in water tight can or individual bags. 35mm & 120. Fuji sealed their Polaroid.

    No sheet film I bought in the last 8 years was sealed. All B&W.

    Some here ZipLoc it all, may use desiccant and vac pac.

    I’m with John. Age it as God intended. I shot a 100 year old glass plate meg and got a usable image. YMMV

  8. #8
    Jac@stafford.net's Avatar
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    Re: What kind of freezer you are using to freeze your film?

    Quote Originally Posted by Greg View Post
    [...] Run it in a dry basement with an average humidity of around 40%.
    How do you maintain humidity at ~40%? That's almost high-plains desert humidity.

  9. #9
    Corran's Avatar
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    Re: What kind of freezer you are using to freeze your film?

    I bought a medium-sized freezer a couple years ago on close-out from Home Depot. I think it's the one Greg mentioned above except I got it 50% off for some reason, perhaps a new model. It works great. Last year when we had a hurricane come through I lost power for 2 days and it warmed up to room temp. However that freezer never has "ice" in it from condensation, just stays cold, so I didn't have any damage. Definitely works for me and stays cold with a minimum power footprint. It's in my basement.
    Bryan | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | Portfolio
    All comments and thoughtful critique welcome

  10. #10
    sepiareverb's Avatar
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    Re: What kind of freezer you are using to freeze your film?

    I have a mini fridge in the studio that is for film. Only a tiny freezer in it, and I only have some 35mm color neg film in that part as I seldom shoot it. I keep my film cool, and as my basement fluctuates tremendously I use the fridge.

    I've got some films still in the house freezers. My wife finds them every now and again when digging through.

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