Drying 4 x 5 ?

[Keith Cocker]

Hi,

Completely new to LF. Just enjoyed exposing my first 4 x 5's in a Toyo 45A. I have a combiplan tank and was just about to plunge into developing when I thought - "Eek - how do I dry them once I've developed them - I can't hang up a roll like my MF & 35MM".

So my question is - any suggestions on how to hang them up to dry after developing fixing and washing?

[Vaughn]

I hang them up like my 35mm and MF -- a clip at the corner and hang them diagonally -- then occasionally use a paper towel to get rid of the drip that forms at the bottom corner (speeds drying a little). This does take up a bit of space.

Vaughn

[Ron Marshall]

I built a small box from plastic sheet and 1"x1" wood to hang the negs to dry, to keep the dust off. Small clips along the top to hang the negs.

Before I built it I would run the shower for a couple of minutes to take the dust out of the air, then hang them in the bathroom. Very little dust either way.

[Daniel_Buck]

I hang mine to dry overnight, I've got little clips with hooks on them, I just hook them to the top of my stove exhaust vent (turned off)

[Jan Pedersen]

I have 6 six of these http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/63607-REG/Yankee_YAFC4_Stainless_Steel_Film_Clips.html
Hanging on a string accross my bathtub. They have small tabs on the inside where they grip the film but they are easily removed with a file. Works very well.

[David A. Goldfarb]

When you just have a few sheets, hang them from a line with clothespins or clips.

If you have to fit a lot of film in a small space, particularly of larger sizes, I like Jobo clips.

[Daniel_Buck]

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/123163-REG/Delta_58050_Stainless_Steel_Film_Clips.html

those are the ones I've been using. They are strong enough to hold an 8x10 negative by a single corner, they seem to be doing just fine. They do leave a small line on the negative where they clamp, but unless you set the clamp far into the negative it's usually not very much into the actual usable image itself. I'm not sure if the mark is from build-up of water while drying, or if it's scratching the negative, either way, it doesn't affect me.

[BradS]

I do like Vaughn does. That is a piece of string run through the center of the springs on ordinary wooden clothes pins. I guess it takes two or three hours to dry like this. It would, of course, depend on local atmospheric conditions.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/91/223526506_f8dd8dee74_o.jpg

[Vaughn]

These are the clips I use.

I only use one "tooth" along the edge of the clip -- I clip it on the very edge of corner of the neg, usually near the notches on the film in the rebate area.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/66867-REG/Doran_PRSFC_Stainless_Steel_Paper_and.html

Vaughn

PS...I have used them for negs up to 11x14 (I haven't made any negs bigger than that yet!)

Brad -- love your photo of you taking a photo of negatives of you taking a photo!

[Ralph Barker]

I made hangers with office-supply binder clips threaded onto wire clothes hangers. Short sections of plastic drinking straws and /16" cad-plated washers help maintain spacing.

http://www.rbarkerphoto.com/Misc/Photo-gear/4x5hanger-v2-0-01-650c.jpg

[John Kasaian]

Clip 'em to the radio aerial on a '54 Oldsmobile and drive around the block a few times! ;)

[Keith Cocker]

Some brilliant ideas and suggestions.

Many thanks

[walter23]

Hi,

Completely new to LF. Just enjoyed exposing my first 4 x 5's in a Toyo 45A. I have a combiplan tank and was just about to plunge into developing when I thought - "Eek - how do I dry them once I've developed them - I can't hang up a roll like my MF & 35MM".

So my question is - any suggestions on how to hang them up to dry after developing fixing and washing?

I use little electronics alligator-clip things that I bought at radio shack - just hang them by the corners (clipped just outside of the image area). I've also used those black springy stationary clips (the very small size). Just hang them from a line. If you have hard water, something like Edwal LFN wetting agent will be very useful in getting the water to run off and not leave stains. I usually have to dab the lowest corner with a cotton shirt to remove the last big drops after a couple of minutes (otherwise they evaporate and leave a stain on the corner).

[Frank Bagbey]

What is wrong with just hanging your sheet film hangers on a line and letting them dry! I have never had a negative problem from doing that, but always let them dry overnight to make sure all is dry on the bottom corner. Of course, always soak them in wetting agent before hanging them to dry. This has worked fine with 4x5, 5x7,
8x10, and hugh xray film.

[Paul Bujak]

I use a pink plastic clothes hanger (you gotta use pink) and make small hooks out of soft wire looped around the hanger rail. Small plastic clothespins have a hole to hang them on the hooks. Then clip the negs by a corner and hang the whole mess from a big rubber band around the shower head and close the curtain.

I've found the shower is the most dust free place in the house and least likely to be affected by passing people stirring up air currents. I also dab the drop of water from the lowest corner as others have pointed out. I use a final rinse of Photo-Flo in distilled water.

FWIW, I use this method for roll film also but use a suction-cup hook on the shower wall to hang the film clip.

[jnantz]

I do like Vaughn does. That is a piece of string run through the center of the springs on ordinary wooden clothes pins. I guess it takes two or three hours to dry like this. It would, of course, depend on local atmospheric conditions.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/91/223526506_f8dd8dee74_o.jpg

i do that too, over my sink,
but i also have a plastic storage closet (http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100372346&N=10000003+90401+502362).
instead of putting in the shelves,
i drilled holes and put framer's wire ( braided )
across back and forth. it works great and i can
make prints still while my film is drying.

[cyrus]

Paul is right about using the shower.

If you don't want to hang the negs up to dry, you could simply place the bottom edge on a paper towel and lean them up against something (wall?) at a high angle to ensure that the water drips off, with the emulsion side facing down to protect from dust. Just make sure the edge of the negative only is touching the wall and the paper towel.

To really get the water off, consider a final wash in distilled water mixed with a SMALL amount of fotoflow (or TINY TINY amount of dishwashing soap.)

[Peter Collins]

Chez nous, c'est vive les clothes pins!

...and it allows me to spend money on other things.

[shmoo]

Guys, guys...try one of these.
http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?CATID=77008&PRODID=68595

[Ash]

Depending on the number of negs to dry, I either place them in the airing cupboard on clothes hangers (the type with rubbered clips), or I hang them in my room from the arm of a tripod.

Nothing fancy ;)

I have a drying cabinet in the shed, but it sees little use. I should bring it into my room which would be more useful, however my room gets hot enough as is!

[ic-racer]

Here is a related thread: http://www.apug.org/forums/forum43/52143-clips-hanging-film-dry.html

[tmastran]

This is what works for me, and it doesn't take much space. As you can see you have to be careful they don't touch, which is usually only a problem when loading them. All supplies are from Walmart. The rack is from the kitchen section and the clips are from office supplies. They're the kind with the little round magnets, which I knock off with an old chisel. You could keep some and clip them to the bottom of the negatives if you want. These will dry overnight in my high humidly location.

http://www.tedmastrandonas.com/misc/rack.jpg

[Hector.Navarro]

What is wrong with just hanging your sheet film hangers on a line and letting them dry! I have never had a negative problem from doing that, but always let them dry overnight to make sure all is dry on the bottom corner. Of course, always soak them in wetting agent before hanging them to dry. This has worked fine with 4x5, 5x7,
8x10, and hugh xray film.

one time I considered drying the film inside the hangers, but was afraid the emulsion would stick on the edges of the hanger.

so, drying inside the hanger works for you without problems?

[Jehu]

Guys, guys...try one of these.
http://www.containerstore.com/browse/Product.jhtml?CATID=77008&PRODID=68595

Hmm... IRS audit? Business expense: Lingerie hanger :eek:

[butterfly]

I put mine in kodak 4x5 film hangers, the things you use for dip and dunk. Always dry fine, and they cost just a few pounds for 6 from Ebay. No chance of the film falling out, which I found to be a problem with pegs/office clips, and normal 35mm film clips put two holes in the film.

[Andrew O'Neill]

A string with plastic clothes pegs...works for me.