So, I wanted to share this little project I did the other day, building a film dryer. It all started when I realized I needed a better way to dry my film after developing. Hanging them in the bathroom just wasn’t cutting it – too much dust and it took forever.
I started by looking up some ideas online. I saw a few fancy, store-bought options, but they were way out of my budget. Then I stumbled upon some DIY solutions, and that got my gears turning. I figured, “Why not give it a shot?” I gathered some materials I had lying around: an old cardboard box, a small fan I wasn’t using, some wooden dowels, and a few alligator clips.
- First, I cut a large hole on one side of the box for the fan. I wanted it to blow air into the box, creating a nice airflow.
- Then, I made a few smaller holes on the opposite side to let the air escape. Gotta have that circulation, you know?
- Next, I inserted the dowels across the top of the box. These would be where the films hang.
- I attached the alligator clips to the dowels. These little guys are perfect for holding the film securely.
Once everything was in place, I tested it out. I developed a roll of film, gave it a good rinse, and then hung it inside the box using the clips. I placed an old towel beneath to catch any dripping water, turned on the fan, and waited. I kept an eye on the film, making sure it didn’t stick together. To prevent the film get wet by development chemistry, I also poured 25ml isopropyl alcohol per liter of final wash.
It wasn’t an instant fix, but it definitely sped up the drying process compared to just air drying. Plus, the enclosed box helped keep dust away from the wet film. I was pretty stoked with how it turned out!
Some Tips for You
It might not be as sleek as those professional dryers, but it does the job, and it’s way cheaper. If you’re into film photography and want a more efficient way to dry your negatives, I highly recommend trying this out. You can always tweak the design based on the materials you have. I’m thinking of adding a small heater to the setup later, just to see if it makes things even faster. It is important to keep the film safe and dry, right? So that is my way to keep my film dry.
Anyway, that’s my little film dryer story. Hope you found it interesting or helpful!
