Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/01/31
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In a message dated 1/30/01 8:07:08 AM, owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us writes: << > A 100 watt light bulb inside at the bottom will supply ample heat for > drying film at a reasonable speed. Yeeek! One drop of water on a 100W light bulb that's up to heat, and it'll probably crack! Also, water dripping around the bulb into the socket will probably cause some problems too... Unless I'm missing what you're suggesting, I'd suggest re-thinking that one. >> I have an old film dryer that I've used for 20 years made by the Statham Instrument Company. I don't know if the company is still in business but they made a variety of highly rated scientific equipment. The dryer functions the same as the dessicators you probably used in chem lab. The dryer consists of a plastic tube (PVC?) about 6" in diameter and 14" tall. A small fan is mounted in the bottom. There is a large perforated can of silica gel about the size of a #2 fruit can that sits in the tube just over the fan. A cover closes the top of the tube. Film is dried on the SS Nikkor reels. An open foam plastic disc is placed on top of the silica gel can the Photoflow treated reels are shaken to get rid of excess water and stacked on top of the foam. The tube is covered and the fan started. Air is drawn downward through the film and moisture removed by the silica gel. The air circulates upward through channels surrounding the film chamber and the process repeats until the film is dry. Four rolls of 36 exposures take about 2 hours and dry absolutely spot and dust free. After about 20 to 30 rolls have been dried the silica gel is regenerated in a 400 degree oven to remove the absorbed water. In a lifetime in photography, this is the best, smallest and most efficient dryer I have ever used. Sure beats drying the film in the microwave. Larry Zeitlin