Print Dryers

[robert_ruderman1]

Hi,

 

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Does anyone out there use those two-sided electric dryers for drying their prints. These are the ones that have a piece of cloth on either side that is used to hold the print against a metal surface. They tend to retail for around $100 new (some higher/some lower).

 

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I am wondering as to how well they work (for larger prints - 11x14 and up) and if there are any drawbacks/pitfalls with using one.

 

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Many thanks.

Robert

[robert_a._zeichner1]

Any kind of a dryer that sandwiches the print between a chromed plate

and fabric belt is potentially a problem if you are looking for

archival permanence. The fabric absorbs minute amounts of chemicals

and over time, will contaminate every print it comes in contact with.

Get some fiber glass screens, squeegee the prints on a piece of

plexiglas and dry face down on the screens. Then, save for a good

drymount press so you can completely flatten prior to mounting or

hinging.

[paul_owen]

I'll second the screen approach. I made mine from wooden

artist canvas stretchers and fibreglass window mesh. They work

a treat.

[neil_poulsen1]

I have one, and it works fine for getting the prints dry. I turn it

over during use once and a while, because the rising heat tends to

benefit the top more than the bottom. I use it with the emulsion

facing the cloth. You're supposed to be able to dry prints with the

emulsion facing the chrome to get that ferrotyped look. Trying it

though, I didn't think that it worked out that well.

 

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But, I would also be concerned about the potential contamination of

the print with fixer absorbed into the cloth, and at high heat. It

might be OK if you had a new one and were radical about thoroughly

hypo-clearing and washing every print into which the dryer came into

contact. I've wondered if it's possible to remove and wash the cloth

by taking the unit apart.

 

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I made my fiberglass drying screens out of the standard materials to

make window screens. You can get the framing material, tools, and

fiberglass screen (etc.) at Home Depot, or some such place. These

screens work fine, and you can cut them to whatever dimensions that

you want. They come out looking very professional. I made mine just

large enough to handle one 16x20, 2 11x14's, 4 8x10's, etc. The

inside dimensions are something like 18x24.

 

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One handy way to use an electric dryer is for a quick-dry of the print

to estimate dry-down effects, and then print at whatever exposure

gives you the best dry print. Subsequent prints can be dried on the

fiberglass screens so as not to detriment the archival properties of

the print.

[dan n.]

I don't trust print dryer at all..bad experiences I guess.. it has the

tendency to stretch the print and leave cloth mark on it beside all the

above observations.....

[sean_yates2]

I had two and GAVE them to the fella who used to run the B&W World

form and has since gone to work for Pop Photo. He payed shipping

from Indiana, but that gives you an idea how highly I think of them.

He likes them though.

 

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I refuse (and SERIOUSLY) advise you to refrain from buying them new.

Those prices are LUDICROUS! INSANE even! I paid as much as $20.00

for a NIB one (with the box and instructions) at a yard sale, and

$10.00 for one with some use obvious.

 

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Seriously, the screens are the way to go. If they aren't fast

enough, flat enough, then a 2nd hand dry mount press (another un-

godly over-priced item!) will work, or pull them when they are just

damp-ish and place them under several copies of the O.E.D. sandwiched

between CLEAN arhival mount board and let sit for several days.

Works fine