[pure-silver] Re: dust

I keep the humidity of my dark room around 50%. This humidity level
slows the propagation of dust in the room.  The incoming air is cleaned
with a passive electrostatic filter. I have avoided active ion
generation air scrubbers because ozone can be detrimental to one's
health.
The exhaust fan is variable speed, and on its high setting draws the
filter air through a slot running the length of the room. The air exits
through another slot running the length of the 16 foot sink line. On the
high setting, the air flow across the sink line is near 100 feet per
minute. This air volume removes suspended dust very well at 1 change
every 75 seconds. Once the room is cleaned I can reduce to the low air
flow of 200cfm, or about 10 changes per hour. I know this sounds extreme
solution, but I live on a horse ranch that is very dusty during the
summer.

I clean my glass with a good cleaner Rexton Optyl-7 works good and is
reasonable priced. I use the 3" static master brush to remove surface
dust from the glass, and negative when loading the carrier. I clean, and
deionize the carrier, the upper & lower glass. Install lower glass
deionize again. deionize the film, assemble, deionize the film top
surface, deionize lower surface of top glass, assemble, and inspect. 
Using compressed air needs an ionizer to eliminate the charging of the
air as it leaves the nozzle. Kintronic antistatic canned air ionizer
systems 
work great. I use a light box to view the assembly, some times with a
magnifier, to see how well the process has gone. A final brush of the
exterior and then on to printing. It is very important that the chassis
of the enlarger is well grounded. I use a blower with electrostatic
generators that blows a gentle flow of filtered air across my work area
where I assemble my pin registration carries. To use can air required
three hands.
I use a VC4500 light source which has been an improvement over my
condenser head, which I still use on occasion.
Even with at this it still is not perfect.
Jonathan

-----Original Message-----
From: pure-silver-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:pure-silver-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Scott Hamming
Sent: Thursday, September 30, 2004 5:50 AM
To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [pure-silver] Re: dust

        Dust is also a significant problem in my darkroom, mainly due to
it's other role as the master closet and a little bit of a storage room
as well.  Dust "control" is almost futile with the clothes, hamper,
shuffling around, etc.  Not too big a deal with 35mm negs and a
glassless carrier.  While I first started printing my 6x9 negs I used a
glass carrier both top and bottom, and regardless of how well cleaned
and air-sprayed there was always considerable dust.  I've since changed
to only using the glass on top and reducing 2 surfaces.  I've noticed no
film plane issues as a result, either.  When preparing to print a new
neg., I remove the carrier from the dark room, make sure it's clean,
air-spray all of the surfaces and insert the neg.  Between printing
sessions I always cover the enlarger head (condenser) with a small sheet
of plastic to reduce any dust which might otherwise settle.  I'm still
spotting prints, but it's gotten much better with my revised procedure.


To piggy back with a related question: Does anyone recommend a different
material to cover an enlarger with?  Plastic almost seems charged to
attract dust, and linting is a concern with cloth based materials.  Any
thoughts are appreciated.

Scott  =20

>-----Original Message-----
>From: Matthew Gaylen [mailto:mgaylen@xxxxxxx]
>Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2004 9:35 PM
>To: pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [pure-silver] dust
>
>
>I'm trying to use a glass carrier in my enlarger but I'm having a whale

>of a time ending the problem with dust.
>
>I have some pec pads and some clearsight spray, but the clearsight=20
>streaks and the pec pads leave lint... what am I doing wrong?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Matt
>
>aka joe suburbs the post modern hyper rural sub urban anti hero and=20
>vertiginous surrealist and virtual denconstructionist

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