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Author Topic: Carbons and Moisture Tony L. Hernandez Expert Film Handler Posts: 158 From: Windsor, CO, USA Registered: Dec 2005 posted 05-14-2008 05:44 PM                     I was wondering if boxes of carbons that have gotten wet over the years can still be used. I have several boxes, some that got wetter than others, that I may try to pass on to someone else who uses carbon arcs. PLEASE NOTE: I may be posting some carbons for sale in the equipment for sale page but these are not the same ones, they were always kept dry and perfect. Tony  |  IP: Logged Louis Bornwasser Film God Posts: 4441 From: prospect ky usa Registered: Mar 2005 posted 05-14-2008 06:05 PM                        We once put carbons underwater for a week but let them dry in the lamphouse (while using other carbon) for 10-12 hours. Operation was perfect. Louis  |  IP: Logged John Wilson Film God Posts: 5438 From: Sydney, Australia. Registered: Dec 1999 posted 05-19-2008 07:29 PM                     We had a few that had obviously been wet at some point (but we were almost given them so...) The bottom of the lamphouse had a floor of carbons drying out and we just took them from there and replenished as we went. There were always about 12 positives and 4 negatives lining the bottom of the lamphouse. Worked fine.  |  IP: Logged Jack Ondracek Film God Posts: 2348 From: Port Orchard, WA, USA Registered: Oct 2002 posted 05-20-2008 12:38 AM                        In one booth I ran, we had a broken counter-top refrigerator with a light bulb that was wired "permanently on". This kept the box warm and dry. We kept our positives in there. I'm told this helped (some) to keep the Marble carbons that our company was trying from spitting bits of their cores and blowing the light out. Once the company'd had enough of that, they went back to Nationals. We also kept them in the hot-box, though I don't recall that we ever had a problem with them.  |  IP: Logged Phil Blake Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 558 From: esperance western australia Registered: Nov 2003 posted 05-20-2008 01:42 AM                        my experience with wet or damp carbons was spluttering , which usually covered the mirror with bits of copper and then on the odd occasion they would crack about and inch from the tip and when the copper melted away the tip would fall off. We then adopted the same practice as John Wilson has said , rarely had problems after that.  |  IP: Logged

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