Darkroom

Re: Darkroom size

"Louie Powell" wrote:
> bob wrote:>

> > I'm thinking of building a darkroom. I seem to have two options:
> > 1) a roughly 8x8 foot (2.4m) space that will become available this
> > summer. It has plumbing, electric and ventilation already.

> > 2) the space over a 2 car garage that won't be built for at least a
> > year.
I have the master bedroom in this location. It's bloody cold in the
winter and hot in the summer. I have an aux. gas heater for winter
nights and summer nights are OK with open windows on 3 sides. For
a darkroom it would be one of my last choices.

> Suggest a few things. First, decide what size prints you want to limit
> yourself to. You can always improvise to make larger prints

For > 20x24's I have wrestled the enlarger into the kitchen and
used the kitchen floor for trays. Worked well. Keep a mop handy.

> One subtlety that you need to be aware of is that a 4x5 enlarger requires
> a lot of head room.

I have a "U" drop in my bench that lowers the enlarger baseboard to 24".
I work at the enlarger in an office chair. A nice alternative is to
bolt the enlarger to the bench and use an oversize 30x30" drop surface
so the easel can go all the way down to floor level. Beseler sells a table
like this, but I have not seen it in person.

> corner blocked in to form a counter for my enlarger. I mounted the
> enlarger directly to the counter, and braced the column into the wall to
> eliminate vibrations.

Hmm, have the enlarger grow out of the corner. Let the easel be catty-corner.
For larger prints/easels square the easel and rotate the negative carrier.

--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Consulting Engineer: Electronics; Informatics; Photonics.
Remove spaces etc. to reply: n o lindan at net com dot com
psst.. want to buy an f-stop timer? nolindan.com/da/fstop/

 

Article References :

Darkroom size
Re: Darkroom size
 

See Also : Re: Darkroom basics

wrote

> What am I missing?
> So far I've got:
> The Enlarger
> Bulk Film Loader and cassettes
> Developing Trays
> Photo Paper
> The necessary chemicals (I think)

Where to begin .... let me count the items:

Need:

Photo store
Photographic paper
More chemicals (probably)
Safelight(s)
Polycontrast filters
Developing tank (and reel)
Thermometer
Print tongs
Film clips
Dusting brush for negs and lenses
Negative sleeves
Timer, an old GraLab

Scrounged stuff (though photo stuff can work better)
Measuring graduate(s)
Mixing pail
Mixing rod
Storage bottles
Heavy glass 9x12 w/ ground edges/contact print frame

Commodity
Funnel
Towels
Paper towels (& holder is nice)
Black cloth, weatherproofing strip
Garbage pail (use often)
Sponge
Windex
Rubber gloves
Scissors
Mat/utility/Stanley knife
Marks-a-lot, mech. pencil
Radio
Chair/stool
Work table w/waterproof top (kitchen counter top)
2 3x12 mirrors
Sticky tape
Notebook (use often)
Ruler
Sheets of cardboard (back of legal pad ...)
Coat hangers (for wire for dodgers)
Extension cords/outlet strips

Nice to have
Darkroom sink
Floor mats
Paper cutter
Print washer (the type made from a tray, or a siphon)
Lots more trays, deep trays for washing
Even more trays
Multi-reel tanks & reels
Light box
10x loupe (or 4x if medium format)
Paper easel(s) (4-blade adjustable or 'Speed-Eazel')
Paper safe
Office supply type cabinet
Work tables - lots of
Square feet - lots of
Print dryer for fiber base paper
Window screens for drying RC
Air conditioner or air baffle
Space heater
T-Square
Business cards (can get you into places ...)
Flood light or two on light stands

For Christmas
Dry mount press
Fletcher-type mat cutter
Framing supplies
New enlarger
New enlarger lens
Bigger darkroom

If you don't keep things reasonable
A new wife (or maybe not)

--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Consulting Engineer: Electronics; Informatics; Photonics.
To reply, remove spaces: n o lindan at ix . netcom . com
psst.. want to buy an f-stop timer? nolindan.com/da/fstop/