Changing Up My Darkroom and Home Studio

[Nokton48]

Drop Ceiling Completely Done 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Here you can see we have completed installing the drop ceiling. It really does finish the space. It took about six four hour sessions to finish it, WHEW!! Glad we are done with that and I'm super pleased. And as you can see, this part of the basement now has a heating duct. Cost me about $200 to do this work.

Drop Ceiling Completely Done 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Here you can see I am starting to put up laminated paneling to finish the inside wall space. This is where we will be doing plumbing and electricals, and this is where the sink and Kreonite Water Thermostat/Water Board will go. The six foot sink will also be mounted here, with the 4x4 Kreonite sink just along this side of the concrete wall. Building the base for the sink shouldn't take long.

 

[Nokton48]

Big Stuff moved in darkroom by Nokton48, on Flickr

Here I've moved in the big stuff, to get a sense of best gear placement, and to see how it fills up the space. The darkroom is only 10x12 feet so it is now filled up, but not badly so, perfect for one worker (me!)

This will be cool when everything is buttoned up.

 

[MattKing]

Can you put the cart between the sinks?

 

[Nokton48]

Can you put the cart between the sinks?

Hi Matt.

Yes That has also been tried, I'm not sure which will work best for me, but that's a very good possibility

 

[Nokton48]

Darkroom Sink Base 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Darkroom Sink Base 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

I worked hard all day yesterday and just finished this darkroom sink base. It was not so easy to create, but this one fits my Delta 6 foot Sink II like a glove. And solid as solid can be. Now I will calculate how long to make the legs, so it sits perfectly. I will also install leveling feet on each leg. And a storage shelf under the sink.

This whole sink new at B&H is $1350 plus freight. I'd estimate I have about $150 total for everything for this part of the project.

 

[Nokton48]

darkroom stand nearly done 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

darkroom sink stand nearly done 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr

After puzzling around for a bit I figured out how to put legs on the sink frame. It's totally solid. I'll cut plywood for the lower shelf, and I might put in a second shelf. And add super heavy duty leveling feet under the legs. Have to take the legs off to get it into the darkroom, then re-assemble it. Almost done!

When this one is done I'll start on renovating the Kreonite plate washing sink.

 

[Nokton48]

Darkroom Sink Finished by Nokton48, on Flickr

The darkroom sink is finished!

I'm proud of this, I made it completely by myself. This morning my Son and I took it apart out in the garage, carried the parts down, and put it back together. I had contemplated buying a Delta steel Sink II stand, that would have been about $450. This cost total about $225 including the old Delta Sink II. I am putting HEAVY DUTY leveling feet on it, so I can adjust how it drains.

Now will move on to renovating the green Kreonite Plate Washing Sink.

 

[Nokton48]

Phase 1 nearing completion 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Phase I nearing completion 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Phase 1 nearing completion 3 by Nokton48, on Flickr



Setting up lights and other devices today, now it looks like a darkroom. Will start using it this weekend, I am hoping.
Phase II will be bringing in electrician and plumber. I want to use it for a while in case I want or need to make changes (which I will). Will be dusting and cleaning for the next few days, and putting away tools and extra materials.

 

[Nokton48]

I am getting a second Omega 4x5 DII enlarger, and I'm in the process of building a second homemade enlarger drop table. One enlarger will have the "Omegalite" saucer-like B&W enlarging head (for smaller print making). I love printing with the Omegalite, it's my old friend. The second DII will have the brand new Modern Enlarging Systems Model II head, which is a modern LED enlarging head. Equivilent to 150W this will be great for printing 16x20s with shorter exposure times. Having two identical enlargers side by side will be pure luxury for me

 

[Nokton48]

Thomas Safelight Restored by Nokton48, on Flickr

Dismally dark, until I took it apart and thoroughly cleaned it inside and out. Cut new filters and replaced any that had faded. There was dust and humidity marks inside the filters. Now fresh and pristine.

I can read small print on a label, standing all the way across the room,. I love this new safelight!

Now I am pleased. THIS is more like it!

 

[Nokton48]

Extra Thomas Safelight Bulbs by Nokton48, on Flickr

I bought some spare sodium vapour bulbs for the Thomas Super Safelight. I will keep one or two and sell the rest.

 

[Nokton48]

Omega DII Drop Table no 2 nearly completed by Nokton48, on


Today I put this second Omega DII Drop Table together. I think it came out rather well, I used the plans right of an old Peterson's Photographic book about making photo equipment. I used an expensive sheet of oak plywood wood (might as well!), and some oak strips, from the local pro woodworking store, and they even cut the pieces for me in the store. All I had to do was put it together.

A few more embellishments and it's ready to use. And some good quality heavy locking casters as well.

 

[Nokton48]

70mm Basket Line Getting Set Up by Nokton48, on Flickr

Setting Up Sink Area by Nokton48, on Flickr

Starting to look like a darkroom!

 

[Nokton48]

Second Drop Table Installed 1 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Second Drop Table Installed 2 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Second Drop Table Installed. Whew! All I need now is another Omega DII 4x5 Enlarger. Actually I just need the column and base.

 

[Nokton48]

Matte Print Dryer and Film Dryer by Nokton48, on Flickr


Two more projects nearing completion. On the left, a 16x20 matte print dryer. Built from marine plywood, $189 a sheet. Cut for me at the Woodwerks store. On the right, a "ten minute film dryer". I built this same unit when I was 17 years old. Everything for that came from Lowes.

Both from Peterson's Photographic articles.

 

[AgX]

It seems that table/cabinet with those aluminum profiles has been in use, but still I would smoothen the corners at the edges.

 

[mshchem]

Matte Print Dryer and Film Dryer by Nokton48, on Flickr


Two more projects nearing completion. On the left, a 16x20 matte print dryer. Built from marine plywood, $189 a sheet. Cut for me at the Woodwerks store. On the right, a "ten minute film dryer". I built this same unit when I was 17 years old. Everything for that came from Lowes.

Both from Peterson's Photographic articles.

Very nice. What are you using for blotters and dividers on the print dryer? I wouldn't think corrugated card board would do much harm as long as you had clean blotters. I'm not sure what would be best for air flow. I use drum dryers for fiber base. Clean belt is a must. I get immediate gratification but you are taking the more conservative and archival approach.
I think I have that Peterson's book around somewhere from my youth.

 

[Nokton48]

I recently bought (24) 20x24 Blotter Sheets from Freestyle Photo, and I'll cut them done to the interior size of the print dryer. Also a pile of corrugated cardboard on the interweb, which will also be cut down to fit. I am trying to be conservative and very archival. Wow does that marine plywood smell good Now I am working on the interior building, now that I have the shell constructed. I'm still on the fence about whether to add heat to this unit (or not!)

I've always wanted to build this print dryer! And I will build a small table to support it (I am thinking at this point).
I've always used a Kodak Blotter Roll to dry up to 11x14s. Just bought a second one on Ebay.

 

[Nokton48]

Darkroom Shelving Over Sink by Nokton48, on Flickr

Today I completely finished the "Matte Print Dryer" and the "Ten Minute Film Dryer" And I installed this shelving over the new sink. Another three foot section of stacked shelving will go just to the left of this. The Kreonite Waterboard will come in during phase II. Some of this will eventually change.

All of the bottles are empty but not for long

 

[Nokton48]

Sink Area Done! by Nokton48, on Flickr

Today I cut panels and trim finished them, then finished filling out the hole in the wall. All Good and light tight now. Then finished shelves and rearranged processing equipment and chemicals.

I'm ready to start using the darkroom

 

[Luis-F-S]

Is that a pancake cold light head on the Omega? Are you using it? With a Metrolux?

 

[Nokton48]

Is that a pancake cold light head on the Omega? Are you using it? With a Metrolux?

It's a 4x5 Omegalite D diffusion head. Has a circular florescent bulb inside. The timer is a vintage Time-o-lite. Has worked well for me in the past with graded paper. Great for smaller sizes.
My plan is to add a second Omega 4x5 DII column and base, with the Modern Enlarging Systems LED head I just acquired, For making larger prints, the LED has 150W output.

 

[Nokton48]

Luis-F-S,
I do have a new to me Rodagon, I just acquired a nice 150mm f5.6 that matches my 180mm F5.6
The 180mm I have used for printing 4x5 to 16x20

I see you have one of every Rodagon? Wow

 

[Nokton48]

New Focus Mounts 150mm 180mm Rodagon by Nokton48, on Flickr

Today I worked on the Omega DII enlarger. First I carefully leveled the drop table using shims, then carefully leveled the carrier section of the enlarger. Then I went out to the shop and rebuilt these two DII lens mounts, adding three-point adjustments for absolutely parallel planes in regards to the enlarging axis planes. I drilled and tapped the cones, and added mouse pad and machine bolts for tight adjusting of the lens plane.

I will use my Laser -Align tool for the final calibrating. On the easel looking with my Omega Micro Focuser the grain is quite sharp at F5.6.

I love my 180mm f5.6 Rodagon for 4x5, I was produced many sharp 16x20s with it. I just bought this 150mm F5.6 Rodagon (identical lens in terms of age) a few days ago, for when I need more magnification of the image. Nice to have both!

 

[MattKing]

If I had the skills and the tools, I would consider installing bubble levels in a drop table.