Darkroom alternatives advice needed.

[KenS]

If anyone is in need' of a few "Q&D digital images of my 'home made 'dark-box I' am more than happy to forward some Q&D images to have a peek.

Ken

 

[gone]

It was easier for me to block out the window in the bath and use the bathroom as a place to load film. At the top of the door frame on either side I put a screw, and hang a blanket over things. A roll of tape is there to tape up any light leaks, but there usually isn't any. Takes only a few minutes to bring the tank, film, etc in there and set things up.

 

[KerrKid]

It was easier for me to block out the window in the bath and use the bathroom as a place to load film. At the top of the door frame on either side I put a screw, and hang a blanket over things. A roll of tape is there to tape up any light leaks, but there usually isn't any. Takes only a few minutes to bring the tank, film, etc in there and set things up.

What did you block the window out with?

 

[Sirius Glass]

What did you block the window out with?

I use flatten cardboard boxes with gaffer tape holding the edges flat, blackout curtains held up and against walls with Velcro tape. In the bathroom I cut 1" thick plywood cut to shape, two handles on one side for placing in and removing from the window and thlee other side has a larger sheet of blackout cloth stapled to the outside so that when the wood is placed in the window, the cloth extends beyond the window edges by 18" and fastened to the walls with gaffers tape.

 

[KerrKid]

I use flatten cardboard boxes with gaffer tape holding the edges flat, blackout curtains held up and against walls with Velcro tape. In the bathroom I cut 1" thick plywood cut to shape, two handles on one side for placing in and removing from the window and thlee other side has a larger sheet of blackout cloth stapled to the outside so that when the wood is placed in the window, the cloth extends beyond the window edges by 18" and fastened to the walls with gaffers tape.

Ah, I see. Plywood is a good idea. And gaffer's tape...perfect. I had forgotten about that. I just looked up blackout curtains. Not expensive. I think we're getting somewhere!

 

[Agulliver]

I first used a changing bag circa 1981 aged 8 and I still do today....never had any issues BUT they can get quite humid if you're unable to work quickly or hit a problem. I do sweat quite a bit so I always have an exit plan....eg dump the film in the developing tank and put the lid on, then remove my arms and give it another go later. In 41 years I've had to do that three times. I do everything in a bag...110, 135, 127, 120, glass plates, 8mm movie film. The whole lot. Takes up almost no space which keeps the wife happy. I bought my current changing bag about 20 years ago from an eBay seller in China. Dirt cheap and while it may be on it's last legs, it's done 20 years service.

There is also Ilford's pop up darkroom which might be considered a "dark tent". Gives you more space and can be erected indoors in any room, and presumably even outdoors. Hmm....developing film while I am camping...there's an idea.

If you have any room with minimal window coverage (eg bathroom, utility room) you can look at ways of blacking it out temporarily. The simple way is to tape kitchen foil over the windows!

 

[KerrKid]

I first used a changing bag circa 1981 aged 8 and I still do today....never had any issues BUT they can get quite humid if you're unable to work quickly or hit a problem. I do sweat quite a bit so I always have an exit plan....eg dump the film in the developing tank and put the lid on, then remove my arms and give it another go later. In 41 years I've had to do that three times. I do everything in a bag...110, 135, 127, 120, glass plates, 8mm movie film. The whole lot. Takes up almost no space which keeps the wife happy. I bought my current changing bag about 20 years ago from an eBay seller in China. Dirt cheap and while it may be on it's last legs, it's done 20 years service.

There is also Ilford's pop up darkroom which might be considered a "dark tent". Gives you more space and can be erected indoors in any room, and presumably even outdoors. Hmm....developing film while I am camping...there's an idea.

If you have any room with minimal window coverage (eg bathroom, utility room) you can look at ways of blacking it out temporarily. The simple way is to tape kitchen foil over the windows!

Do you put some kind of framework in the bag as has been mentioned?

Ilford's Pop-Up Darkroom is impressive with a price tag to match. Probably overkill for my needs at the moment.

I hadn't thought of putting foil over the window, but that would be expedient and inexpensive.

 

[AgX]

First time I read of [a "changing box"] by Ilford. And googling did not make me wiser...

Did I miss something? I mean the idea of a box instead of a bag is not new and Vincent made a great design improvement.

No reply...


No one who can show me one?

 

[KerrKid]

No reply...


No one who can show me one?

I couldn’t find any reference to an Ilford changing box, All I could find was that large tent like a darkroom outhouse.

 

[AgX]

Thank you. Yes, likely I misread KenS' post when thinking that he saw an Ilford "changing box" 20 years ago. He must have meant their tent of today...

You refer to searching a thrift store for black pants, instead of saying "I just ordered them at Amazon". You are so oldfashioned. I like this. I got a lot of things from such shops, but never even bothered thinking of buying any clothing there, but for such use I would buy such there. Actually I even got a project where such could be used.

 

[KerrKid]

Thank you. Yes, likely I misread KenS' post when thinking that he saw an Ilford "changing box" 20 years ago. He must have meant their tent of today...

You refer to searching a thrift store for black pants, instead of saying "I just ordered them at Amazon". You are so oldfashioned. I like this. I got a lot of things from such shops, but never even bothered thinking of buying any clothing there, but for such use I would buy such there. Actually I even got a project where such could be used.

Mostly just "dead husband" clothes for men at thrift stores, but I've gotten decent stuff there. T-shirts are super cheap and are good for working around the house or for rags. Sticking my arms up black pant legs at the store to see if they fit should get some looks.

 

[MattKing]

Mostly just "dead husband" clothes for men at thrift stores, but I've gotten decent stuff there. T-shirts are super cheap and are good for working around the house or for rags. Sticking my arms up black pant legs at the store to see if they fit should get some looks.

Pretend you are reaching in to turn the legs inside out, to check for wear.

 

[KerrKid]

Pretend you are reaching in to turn the legs inside out, to check for wear.

Showing up on an old bicycle with cheap wine on my breath won’t hurt, either.

 

[grat]

I've wondered if a file folder frame from an office supply company would work well inside a dark bag-- but since I bought the photoflex "tent", I've never tried it.

 

[KerrKid]

I've wondered if a file folder frame from an office supply company would work well inside a dark bag-- but since I bought the photoflex "tent", I've never tried it.

I’m not sure why it wouldn’t. It could easily be cut to length. Depends on the volume of the bag I suppose.

 

[MattKing]

An even better solution might be a foldable crate - something like this:

 

[KerrKid]

An even better solution might be a foldable crate - something like this:

 

[KerrKid]

Yep, that would work, too.

 

[Down Under]

Two more thoughts from me about all this, to be shared.

Are you using an old changing bag?? If so, check it for pinholes or light leaks at the seams. Mine developed some of each, which caused a minor disaster. I bought a new bag, pronto. Two sizes bigger than the original bag...

As well the elastic seals on the arms can become looser with age. A friend who uses change bags to load bulk film as well as reels for his tanks, recently found this out to his cost when he fogged a good part of a bulk roll from the "relaxed" arm elastics. (I rather suspect there may be a bit more to his story about this than he related to me, but that's all he would say.)

If I may add a third point, it would be to resist the temptation to take your arms and hands out of the bag with exposed film still "loose" in the bag. Not even for a swig of wine or beer...

 

[KerrKid]

Two more thoughts from me about all this, to be shared.

Are you using an old changing bag?? If so, check it for pinholes or light leaks at the seams. Mine developed some of each, which caused a minor disaster. I bought a new bag, pronto. Two sizes bigger than the original bag...

As well the elastic seals on the arms can become looser with age. A friend who uses change bags to load bulk film as well as reels for his tanks, recently found this out to his cost when he fogged a good part of a bulk roll from the "relaxed" arm elastics. (I rather suspect there may be a bit more to his story about this than he related to me, but that's all he would say.)

If I may add a third point, it would be to resist the temptation to take your arms and hands out of the bag with exposed film still "loose" in the bag. Not even for a swig of wine or beer...

Good points to keep in mind.

If I’m using a bag, I’m wondering if it would be a good idea to keep an empty tank in the bag to drop film in if I run into trouble or need that sip of beer.

 

[MattKing]

Good points to keep in mind.

If I’m using a bag, I’m wondering if it would be a good idea to keep an empty tank in the bag to drop film in if I run into trouble or need that sip of beer.

If you are using a bag, when would you not have a tank in it?
There isn't usually room for two.

 

[KerrKid]

If you are using a bag, when would you not have a tank in it?
There isn't usually room for two.

I guess I don’t understand the tank design. Can you pour the developer in the tank after loading the film and closing the lid and do this in daylight?

 

[MattKing]

I guess I don’t understand the tank design. Can you pour the developer in the tank after loading the film and closing the lid and do this in daylight?

Absolutely - with any modern and commonly used tank and reel system. They are generally referred to as daylight development tanks, or something similar.
All you need the changing bag for is loading the film into the reels, and then loading the reels into the tank. Then the light trap lid goes on, you take the tank with installed lid out into the light, and you pour liquids into and out of the tank through the light trap lid.
We have all been assuming you understood this - my apologies for the "assuming".
This truly highlights the problem with learning through the internet!
It is so hard to figure out what assumptions are being made.
The last time I developed roll film without a daylight tank was almost 55 years ago, and I was not yet a teenager.
The sheet film using photographers are a bit more likely to develop film in total darkness using trays or deep tanks and hangers, but only a few of them do that. There are daylight tanks for sheet film too.

 

[AgX]

I guess I don’t understand the tank design. Can you pour the developer in the tank after loading the film and closing the lid and do this in daylight?

Yes, that is why once they were called daylight-tanks, as being in contrast to those large, rather static open tanks (which could take reels to).
These tanks got a kind of labyrinth through which fluid and air, but not light, can pass.


The next upgrade in amenity were daylight-loading-tanks, which spared you from darkening your room at all. Available for types 135 and 120.
Agfa invented these, later Jobo came out with a different design.

 

[KerrKid]

Absolutely - with any modern and commonly used tank and reel system. They are generally referred to as daylight development tanks, or something similar.
All you need the changing bag for is loading the film into the reels, and then loading the reels into the tank. Then the light trap lid goes on, you take the tank with installed lid out into the light, and you pour liquids into and out of the tank through the light trap lid.
We have all been assuming you understood this - my apologies for the "assuming".
This truly highlights the problem with learning through the internet!
It is so hard to figure out what assumptions are being made.
The last time I developed roll film without a daylight tank was almost 55 years ago, and I was not yet a teenager.
The sheet film using photographers are a bit more likely to develop film in total darkness using trays or deep tanks and hangers, but only a few of them do that. There are daylight tanks for sheet film too.

I was somewhat aware of daylight tanks but wasn’t completely sure how they worked. I also don’t know what the best system is since it seems like everyone on the internet has a different opinion regarding tanks and reels. I do remember having hit or miss success with metal reels but maybe they’ve changed by now.