Darkroom Cost? Estimates?

[George Collier]

Good advice above, all depends on how much you do yourself, and how much you buy used.
One small piece of advice - if you have enough circuits, put the enlarger on one by itself. I did that and never have trouble with inconsistent exposures, which I had before. I even have the heating element for the head (cold light Aristo) on a separate circuit. Keeps the highlights very consistent.

 

[dancqu]

I need to know what kind of capital I need to raise. Thanks! Brian

Five by Six. Not much space. A 4x5 Beseler and 16x20 prints.
A few suggestions: Install the Beseler on counter. Install a sink
only large enough to wash up. Employ single and/or two tray
processing. The latter my preference over rotary or slot
processing. For some processing needs single and/or
two tray processing is the equal of a many. Dan

 

[Mark Fisher]

At 5x6, I'd consider doing it without plumbing if you can wash prints elsewhere. It is a pain, but it is one way to get a little more space. My last darkroom was about this size without plumbing. I just had a holding tray (rubbermaid bin) on the floor. That said, I just finished a much larger darkroom with an 8 foot sink and I'd have a hard time giving up a sink now

Filtered ventilation is key to a pleasant space and proper ventiliation (positive pressure) is the key to a dust free space. In a small darkroom this is really important.

Use the vertical space where you can by using lots of pegboard, shelves and perhaps tray ladders. For a safelight, a single overhead amber or red LED bulb would probably be plenty.

One nice thing about a small room is that you can have a single stool and reach pretty much everything if it is layed out properly. I'd do whatever you can to mock it up.......butcher paper on the floor (bascially a full size layout in the space) is great.

 

[drpsilver]

02 June 2007

All good advice above. Three years ago I built a "Pullman darkroom" (5'x17') for about $10K all said. I looked for all the used equipment I could find, and accepting only that which was functional.

I have a retired architect friend that advised me on how to draw up plans to submit to the City for permits. It also helped that I worked with my contractor in all phases of the job from pouring concrete to final details. Both of these saved me lots of money. You learn a lot about your home and are amazed how much you already know.

Good luck, and enjoy your time in the dark.

Regards,
Darwin

 

[walter23]

It should be pretty cheap. All you really need is a big sink and a power outlet.

I know you already have an enlarger, but if you don't have the other accessories (trays, timer, easel, safelight, chemistry containers, etc) those usually are given away with enlarger sales, so you can probably look around for a used enlarger in your local classifieds and once one comes up pick it up plus all the accessories for peanuts.

I got an omega D6XL + dichroic head, 16x20 4-blade easel, 11x14 borderless easel, JOBO CPP-2 w/ lift (described as broken but works perfectly! lucky me), 3 JOBO print drums and one film drum, trays from 5x7 to 16x20, 4 extra enlarger bulbs, safelight, timer, foot pedal, 3 lenses (50/80/135), contact printing frame, and probably $500 worth of B&W paper (8x10, 11x14, 16x20) and some possibly usable cibachrome & RA-4 paper (up to 20x24) for $550. I had to buy an extra lens ($100 for a 150mm componon-S for 4x5) and an easel (11x14 sauders 4-blade). Ignoring the enlarger all the other stuff is probably worth $1500 even in today's used prices (the JOBO alone is probably worth $700-$800). There are great bargains to be found in the local papers on darkroom stuff - everybody is dumping it.

 

[dancqu]

All you really need is a big sink and a power outlet.

Depending upon what is meant by "big sink" he's likely out of
luck from the word go. For myself a BIG sink is one large enough
to rinse out the largest tray likely to be used. I've a new sink
planned which will handle through 12 by 16. If I ever make
it to 16 by 20 the kitchen sink will have to do. Processing
single tray that is not so much a problem.

I value multi-use counter, shelf, and cupboard space more
so than unnecessarily extended sinks. Dan