Darkroom Portraits (Part 2)

[Moose22]

Getting real close to basic functionality on the wet side. Cut out my foot pedal valve, shortened my drain line and shoved it over about a foot. Relocated the faucet to the front of the sink panel (yes I have to cut off the faucet end to make it straight) and will fill the gap with a plywood cabinet for trays and other tall, skinny stuff.

Starting to feel like a darkroom to me...

View attachment 293145 View attachment 293146

Are those outlets GFI?

If not, I might have a suggestion for a safety improvement, what with all that electrical near a sink.

 

[Kino]

Are those outlets GFI?

If not, I might have a suggestion for a safety improvement, what with all that electrical near a sink.

All outlets in my darkroom are GFI. I put one GFI per double box and they are wired in parallel within the box, so the 2nd outlet is protected as well.

 

[awty]

So do the outlets have a circuit breaker? Its weird to me seeing power outlets without switches. Here you need to at least 12" to the side of a sink for a power outlet.

 

[awty]

I finished replacing all the windows in my house (a multi-year project) and saved back a couple screens and repurposed them as print drying racks in my darkroom, shown in the middle of the photo on the back wall. They are hinged and I hook them to a chain that hangs from the ceiling. All parts recycled. View attachment 293179

Thats a nice and simple set up, been meaning to do something similar.

 

[Kino]

So do the outlets have a circuit breaker? Its weird to me seeing power outlets without switches. Here you need to at least 12" to the side of a sink for a power outlet.

Yes, the circuit breakers are in the main box, but if you are talking about the test and reset buttons for the GFI they are there just hard to see.
Here's a quick snap with the breaker activated and the warning light burning...

 

[Moose22]

Yes, the circuit breakers are in the main box, but if you are talking about the test and reset buttons for the GFI they are there just hard to see.
Here's a quick snap with the breaker activated and the warning light burning...
View attachment 293194

Noice,

It hides a bit in the longer shot.

 

[Kino]

Found a surplus kitchen cabinet that roughly matches my others and now I have a place to store my chemicals.

 

[Kino]

Chased down a bunch of light leaks, drug out my tubs of developing gear and cleaned up some Patterson tanks. I forgot just how well the film drying cabinet works as a tank and reel dryer!

Mixed up a liter of DF96 monobath and some Photoflow 200 with distilled water, then went out and shot a roll of Arista EDU 400 120 with my Mamiya 645 to test everything.

I'll probably develop it tomorrow; I don't like using chemistry the same day it's mixed.

Also took the time to calibrate and normalize my thermometers. Had a couple of duds, so I am glad I checked.

Photo is pre-adjustment...

 

[Jay Schrotenboer]

Finally going to post some pictures of my first darkroom. Nothing special but it works for now.

 

[Kino]

I envy all your cabinet space...

I just made my first wet print in over 2 decades and it WAS the comedy of errors I knew it was going to be, but I got through it alive.

Just barely...

 

[Jay Schrotenboer]

I envy all your cabinet space...

I just made my first wet print in over 2 decades and it WAS the comedy of errors I knew it was going to be, but I got through it alive.

Just barely...

The cabinet space is nice, and was there when I bought the house. I think it was a workshop of some kind for previous owners, and I am guessing those were the old kitchen cabinets. Between those and the sink it was an obvious choice for a darkroom. Give me a few years and it should be a much nicer space to work.

 

[fiddle]

Finally got back to finishing my new space. Have not printed since I broke down my basement darkroom almost a year ago, rebuilt it in the garage. Closed up a small space, very small.... As long as I dont gain weight I should be good.
A little bit of cleanup and some safe light testing and Ill be printing by next weekend hopefully.

 

[argentic]

Very nice. Won't you need lots more shelve and storage space? Especially in such a small space?

 

[fiddle]

I have a few bookshelves to place under the enlarging table and the sink once I clean up. Should give me enough.

 

[distributed]

As long as I dont gain weight I should be good.

At least you can stand up in your darkroom!

What is the computer for? Are you maybe controlling your timing with it?

 

[Rick A]

It's a work in progress, functional but far from finished. Most of my work surfaces and cabinets are from the local salvage for cheap and the rest gets built as my health and weather allow. The red cab with stainless top only set me back $20, laminate counter tops $5 each, tiles were ten cents each, and the sink with faucet was $25. Wall cabs set me back $25 for all and I'm making the rest of the base units in the driveway. I still need to run water to the sink.All circuits are on GFCI breakers in the main panel which is in the corner of my DR (to the left of my hot press).

 

[fiddle]

At least you can stand up in your darkroom!

What is the computer for? Are you maybe controlling your timing with it?

That is the reason why I moved Into the garage! Basement ceiling was too low, got tired of cracking my head against beams.. lol
Computer is just because, scanning etc. Kinda made it into my darkroom / office.

 

[Pitotshock]

Update of my basement darkroom after the recent reno's. I picked up a cool Sebastien PVC sink from an art school and just had to fit it into my setup.

 

[Moose22]

Update of my basement darkroom after the recent reno's. I picked up a cool Sebastien PVC sink from an art school and just had to fit it into my setup.


View attachment 301168

That vent hood is the shiz.

Really nice workspace.

 

[amellice]

Update of my basement darkroom after the recent reno's. I picked up a cool Sebastien PVC sink from an art school and just had to fit it into my setup.







View attachment 301165 View attachment 301166 View attachment 301167 View attachment 301168

this looks pretty. What's that sink in the last picture?

 

[Pitotshock]

What's that sink in the last picture?

The company still exists and makes these sinks down in California, although I can't image what they would cost new... http://sebastiandarkroomprod.com/sinks.php

 

[amellice]

The company still exists and makes these sinks down in California, although I can't image what they would cost new... http://sebastiandarkroomprod.com/sinks.php

woot, that looks expensive

 

[Daniela]

Love looking at the spaces you have built!
I don't have my own darkroom, but I use a local art school's once a week. As far as a I know there's just one other person who uses it, but I've never crossed paths with him.
Last year, they turned off the hot water to save money. I don't want to even think about what this winter will bring...if you have any suggestions for keeping the chemicals warm (other than body heat...I've done it!), feel free to share!

 

[Donald Qualls]

if you have any suggestions for keeping the chemicals warm (other than body heat...I've done it!), feel free to share!

Presuming the room itself doesn't freeze between sessions, you can pick up a sous vide for as little as about $40 on eBay. Run a tub full of cold water, put your chemical bottles in, and start the sous vide -- go get a cup of coffee or hot cocoa, come back, and your chemicals will be ready to use. It's a compact, fairly lightweight device, smaller than a 2 liter bottle, so easy enough to bring with you or store in a locker if you keep your stuff there.

 

[Pieter12]

Where are you located? Does the water run really cold in the winter? I have used an electric kettle to heat up water and then immerse the chemical in beakers (like a bain-marie) to bring them up to 20º. You can do this for film or prints. I will usually use a large metal steam-tray pan for this so I can warm all the solutions to temperature at the same time.