Darkroom Portraits (Part 2)

[Mark_S]

does the tray holder prevent you from agitating your developer?

No, I can lift the trays by the edges to agitate. There are tray holders for 8x10 trays, and 11 x 14 trays, and the width of the sink is 26.5", so 20x24 trays can be held by the lip without a holder.

 

[Mark_S]

Is that a sodium safelight?

Yes, I have 2 sodium safelights in there.

 

[Mark_S]

What's the chassis?
And is the enlarger head height motorised because I don't see any handles for adjustment?

The Ilford MG600 head is mounted on a Beseler 45MX Chassis - so height is motorized.

 

[mshchem]

I just finished my first print session in my new darkroom. This is the fifth darkroom that I have built (and hopefully the last). It is smaller than previous darkrooms - 7' x 9', it has an 8' long sink, made of plywood, sealed with marine varnish. There is a lip near the top to hold frames that allow me to keep trays at the height of the top of the sink - so less bending. My CPP2 died, and I replaced it with the new CPE-3 film processor jury still out on that. I kept the revolving door. My enlarger is an Ilford MG600 (Durst Multigraph in disguise), I shoot mostly MF now, with some 4x5 and some 35mm thrown in from time to time.

Outstanding! Beautiful work. I love darkrooms!

 

[f/Alex]

The darkroom is finally complete. Almost 15 years in waiting, 6 months in progress. Walls are a double layer of black landscape plastic hanging from ceiling joists or stapled to a stud wall. At my age, I want this to be sort of permanently temporary, so that when I'm gone, they can just tear it down in no time. I decided to skip the plumbing and use 5-gallon buckets instead. Door is a 3-layer light maze. All the equipment and furniture was FREE.

Hi, What timer unit do you use with this? The university I attend has 6 dichro enlargers of the same model, but unfortunately, the last two working timer units gave up between when when I last used them and the start of the recent term a few months back. These enlargers were in significantly better condition than the B&W Omega's my uni has in the rest of the darkroom. I'd love to get them working again, if the timer is within the equipment budget of my university, but as of currently, buying a working OEM timer looks like it'd cost *at least* $500, and is outside of my Uni's budget.

Edit: power supply is the main issue, not timer unit, an existing timer could be adapted no problem seperate from a power supply if needed.

 

[MattKing]

The Catlabs timer at Freestyle looks good, and is less than that. https://www.freestylephoto.com/902300-CatLABS-Universal-Digital-Darkroom-Enlarger-Timer
Although personally I would prefer the set with foot switch included, at ~$70 more, but that is out of stock.
Looks like B&H offers the same product here: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...et01_universal_digital_darkroom.html/overview

 

[f/Alex]

The Catlabs timer at Freestyle looks good, and is less than that. https://www.freestylephoto.com/902300-CatLABS-Universal-Digital-Darkroom-Enlarger-Timer
Although personally I would prefer the set with foot switch included, at ~$70 more, but that is out of stock.
Looks like B&H offers the same product here: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...et01_universal_digital_darkroom.html/overview

last I checked, the catlabs timer can't drive a dichro head, it require 25 volts to each bulb? a catlabs timer would send 120 to the bulb and kill it. Plus it's wired incorrectly. My issue is more a powersupply than a timer, as I can always just wire the power supply in series to the timer (I would assume?)

 

[MattKing]

last I checked, the catlabs timer can't drive a dichro head, it require 25 volts to each bulb? a catlabs timer would send 120 to the bulb and kill it. Plus it's wired incorrectly. My issue is more a powersupply than a timer, as I can always just wire the power supply in series to the timer (I would assume?)

Ah - you lack the power supplies, not the timers.
That is a separate and distinct issue.
What model enlarger, with what model light source on them?

 

[f/Alex]

Ah - you lack the power supplies, not the timers.
That is a separate and distinct issue.
What model enlarger, with what model light source on them?

Omega Super Chromega D IIs I believe. I had been using digital timer/power supply units, but the two that works gave up after being stored in a darkroom that lacks climate control over the summer. They both failed in an Identical way, and i'm thinking that maybe it's just a dead cap or something? The timers either very dimly illuminate the lamps, or not at all, and make a loud buzzing noise.

 

[MattKing]

So do they have Chromegatrol combined timer and power supplies?
These: http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/Timers/Chromegatrol.htm

 

[f/Alex]

So do they have Chromegatrol combined timer and power supplies?
These: http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/Timers/Chromegatrol.htm

Chromegatrol II is a combined power supply/timer unit.
I'm more so just looking for a basic power supply that doesn't cost $300, if that's possible. I'm not sure if a Chromeatrol I works with the newer omega dichro heads. Regardless, I cannot seem to find the earlier version used anywhere. We have a spare timer or two, since some of the B&Ws are out of commission, at least till someone replace the fire hazard that is their cords. If the head just wants a steady 25v 100W supply or something of that nature, could I feed it with a simple transformer and relay setup?

 

[MattKing]

Check here: http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/Chromega/ChrDDich.htm
Kevin Brown at KHB is quite approachable if you have questions.

 

[f/Alex]

I will try again to see if I can convince my supervisor, to let me take a crack at fixing one if I can find a schematic, although there is some liability issues with this. I've found the diagram for the -40 (120v Chromegatrol I), but I cannot find the diagram for the -140 (Chromegatrol II). Again, I think it's highly possible to just be a blown cap or something, I have yet to get permission to open them up, he just jumped straight to "if you wanna replace them, and can find something at a 'reasonable price', send it my way", as both units failed at nearly the same time, in the same way. Thanks for advice.

 

[MattKing]

You may find this link useful: http://www.jollinger.com/photo/enlargers/chromegatrol_repair.html

 

[mshchem]

Most dichro heads are eligible for social security. Do you have an enlarger with a condenser head with a light bulb?

You can use various ways to adapt filters for contrast control.

Keep it simple.

 

[f/Alex]

Most dichro heads are eligible for social security. Do you have an enlarger with a condenser head with a light bulb?

You can use various ways to adapt filters for contrast control.

Keep it simple.

Filters are no problem, I own an enlarger with both a set of lens mount filters and condensor head filters. Sucks for split toning though.

 

[pbromaghin]

Hi, What timer unit do you use with this? The university I attend has 6 dichro enlargers of the same model, but unfortunately, the last two working timer units gave up between when when I last used them and the start of the recent term a few months back. These enlargers were in significantly better condition than the B&W Omega's my uni has in the rest of the darkroom. I'd love to get them working again, if the timer is within the equipment budget of my university, but as of currently, buying a working OEM timer looks like it'd cost *at least* $500, and is outside of my Uni's budget.

Edit: power supply is the main issue, not timer unit, an existing timer could be adapted no problem seperate from a power supply if needed.

I use the Omega power supply that I believe was standard with the enlarger. Not the one Matt King showed. Not Sure of the timer brand/model/price as it was all free - I’ll post a pic later. It feeds back into the power supply.

 

[pbromaghin]

My darkroom, completed this spring after 13 years of waiting. Walls are a double layer of black landscape plastic, power is by extension cord, water by buckets and jugs. Door is a light maze. All the equipment and furniture were free.

 

[mshchem]

My darkroom, completed this spring after 13 years of waiting. Walls are a double layer of black landscape plastic, power is by extension cord, water by buckets and jugs. Door is a light maze. All the equipment and furniture were free.

Looks awesome!!!

 

[besmith]

The low-budget, alt-process "dimroom" corner of my basement. The most expensive bits (by far) were the parts that went into the UV box (the black box with the handle). The darkroom sink was $25 locally, the timer was $5 at a Goodwill, the bins are from IKEA ($3/each I think?), and the wire basket shelf was $10 at a closing Joann Fabrics. I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

 

[argentic]

 

[chuckroast]

Built this out from bare walls many years ago. Still my happy place ...

 

[Ulrich Drolshagen]

I'd like to show you a tour to my little darkroom. As you my notice the room is L-shaped and located in the basement. I had shown it in the old thread already but this is the latest incarnation. It features hanging cupboards with sliding glass doors for storing of chemicals an other stuff. I hate dust in the darkroom so I try to avoid to have stuff standing around as much as possible.

Ulrich

 

[stevenje]

Here is our Kitchen DarkroomView attachment 35351

Good God...Now that's what I call a hood!

 

[adamg]

i bought one of the Beseler 45MXT enlargers from my college a year ago when it abruptly closed. figured i could at least build a table for it and set up a folding table for trays and print on the enlarger i used in college 24 years after i graduated. i have the table built and the building bug bit me. i now have a 1/8th scale drawing of a framed and fully enclosed darkroom with an 8 foot sink and prepping to submit for a permit. lol. this thread is great! getting lots of ideas on how to problem solve the organization!