Equipment not meant for, but used in the darkroom.

[jstraw]

I'm liking all these ideas because I'm going to be building a new darkroom in a couple months, and need to squeeze as much quality gear out of the money available.



That crossed my mind too, and found this frugal alternative;

http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&p=10370&cat=2,2280,33160&ap=2

Has anybody tried these? They aren't 'lab quality', so I'm not sure if they would drip from the fitting.

Murray

Yes, I have them fitted on everything. I have a kitchen-sink type sprayer, a vinyl hose, a Zone VI washing tank, a Zone VI 11x14 archival print washer and a roll film washer. They all have male brass fittings and my water panel has two female brass fittings.

 

[Lee L]

That crossed my mind too, and found this frugal alternative;

http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&p=10370&cat=2,2280,33160&ap=2

Has anybody tried these? They aren't 'lab grade', so I'm not sure if they would drip from the fitting.

Murray

I use them outside and in my darkroom for a freestanding water filter (but I don't have a dedicated wet side water panel). The are also avaiilable at local hardware stores where I live, both in the big chains and in smaller places. All the ones I've seen are brass and have replaceable O-ring seals in the quick disconnect.

Lee

 

[Lee Shively]

I use the brass quick release fittings on my outdoor garden hoses to attach various sprayers, wands, etc., to the hoses. They work great for that type of intermittent use.

 

[MurrayMinchin]

I've heard tree huggers can be nice, but Ape Huggers (APUG'ers) are the best

Thanks!

Murray

 

[DKT]

http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&p=10370&cat=2,2280,33160&ap=2

Has anybody tried these? They aren't 'lab grade', so I'm not sure if they would drip from the fitting.

Murray

i've had some plastic ones hooked up to my tray siphon, various hoses, and my film & print washer. long time ago--I got a set that were made by someone--name escapes me now--but they were heavy duty plastic (orange in color) made for sprinkler system type use. the others are green--think they're made by rainbird or someone like that. you can find them in lowe's or home depot in the garden section...

I guess another non-darkroom thing I've got is a footswitch for christmas tree lights. I have one hooked up to a low wattage lamp over my fixer tray--I mounted the switch on the side of my sink, so I can hit with my knee...

 

[jeroldharter]

Has anybody tried these? They aren't 'lab grade', so I'm not sure if they would drip from the fitting.

Murray

I pass filtered, mixed water through an outlet like this:

http://www.chicagofaucets.com/catalog/catalog.php?PartNum=937-CP&FamilyID=145

Then I use various lengths of vinyl tubing with quick disconnects like this:

Dead Link Removed

I have 3 of the Chicago Faucets valves, one dedicated to the print washer, one with a vinyl tube that can reach all areas of the sink, and one that goes to a film washer or print holding tray. Usually I drain my print washer between uses. It is a Summitek 20 x 24 so I disconnect the print washer tube, hook up a longer length tube, and crank up the water so that I can fill it in a few minutes from the top.

 

[Konical]

Good Evening,

I'm in the process of planning a new darkroom and find the ideas here of considerable value.

I'm going to use two laundry tubs, side by side. One will be for holding the film washer(s) and as a drain for the print washer(s); the other will be for wash-up, equipment cleaning, preliminary rinsing of prints, etc. On this second tub I am considering the use of foot-pedal operated faucets, similar to those found in hospital settings. I've found some listed on E-Bay, but I don't know if these devices are locally and easily available. Does anyone have experience with foot-operated faucets and have any recommendation, pro or con?

Konical

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Jerold - you bad. I'll lose some time in that US Plastic link browsing around.

Konical, I found this double laundry tub a while back;

http://www.swanstone.com/products/utilitiesAccessories/mf2/index.php

My plan (if I couldn't find one without the divider) was to cut out the divider so I could use it to easily wash out large trays. It's a tad big so I'll keep looking for something a bit smaller. I hate washing big trays in a small sink.

Murray

 

[MattKing]

The timer on my over the stove microwave oven works great for timing my print development (beseler or cibachrome tubes).

The digital probe thermometer designed for inside oven cooking works great for my solution temperatures - I check it against my standard photography thermometer regularly, and it adds fast response, durability and being waterproof to the experience.

I really miss the experience of seeing the print appear in the tray, but on the other hand, how many here can say that they are able to enjoy the view through the kitchen window while developing?

Matt

 

[PatTrent]

I stated before that I am recuperating form a total knee replacement but having received the baby pig mat I couldn't stand another day without printing. Evan Clarke

Glad to hear you're back in the darkroom after getting the "new knee." I had a knee replaced 6 months ago, and I will be printing for the first time since then next week.

Aging printers never die--they just get new knees.

Pat

 

[ricksplace]

Wallpaper trays for prints larger than 11X14. See-saw works and uses a lot less chemical (I wrote about this in another post a long while ago)
wallpaper trays are cheap too.

Large metal clips used for holding sheets of paper together make for good film clips. They have enough strength to hold an 11X14 print by the corner when hanged to dry. They don't leave a mark like wooden clothes pins sometimes do.

Rubberized pond liner makes for excellent blackout material.

Bought a digital thermometer at a surplus store for $3. Spot on to a lab grade mercury thermometer. Go figure. (easier to read for my old eyes, and converts C to F with the push of a button)

 

[johnnywalker]

Well, thanks David and Jovo for the retractable clothes line an inner tube ideas. And thanks Murray for the very useful thread!

 

[jstraw]

retractable clothesline
brass hose quick connects
my water chiller is made from an igloo cooler and brewer's wort chiller

 

[Roger Hicks]

brass hose quick connects
r

All ours have smap-on plastic connectors -- which are surprisingly standardized between brands. Less corrosion/contamination risk.

We also have two cold taps and one hot, so one cold tap can be dedicated to a washer (Paterson flatbed or Nova slot).

Cheers,

R.

 

[jeroldharter]

Good Evening,

I'm in the process of planning a new darkroom and find the ideas here of considerable value.

I'm going to use two laundry tubs, side by side. One will be for holding the film washer(s) and as a drain for the print washer(s); the other will be for wash-up, equipment cleaning, preliminary rinsing of prints, etc. On this second tub I am considering the use of foot-pedal operated faucets, similar to those found in hospital settings. I've found some listed on E-Bay, but I don't know if these devices are locally and easily available. Does anyone have experience with foot-operated faucets and have any recommendation, pro or con?

Konical

By far, the best foot operated mechanism is the Tapmaster. Requries no electricity and no special plumbing. I had a plumber install it but it is an easy job for the average DIY-guy. We use one in our kitchen so we use it every day with no problems. I would never be without one for cooking. The one I have requires a 4 inch baseboard for installation but there are other models too.

http://www.tapmaster.ca/_products/pedal_active.html

 

[jeroldharter]

Jerold - you bad. I'll lose some time in that US Plastic link browsing around.

Konical, I found this double laundry tub a while back;

http://www.swanstone.com/products/utilitiesAccessories/mf2/index.php

My plan (if I couldn't find one without the divider) was to cut out the divider so I could use it to easily wash out large trays. It's a tad big so I'll keep looking for something a bit smaller. I hate washing big trays in a small sink.

Murray

The US Plastics catalog os great. Have them send you a printed version for some healthy obsessive-compulsive browsing.

Cutting out the divider in the double utility sink would be a real chore. The divider is probably necessary for support also. For something like that, you could build a plywood sink. Also, Delta 1 makes a plastic sink that is something like that. They have metal stands but you could build a stand out of wood. The sinks are reasonable. I use the 8-footer.

 

[Konical]

Good Evening, Jerold,

Many thanks for the Tapmaster tip.

Konical

 

[Andy Tymon]

I have my omega pro lab fastened to an old tv cabinet, I had to firm it up a bit and put on bigger casters but it works fine and the shelf and cabinet provide plenty of storage.
I use a regular kitchen timer for film development, i keep this in a ziplock bag that has a magnet inside which I stick in the fridge, the ziplock prevents moisture or chemicals from seeping in to the buttons (learnt this from ruining an expensive timer when in college). I use an old wall clock for print timing.
I built a sheet film drying cabinet from a plastic storage bin, used duct tape for the hinges. I use a quarter from a furnace filter on the bottom to filter the air that passes through holes I drilled in the bottom, two pieces of dowel to hang the film clips and an aromatherapy fan thingy that draws air over the film. I built it for my 4x5 negs but it can handle 8x10 negs too.

I built a led safelight from a light I found in the car section at wally world, it runs on 12v and so I got a psu from the thrift store, total cost under $10.

I love the us plastics catalogue! I keep looking at there poly tanks and thinking some 1/4 inch threaded nylon rod, some 1/4 inch i.d plastic tubing and some plastic sheets could make a nice basket to go inside one of those tanks and make a nice print washer .

I also keep my mixed chemicals in water bottles afer my wife has drunk the fancy icelandic water from them!
best regards
Andy

 

[eclarke]

"Evan, I'm going to be getting a new lightsource and enlarging meter...care to test those out for me too? (Of course you'll have to purchase them first yourself!)

Murray"

HaHa, Happy to oblige, but it will need to be 8x10 and I must lay my hands on a Beseler 810V XL first!!...Evan

 

[MurrayMinchin]

Wine bags for storing stock solutions.

Some boxed wines come in a 4 litre mylar or aluminized plastic bag with a brown removable spigot. I made a jig to hold the opening up as I'm filling the bag while it lays flat on its back. After filling, the spigot goes back on and then I gently apply pressure to the bag until the developer just reaches spigots opening. As it empties, the bag folds in on itself so the developer isn't exposed to either light or air.

They're also fun to empty of the original contents

Murray

 

[timbo10ca]

A piece of rubber tubing with holes drilled in it 6 inches up, stuck into the drain of my bathtub to turn it into a print washer.

Tim

 

[MurrayMinchin]

HaHa, Happy to oblige, but it will need to be 8x10 and I must lay my hands on a Beseler 810V XL first!!...Evan

Inhaling and starting to hold my breath........now!

Murray

 

[JBrunner]

To maintain my tempering bath without having the darkroom over warm I use an unbreakable aquarium heater, and small aquarium pwer headto circulate the water. I use a proper drip loop, and plug into a GFI.

 

[Dan Williams]

For washing my 5x7 and 4x10 negatives I use a dish drying rack set in the laundry sink in my darkroom. I fill the sink to the level required to cover the negs and let them soak. I empty and refill the sink a couple of times. The one I use is stainless and the parts that touch the film have a rubber coating. I have never scratched a neg using it.

Dan

 

[John McCallum]

For tube developing sheet film - welding rod PVC tubes work extremely well, and are substantially cheaper than purpose made tubes.
They can take 4x5 - 8x10 sized sheets and hold around 300ml soln in the caps, more than enough for one shot tube developing.