Want to Buy Free to almost free darkroom items for new darkroom - will pay shipping

[kingbuzzie]

Setting up a small darkroom. I still need large loupe (I have a small one), print washer, small safelight (OC), small enlarger timer (prefer digital), free 6x6 enlarger (before I buy one on fleabay). Collapsible air evac type chemistry bottles. Will pay shipping.

 

[Dennis S]

Do yourself a favor beware of the collapsible air evac bottles as they are very unreliable for keeping chems sealed. Go with regular plastic or glass and use some aerosol to evict the air. I use butane but that can be dangerous if not being very careful with handling.

 

[kingbuzzie]

Do yourself a favor beware of the collapsible air evac bottles as they are very unreliable for keeping chems sealed. Go with regular plastic or glass and use some aerosol to evict the air. I use butane but that can be dangerous if not being very careful with handling.

Will they rupture, or just slowly expand? Here is a question I never really explored: Between D76, Dektol and Fix, which would go bad first if mixed the same time?

 

[Saganich]

Don't use those bottles. More air permeates through the sides then you evacuate out the top. I use marbles to take up air space in bottles. Really works well.

 

[John Koehrer]

They will over time tend to develop leaks.
The main reason not to use them is they're impossible to clean thoroughly so any residue
will live there forever.

RE:expiration. Any developer will go bad before fixer. D-76 STOCK solution lasts for a
while but diluted for use it's a one shot. I used to make a gallon and store the stock solution
in quart and pint bottles. I'm lucky to have an American Surplus and Supply nearby.
Glass is heavy & a bit pricey to ship.
Another option for the cheapskate in me was polyethylene(pop) bottles. The plastic
doesn't breathe like the "chemica/photgraphic" do.

Like Saganich said marbles work great. Just don't lose your marbles.

 

[binglebugbob]

Obviously, storing toxic chemicals in food or beverage containers isn't the greatest idea if there is any chance small children (Yours or any others, whether invited into your home or not) could get at them. Realizing people will do what they're going to do, at the very least such beverage containers should be kept locked up and out of sight.

 

[bdial]

Many of the pop bottles and similar use shrink wrap labels, so it's easy to remove those for relabeling. But most certainly, if there are small children about, then extra steps are needed to make sure they aren't accessible. Empty bladders from boxed wines are another popular and inexpensive solution, if you or someone you know drinks wine.
+ 1 on the worthlessness of the accordion bottles, even free, they aren't worth it.

 

[Leigh B]

Do you still need a timer? I have several different ones available.

- Leigh

 

[nsurit]

Here is a free Omega D5 in San Antonio. Would be worth checking on at that price. sanantonio.craigslist.org/pho/6062135364.html

 

[kingbuzzie]

Here is a free Omega D5 in San Antonio. Would be worth checking on at that price. sanantonio.craigslist.org/pho/6062135364.html

Gone. I wish I had the time to monitor craigslist. I'm not sure I would know where to put that enlarger anyway. I would like to venture into large format, but I'm not sure I ever will.

 

[kingbuzzie]

Do you still need a timer? I have several different ones available.

- Leigh

I finally found a gralab 450 (the nice one with the touch pads) on fleabay fairly cheap. Trying to get rid of a 150 model right now, nobody wants it. I wish you would have offered earlier though!

 

[mgb74]

Gone. I wish I had the time to monitor craigslist. ...

If you have an account on CL, it's very easy to set up an alert.

For a large loupe (inexpensive), take a look at the Carson loupes on amazon.

 

[kingbuzzie]

I did finally set up a CL alert. I don't need much anymore though! I really would like a patterson drying stand. I'm just too cheap at the moment.

 

[MattKing]

I did finally set up a CL alert. I don't need much anymore though! I really would like a patterson drying stand. I'm just too cheap at the moment.

Look for one of those old wire stands for holding LP records - that is what I use.
Make sure the wire is coated/painted/stainless steel.
Here is an image of one from the web:

 

[Cholentpot]

Do you still need a timer? I have several different ones available.

- Leigh

He might not but I do. Mine buzzes and rattles like crazy. I've messed up prints because of the vibrations.

 

[kingbuzzie]

He might not but I do. Mine buzzes and rattles like crazy. I've messed up prints because of the vibrations.

I've still got a gralab 150 I'll send you for $5 plus actual shipping. Ex shape.

 

[Cholentpot]

I've still got a gralab 150 I'll send you for $5 plus actual shipping. Ex shape.

Does it have a safelight cutoff? I'm not sure of the proper jargon...

 

[kingbuzzie]

Does it have a safelight cutoff? I'm not sure of the proper jargon...

No, it's smaller one plug style.

 

[Cholentpot]

No, it's smaller one plug style.

So it can trigger the safelight or the enlarger but not both?

 

[kingbuzzie]

So it can trigger the safelight or the enlarger but not both?

Just the enlarger, a lot of the more modern timers just do the enlarger.

 

[Cholentpot]

Just the enlarger, a lot of the more modern timers just do the enlarger.

That makes sense actually. Why would you need to turn the safe light off?

 

[MattKing]

That makes sense actually. Why would you need to turn the safe light off?

To make it easier to focus and compose on the easel.
Some safelights are quite bright, and some enlargers are quite dim.

 

[kingbuzzie]

Look for one of those old wire stands for holding LP records - that is what I use.
Make sure the wire is coated/painted/stainless steel.
Here is an image of one from the web:

I've never seen one of those for sale, but I will keep my eyes open.