Inexpensive darkroom sink idea

frank · Feb 17, 2014

I'm fortunate to have a proper darkroom sink, but if I were just starting out and on a limited budget, one of those large Tupperware-type under the bed storage containers could be made to work, until I found a good deal on a used proper darkroom sink. For anyone setting up a darkroom, don't let procuring a darkroom sink hold you back.

Ghostman · Feb 17, 2014

Funny, I just posted about darkroom sinks. I will design and build my own, or get someone else to make it. I don't see why one should wait for them to come around when they must be quite straight forward to make. Since you have one, I'd like to know..

What do you like most about yours? What do you dislike most?

frank · Feb 17, 2014

Hot/cold water supply, drain, and as large as is practical for your space. This is mine. There is a table to the left that the trays sit on, the sink is only for the washing tray.

Ghostman · Feb 17, 2014

Thanks for sharing Frank.

David Allen · Feb 17, 2014

In my previous darkroom I built my own sink simply using MDF sealed with boat varnish - worked a treat!

Bests,

David.
www.dsallen.de

frank · Feb 17, 2014

This might be "too much information."

spacer · Feb 17, 2014

I was thinking about "dry" darkroom, until we get the basement plumbed anyway. The oil-change jugs with the built in funnels (almost spill proof) seem like they may work pretty well for low-volume chemical disposal. As we have a septic system anyway, I'm not real keen on the idea of sending 'em into my tank.
Another reason to try caffenol?

Mark_S · Feb 17, 2014

I have a sink for a temporary darkroom in my garage which I would like to find a home for. The sink is 6' long, about 26" wide, and is stainless steel, with a spout to drain from one end. It was made to convert a laundry room into a darkroom and sat on top of the washer/dryer, and drained into a laundry sink - it could also drain into a bathroom sink if the bathroom had a good size countertop. If anybody is in California and would like this thing - PM me.

Andrew O'Neill · Feb 17, 2014

I survived 12 years in Japan without a darkroom sink. I got used to walking back and forth from the bathroom with buckets of water...

John Koehrer · Feb 19, 2014

Just got an ad from Bass Pro Shop with a processing sink for fishermen.
45"X24" w/folding legs. 100.00 On Sale for $70.00 should be good for a temp darkroom.

pbromaghin · Feb 19, 2014

You mean this?

Dead Link Removed

jerrybro · Feb 19, 2014

I once built one using a plastic floor designed to be placed under a washing machine to handle leaks. I built a high table for it to get it high enough for me not to stoop over it. Worked great in the limited space I had a available.

frank · Feb 19, 2014

jerrybro said:
I once built one using a plastic floor designed to be placed under a washing machine to handle leaks. I built a high table for it to get it high enough for me not to stoop over it. Worked great in the limited space I had a available.

Yes. The under bed storage container is similar, though rectangular and with higher sides.

smithdoor · Feb 20, 2014

For a drain just use a evaporative cooler drain
My self I use a Laundry Tub/Sink work great made over flow tub the drain to keep water flowing with 2" of water in the bottom of the sink

Dave

frank said:
Yes. The under bed storage container is similar, though rectangular and with higher sides.

Barry Kirsten · Feb 20, 2014

David Allen said:
In my previous darkroom I built my own sink simply using MDF sealed with boat varnish - worked a treat!

I've also built a similar wooden sink, sealed with epoxy resin, the material that's used to set fibreglass mat.

Another idea I've heard about but not tried, is to make a wooden frame the size and depth of the sink you need, then place a sheet of plastic sheet into it and up over the sides. Very cheap to build, but a bit of a problem to drain, I think.

Barry

Inexpensive darkroom sink idea

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