Lack of space is no excuse for not having a darkoom?

Mainecoonmaniac · Sep 29, 2016

Take a look at this great idea.

http://petapixel.com/2016/09/28/self-contained-rolling-darkroom-takes-just-5-square-feet/

Paul Howell · Sep 29, 2016

Pretty cool. Took some thought to make it work. I assume he has another work surface for trays.

Cholentpot · Sep 29, 2016

No excuses! https://www.instagram.com/p/BKrEBU8jYXH/

I can turn around...carefully.

faberryman · Sep 29, 2016

Paul Howell said:
Pretty cool. Took some thought to make it work. I assume he has another work surface for trays.

Trays are in the drawers.

Wallendo · Sep 29, 2016

I may have to try something like that. I have bought an enlarger, and lens, and tongs, and trays, and paper and chemicals, but haven't found a place to put it. I'm looking to use some space in the basement, but my wife has stored so much stuff in there that there isn't much space left for a table.

I don't have the handyman skills to build something like this myself. I may go the lazy man's route and buy a rolling toolbox at Lowes.

This setup is so logical that I feel like I should have thought of this myself.

Svenedin · Sep 29, 2016

The Nova slot processors take up much less room than trays. I have a small darkroom and space for trays is a particular problem. They are quite expensive though. Wallendo, have a purge of all that stored stuff!

Or you could have this: https://www.theimagingwarehouse.com/ProductGrp/Nova-Darkroom-Tent

Mainecoonmaniac · Sep 29, 2016

Svenedin said:
The Nova slot processors take up much less room than trays. I have a small darkroom and space for trays is a particular problem. They are quite expensive though. Wallendo, have a purge of all that stored stuff!

Or you could have this: https://www.theimagingwarehouse.com/ProductGrp/Nova-Darkroom-Tent

You mean a duck blind that cost 5X as much because it's for photo use?

Svenedin · Sep 29, 2016

Mainecoonmaniac said:
You mean a duck blind that cost 5X as much because it's for photo use?

I don't think it's quite as basic as that

graciemansion · Sep 29, 2016

I live in New York City. My bathroom is less than five feet wide.

Sirius Glass · Sep 29, 2016

graciemansion said:
I live in New York City. My bathroom is less than five feet wide.

I would have never guessed from your name that you live in NYC.

Welcome to APUG

calebarchie · Sep 29, 2016

Svenedin said:
I don't think it's quite as basic as that

It is pretty basic, see my post here

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Svenedin · Sep 29, 2016

calebarchie said:
It is pretty basic, see my post here

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

That's very cool. I think I must organise my small darkroom more intelligently! Amazing what can be done in such a small space. Mind you, one of my colleagues used to develop and print on a diesel submarine (and those are nothing like the huge modern nuclear submarines).

markbarendt · Sep 29, 2016

I like it

sepiareverb · Sep 29, 2016

I'd choose an ikea kitchen base cabinet of drawers over a metal tool chest of drawers. IME the tool chest will rust away very quickly.

flavio81 · Sep 29, 2016

Lack of space might not be an excuse...

But lack of darkness is an excuse.

markbarendt · Sep 29, 2016

flavio81 said:
Lack of space might not be an excuse...

But lack of darkness is an excuse.

Night time and a blanket over the window.

Hatchetman · Sep 29, 2016

If there's a will, there's a way...

flavio81 · Sep 29, 2016

markbarendt said:
Night time and a blanket over the window.

Yes but my room is 4x4m in size, the window is huge, really huge, plus it has two old-style doors (not one) that are far from lightight.

Svenedin · Sep 30, 2016

flavio81 said:
Yes but my room is 4x4m in size, the window is huge, really huge, plus it has two old-style doors (not one) that are far from lightight.

My house is old and my darkroom also has 2 doors and a large sash window. The room is maybe 9 feet x 7 feet but the window is as big as any on the front of the house. It also faces due South, the worst possible for a darkroom. For the window I had a blackout blind custom made. This is the type of blind that runs in side channels and has a header and a footer. Even then it was not good enough so there are heavy, long, lined curtains over the blind. For the doors I put up poles and curtains. It is good enough for printing during the day. For loading film on reels it is only dark enough at night or in a changing bag just to be sure. It can be done!

darkosaric · Sep 30, 2016

graciemansion said:
I live in New York City. My bathroom is less than five feet wide.

Wecome to APUG !

calebarchie · Sep 30, 2016

Svenedin said:
That's very cool. I think I must organise my small darkroom more intelligently! Amazing what can be done in such a small space. Mind you, one of my colleagues used to develop and print on a diesel submarine (and those are nothing like the huge modern nuclear submarines).

Currently working on making it more space efficient with a bigger enlarger, uv unit and slot processor yet retains a clear table top.

Svenedin · Sep 30, 2016

calebarchie said:
Currently working on making it more space efficient with a bigger enlarger, uv unit and slot processor yet retains a clear table top.

Good idea. I am also getting a slot processor because I have no room for trays to process bigger than 8"x10" unless I use the floor. I also waste chemicals, especially developer. It goes off in hours in an open tray so a darkroom session of an hour or two in the evening means it is usually bad by the next evening. It also discourages me from setting up for just a few prints.

calebarchie · Sep 30, 2016

They are indeed great, just go in an out for some prints. SHD usually has some for less than half of new, I as going to get from there but shipping was double and high chance of breaking so I decided to try make my own heavy duty version here. You should have a look being in the UK.

Svenedin · Sep 30, 2016

calebarchie said:
They are indeed great, just go in an out for some prints. SHD usually has some for less than half of new, I as going to get from there but shipping was double and high chance of breaking so I decided to try make my own heavy duty version here. You should have a look being in the UK.

Thanks I will look at SHD. I've dealt with Paul before and he has been very helpful.

John51 · Sep 30, 2016

I might turn a spare room into a darkroom some day but for the low volume of printing I'm currently doing, I use the kitchen.

Lack of space is no excuse for not having a darkoom?

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