"Light Be Gone"

nsurit · May 23, 2010

I'm on the last ten yards of my 100 yard dash to get my darkroom up and operating. Actually it feels more like a marathon than a 100 yard dash and that is another story. The finishing touches have to do with keeping the dark in and the light out. I have a tiny light leak at the corner of the bottom of the door. Any suggestions on blocking just a little light leak? Sticky foam tape? A can of "Light Be Gone" from the store that sells "Whoopass." It is probably not enough light to spoil the broth, however it is enough to make me a little crazy. Suggestions? Bill Barber

Kevin Caulfield · May 23, 2010

How about a thin strip of foam spray painted black, folded over on itself, stapled then taped, and then taped to the bottom of the door?

Rick A · May 23, 2010

How about just a plain old door sweep that can be bought at the local hardware or builders supply. It attache to the bottom or lower face of the door, and is meant to seal out drafts. One other idea is a threshhold and a rubber bottom added to the door ala exterior doors. Or one of those cloth covered tubes adverted on the telly, that you just toss on the floor up against the door.

Jeff Kubach · May 23, 2010

Use duct tape!

Jeff

Joe VanCleave · May 23, 2010

My darkroom is in the corner of my garage, concrete floor, the walls 2x4 framed and covered in sheetrock, etc. For a light seal along the bottom I cut a piece of 2" wide steel angle-iron, liquid-nailed it to the floor so that the bottom of the door presses up against the vertical surface of the angle-iron. Then I painted the door jamb in flat black paint. And a bit of weatherstripping doesn't hurt, either. Just remember to not trip over the angle iron when exiting.

~Joe

Existing Light · May 23, 2010

do you develop 120 film? If so, can you tape the black paper to the bottom of the door? I do that sometimes. Other times I use black duct tape. If I'm feeling lazy, I just spread a towel in front of the door

mike c · May 23, 2010

On the bottom of my door I put some automobile door gasket stuff that was laying around the garage and stapled it to the bottom of door so that it drags slightly on the floor,hasn't wore out yet.

richard ide · May 23, 2010

I stapled a 3" strip of black naugahyde around all 4 side of my doors where I did not have light traps. Both sides of the doors at the bottom.

winger · May 23, 2010

I saved some of the black plastic bags from paper and stapled that around the door. Ugly, but functional.

nsurit · May 23, 2010

Problem solved. I used some foam left over from putting a new seal on a film drying cabinet. It worked perfectly. The dark is now trapped inside the darkroom. No longer any excuses! Gentlemen, start your engines. Bill Barber

richard ide · May 23, 2010

Remember to keep the door closed otherwise the dark will leak out. ;<)

CBG · May 24, 2010

I used to use a dirty towel on it's way to the washer as a light blocker. Just roll up on floor by bottom of door.

largeformat pat · May 24, 2010

"Please do not open the door as the dark leaks out"

"Light Be Gone"

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