Storage of Darkroom Equipment

marius cramer · Dec 30, 2016

Hello friends,
after developing I always set my darkroom equipment (dev tank, spools, measuring cup, funnel, etc.) on the ground of my makeshift darkroom for drying. Now it came to my mind that the equipment probably would collect dust as hell.
Where do you set your darkroom equipment for drying so it doesn't get super dusty?
cheers marius

BMbikerider · Dec 30, 2016

I usually rinse the items out - especially the mixing beakers then place them either on or close to one of the central heating radiators. As everthing is either plastic or stainless steel, once in a while I put everything through the dishwasher - it cleans far better than I ever can. Plus with several rinses after the wash cycle it will remove all residual chemicals from the washer detergent.

It will also remove quite severe staining from film reels!

I never have a problem with dust but for tidiness sake, they are stored with everything else under the stairs in a warm cupboard.

R.Gould · Dec 30, 2016

I have a shelf in my darkroom where I store all my reels, measuring equipment tanks Etc, I always store the tanks and measuring jug Ect upside down, tanks with the reels on top of the tanks, keeps the dust and other rubbish out of the tanks/jugs

Neal · Dec 30, 2016

Dear Marius,

The short answer is plastic storage totes. You should visit the "darkroom portraits" threads. You will see many examples of storage solutions for makeshift darkrooms.

Good luck,

Neal Wydra

AgX · Dec 30, 2016

One can dry utensils with towels. Those may be paper towels or cloth.

Luis-F-S · Dec 30, 2016

AgX said:
One can dry utensils with towels. Those may be paper towels or cloth.

+1, then I place them on top of my sink and sometimes turn on a dryer to help in the process. L

Harry Stevens · Dec 30, 2016

Another reason to develop film only in the summer....Hot windersill, tanks reels within a couple of hours at most.

MattKing · Dec 30, 2016

Look up "dish drying mats": https://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_sb_s...S08QJ96LEOM&rh=n:2206275011,k:dish+drying+mat

They work great, and fold up for storage.

After drying, they go into plastic bins.

silveror0 · Dec 30, 2016

I'm fortunate enough to have designed my darkroom as I want it, with drying in mind. My trays are rinsed, then stored on edge in slotted compartments to drip-dry over time (I built a plywood rack for this purpose, stained it with water sealant, and placed it on the shelf underneath the stainless sinks). If trays are needed immediately, they need not be dry. Beakers/graduates/reels/etc. are rinsed and placed on vertical wooden pegs, upside down, to drip-dry and drain into the sink. If reels are needed immediately they are dried rapidly with a small traveler's fold-up hair dryer, used exclusively for that purpose and stored in its original box to keep dust-free. This dryer is also used for quick drying sheet film when doing film tests, so their densities can be read immediately after processing.

Peter Schrager · Dec 30, 2016

Never use towels in the darkroom. ..they will get dirty and cross contaminate everything
Use paper towels..I know it doesn't sound ecological but trust me it's the only way

Sirius Glass · Dec 30, 2016

I place tanks, reels, development drums on top of the Jobo processor in the kitchen. The print trays, funnels, graduated cylinders go into the bathtub next to the print washer and bottles of stored chemicals [I have two bathrooms, one gets converted back and forth for printing.].

Tanks, reels and drums are stored in cabinets and shelves. The other put away in plastic storage boxes and on shelves underneath the enlarger tables. Film is stored in the refrigerator and freezer. Paper is stored on shelves and in the freezer.

MattKing · Dec 30, 2016

Peter Schrager said:
Never use towels in the darkroom. ..they will get dirty and cross contaminate everything
Use paper towels..I know it doesn't sound ecological but trust me it's the only way

I have a largish quantity of old, linen tea towels that I use for darkroom work. I use them much like paper towels, in that they are used and then replaced throughout a darkroom sessions. They are also in more than one location. Some towels, like those near the wash stage, can be re-used frequently, whereas I have to cycle through the ones near developer or fixer more frequently.
I buy them used from thrift stores. Being linen, they become almost lint free, once washed several times.
Many of them are formerly souvenir's of trips and vacation locations. So if I'm waiting around for anything, I can look at images of Niagara Falss, or Polynesian dancers, or great cathedrals of France, or ....

LAG · Dec 31, 2016

marius cramer said:
Where do you set your darkroom equipment for drying so it doesn't get super dusty?

In aluminum cans of various sizes and shapes (with absorbent white paper in the bottom). Besides, the rounded cans designed to be used with tanks/reels are properly light-sealed so I can use them as "waiting-containers in the dark" for reels at daylight in those cases when I work/process with several films/formats at the same time ...

Best

Set an example ...

RalphLambrecht · Dec 31, 2016

marius cramer said:
Hello friends,
after developing I always set my darkroom equipment (dev tank, spools, measuring cup, funnel, etc.) on the ground of my makeshift darkroom for drying. Now it came to my mind that the equipment probably would collect dust as hell.
Where do you set your darkroom equipment for drying so it doesn't get super dusty?
cheers marius

I dry my equipment with a lint-free towel and store it in a closed closet

M Carter · Jan 4, 2017

On days I'm going to make a "special" print - IE, not just fooling around but trying to come up with something great - my wife knows, because all my darkroom towels are in the washing machine. it's part of the ritual, a nice folded stack of clean dishtowels and bath towels and wiping rags.

The first time, she almost went into shock: "You know what a washing machine is?!?!?"

marius cramer · Jan 9, 2017

Wow, thanks for your replies y'all! Definitely will try out some of your suggestions.
Cheers guys, happy developing!

darkroommike · Jan 9, 2017

Peter Schrager said:
Never use towels in the darkroom. ..they will get dirty and cross contaminate everything
Use paper towels..I know it doesn't sound ecological but trust me it's the only way

Washing machine is right outside my darkroom, so not an issue. I prefer cloth towels use paper towels for OH CRAP moments. The best paper towels I've found are the extra thick blue shop towels.

darkroommike · Jan 9, 2017

M Carter said:
On days I'm going to make a "special" print - IE, not just fooling around but trying to come up with something great - my wife knows, because all my darkroom towels are in the washing machine. it's part of the ritual, a nice folded stack of clean dishtowels and bath towels and wiping rags.

The first time, she almost went into shock: "You know what a washing machine is?!?!?"

I've been doing laundry, ironing, cooking and mending since I was twelve and do it much better than my wife.

Storage of Darkroom Equipment

marius cramer

BMbikerider

R.Gould

Neal

AgX

Luis-F-S

Harry Stevens

MattKing

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silveror0

Peter Schrager

Sirius Glass

MattKing

Moderator

LAG

RalphLambrecht

M Carter

marius cramer

darkroommike

darkroommike

Storage of Darkroom Equipment

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