Two non-darkroom items that I can't live without... (in the darkroom)

Phillip P. Dimor · Mar 31, 2008

I love 3M Safe-Release Painter's Tape for Multi-Surfaces #2090. It's that 'expensive' blue painters tape. I use it to tape my boxes of paper shut. This stuff will not peel apart the cardboard boxes or packaging, stays sticky for a long time and can hold up to being pulled off and reapplied over many sessions. After using normal paper tape, duct tape, packing tape, etc. this is what I use to seal boxes of paper and film. I like it. Plus it's easy to see under a red safelight.

Also, those hanging folders that go in filing cabinets.. If you keep your negative pages in a cabinet or rubbermaid document bin with hanging file bars, those folders with the metal bar for hanging work great as a hanging bar if you run out. Just cut the bar out and slide it in your negative file. I always run out of hanging bars for some reason and i'm too poor to order more.

Just two things i've realized today. Hope this helps someone in the future.

pentaxuser · Mar 31, 2008

Hmm Two non darkroom items? The wife and the cat probably. Sometimes can't live with them but mostly can't live without them. I am equally convinced that my revelation will help no-one else - even if they were both for sale!

pentaxuser

eric · Mar 31, 2008

My bike
good food
oh yah, my wife/kids/and dumbass dog (they should probably go first though)

Stephen Frizza · Mar 31, 2008

equally my penis and food.

Jose A Martinez · Mar 31, 2008

pentaxuser said:
Hmm Two non darkroom items? The wife...

pentaxuser

The wife... and my Oolong Tea, to sip while I work.

Graham.b · Mar 31, 2008

Mines the wife, and my telescopes.

Christopher Walrath · Mar 31, 2008

Toilet. Holds all kindsa bottles and D/R gear and stuff. Amongst other things. And my cell phone. Darned ancient Kodak timer fritzs every once in a while.

Phillip P. Dimor · Mar 31, 2008

Ah, I guess I was thinking more along the lines of items which may not be directly associated with the darkroom or photography but work.
But yes, my penis is pretty important. And my ipod. Can't print without the ipod.

eric · Mar 31, 2008

Phillip P. Dimor said:
Ah, I guess I was thinking more along the lines of items which may not be directly associated with the darkroom or photography but work.
But yes, my penis is pretty important. And my ipod. Can't print without the ipod.

Ahh, okay okay. Let's see, non darkroom items....oh how about my camera and some film.

What's with all the penis envy?

Seriously though, non-darkroom stuff that is in my darkroom...Radio with good old school hip-hop/rap/house music (ipod? What's that? Is that a broken legged monopod?). And what else? Well, hmm, most of the stuff in there was built for a darkroom except my dodging tools. That's home-made. Oh, my UV light unit is homemade and technically, that I don't need to have in the darkroom How about my print dryers. Yah, I have homemade print screens but I love my dryers.

I've heard of people having a small TV's in their darkroom. That's too hardcore for me.

Sino · Apr 1, 2008

pentaxuser said:
Hmm Two non darkroom items? The wife and the cat probably.

You consider your wife and cat items?

Hmm, it would have to be music, any sort of music playing. Can't do long times in the dark without a sound. Then there's Greek coffee at wintertime, or frappe at summer, a dangerous ice-cold mix of coffee and water; something to keep me energized after midnight.

-Sino.

BWGirl · Apr 1, 2008

I have these great clips that have a hook on the top. I got them at the dollar store & they are meant to hang 'unmentionables' to dry in the shower. They are perfect for hanging film to dry!
I guess the other thing would have to be the rubber anti-fatigue mats on the floor. Those things are great & you can just take them outside every once in a while & hose them off.

RoNinHeart · Apr 1, 2008

I have a piece of non-slip shelf liner that I put under the easel to keep it from moving around when I'm printing. Learned this one when I was trying to do my first two negative / two enlarger print and couldn't keep the easels from moving when inserting the paper.

A kitchen timer that clips onto my apron to time the developer and fixer, my mind wanders too much to watch the clock.

matthewbetcher · Apr 1, 2008

me? my bikes and i'll tell you why they relate to the darkroom... 'cause after all the time most of us spend in a damp, dark space, there's nothing like grabbing the bike and riding 65+ miles and 6000' up the nearest mountain. the militant zen nature of it is not only incredibly "cleansing," but when you return to the studio in total exhaustion there is no way you can look at the work you have completed earlier with anything but total objectivity.

i guess it just beats the subjectivity right outta you.

eric · Apr 1, 2008

RoNinHeart said:
I have a piece of non-slip shelf liner that I put under the easel to keep it from moving around when I'm printing.

Ohhhh, nice idea! I was going to replace the cork in mine.

pentaxuser · Apr 1, 2008

Sino said:
You consider your wife and cat items?

Hmm, it would have to be music, any sort of music playing. Can't do long times in the dark without a sound. Then there's Greek coffee at wintertime, or frappe at summer, a dangerous ice-cold mix of coffee and water; something to keep me energized after midnight.

-Sino.

It's just that strange thing called British humour as in the following joke.

A friend asks: "Who was that lady I saw you with, last night?"

Me: " That was no lady that was my wife"

pentaxuser

Sino · Apr 1, 2008

[Off topic! ]

pentaxuser said:
It's just that strange thing called British humour [...]

Last time I tried some of that, I was watching the Flying Circus at a pub somewhere in the midlands. That sense of humour you guys have is more intoxicating than the lager they forced me to drink. Every friend of mine still can't believe I find the "this parrot is no more" quote that funny!

-Sino.

Two non-darkroom items that I can't live without... (in the darkroom)

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