Ventilation for closet darkroom

[pentaxuser]

A paper safe is definitely the best kind of container but if you don't have a spare one to use this way, it strikes me that the Ilford boxes in which paper is contained should make a pretty good light safe container.

The lids cover the bottom half of the box by quite a lot and light has difficulty bending round 2 x 90 degree corners to get into the exposed paper

Caveat. I have never tried this so cannot verify it definitely works

pentaxuser

 

[albada]

A paper safe is definitely the best kind of container but if you don't have a spare one to use this way, it strikes me that the Ilford boxes in which paper is contained should make a pretty good light safe container.

The lids cover the bottom half of the box by quite a lot and light has difficulty bending round 2 x 90 degree corners to get into the exposed paper

Caveat. I have never tried this so cannot verify it definitely works

pentaxuser

I use Ilford boxes as paper safes. I keep the paper inside the original black plastic bag inside the box, and light cannot enter both box and bag.
I keep a few sheets in a 25-sheet box, and refill from my 100-sheet box as needed, so the 100 sheets experience less handling and risk.

 

[MattKing]

If you are constantly moving exposed prints from room to room, the convenience and efficiency of a paper safe will make the procedure much quicker and enjoyable.
You can get the same quality of results from the combination of a light proof inner bag and the outer paper box, but not the same convenience and efficiency.

 

[albada]

If you are constantly moving exposed prints from room to room, the convenience and efficiency of a paper safe will make the procedure much quicker and enjoyable.

I didn't think of that.
BTW, an ammo box would probably work. Mine is nearly 11" long, so an 8x10 bent into a U-shape would easily fit. They have watertight seals around the top, so I doubt light will enter them.

 

[pentaxuser]

What I was hoping someone would say is that with a box only, you have the convenience of a paper safe as the black bag for the quick trip to the processing room can be dispensed with

I am now tempted to expose a sheet, place it into an empty Ilford paper box move it out of the darkroom for a few seconds and the back into the darkroom for processing

Anyone printing in the next day or so as I will not be doing so, willing to give it a try?

Thanks

pentaxuser

 

[MattKing]

Some of my paper boxes show a lot more wear and "flex" than others. Particularly the ones for larger (= expensive) sheet sizes.

 

[Vaughn]

Yeah -- a photo paper box. Put some black electrical tape on the corners and give it a go.

But watch out for those cosmic rays...

 

[traveler_101]

I didn't think of that.
BTW, an ammo box would probably work. Mine is nearly 11" long, so an 8x10 bent into a U-shape would easily fit. They have watertight seals around the top, so I doubt light will enter them.

That would be cool.

 

[logan2z]

That would be cool.

You know what else would work really well to keep paper safe? A paper safe

 

[MattKing]

I could be wrong, but I bet an ammo box is heavier than a paper safe .

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Hello everyone!

I got back into film photography and I absolutely love it. One of my favourite past time was to go to the dark room, spend a few hours and do some printing. Because of the digital age, there aren't any places really in my town where I can do that so I decided to convert my empty and never used walk-in closet into my very own darkroom. It wouldn't be anything fancy, just the bare minimum so an enlarger and the chemicals. I would use it maybe once per week for a few hours, just as a past time. it is a pretty small closet (185 feet cubed) and has no windows so one thing that has me worried is the potential health risks with the chemicals.

If I do ventilate the room the way it's been suggested online, I'd have to attach a fan above my wet side and have a 25 feet long duct going along the side of my bedroom all the way to the nearest window. It wouldn't be the prettiest thing as I'd have an ugly grey duct running through my room so I'd like to find an alternative. I have a few options;

1- Since I wouldn't use it often, I'm wondering if I could simply forget about ventilation and let the room breathe when it's not in use? Some people believe that chemicals aren't harmful and as dangerous as regular household cleaning supplies while others say that they can cause nervous system damage. I'm not sure which is the case which is why I'm hesitating with that option.

2- If that solution doesn't work, could I just have the air from the darkroom get sucked out into my larger bedroom where the "bad air" would get diluted and the home ventilation system can take care of it? that would eliminate the need for the duct to go through my room and out the window but I'm unsure if it would really work or if it is safe.

3- Last option would be to use an air purifier instead of a ventilation system that could filter out the chemicals while I'm using the room. that would be ideal since no extra work would be needed and be much neater but again I'm not sure if it safe

If anyone has some darkroom experience or has built one themselves, please let me know what the best option is. Any tips or suggestions are appreciated.

Thank you for your help!

I wouldn't give up on ventilation but maybe you can run the duct into the ceiling and went into the attic?

 

[gone]

You may not have to vent it at all. Citric for stop, no real smell there. The developer isn't too bad, and there are odor less fixers. I'd give it a try w/o a vent fan first. A fan will stir up dust that should be left sitting where it is.

Venting is something I worried about initially, but it hasn't been an issue. Using the kitchen or bedroom works better for me, as there's more room to move around.

 

[traveler_101]

You know what else would work really well to keep paper safe? A paper safe

I have now acquired a paper safe.

Continuing this thread on my seemingly interminable quest to put together my darkroom for black and white only. So I have decided on the two room solution: enlarger in one room and paper development in the bathroom which has an exhaust fan.

Next step - a red safelight. Looking for something that operates on a battery. Anyone have any ideas on that?

 

[MattKing]

No promises about how safe any particular light may be - the spectrum is really important - but consider a bicycle light.

 

[traveler_101]

No promises about how safe any particular light may be - the spectrum is really important - but consider a bicycle light.

Right, doesn't sound like a good idea. Then what about this "SafeStik LED Darkroom Safelight By XRS"? Not a known brand, AFAIK. On EBAY right now. https://www.ebay.com/itm/253993529260