What's your favourite & most used darkroom tool?

Henry Alive · Jan 13, 2009

Without any kind of doubt, my RH Design Analyser Pro is the best tool I have in my darkroom.

JOSarff · Jan 13, 2009

Actually, I have two favorites.

My CT-40 timer

My radio. When I can't (or don't) hear the music, I know I'm doing well

vdonovan · Jan 13, 2009

I use that printing chart too! It really does help.

Toffle said:
Most used, most useful... Ralph Lambrecht's f-stop Printing chart. Even though I usually round off his figures quite a bit, (my ancient Gralab 300 is only good for approximate times at best) this single resource has been the single most important factor in achieving consistent and repeatable results in my prints.

I'd love to have a foot switch and/or f-stop timer, and there is really no excuse for me not to have a properly blacked-out door and window. ...and a sink... I'd love to have a sink. (Hm... looks more like I listed what I don't have... :rolleyes

Cheers,

jeroldharter · Jan 13, 2009

Henry Alive said:
Without any kind of doubt, my RH Design Analyser Pro is the best tool I have in my darkroom.

Ditto for favorite.

Most used, without fully realizing it, is a large anti-fatigue mat which makes the time pass easily.

jgjbowen · Jan 13, 2009

Most used = Zone VI compensating Developing Timer

Favorite = Azo "The Cold One" head for my Besleler 4x5 Enlarger. It allows you to enlarge on Azo.

Ken Nadvornick · Jan 13, 2009

Most used? A Hass Mfg K250 Intellifaucet. It's also the calibration standard for ALL thermometers I own, and as such, all of my film development calibrations as well. Someone told me years ago to give up something else in my then-under-construction darkroom in order to get one of these. Best darkroom equipment advice I ever got. Stunning piece of equipment.

Favorite? A Corning PC-620D hot plate/stirrer. Makes mixing homebrew almost something to look forward to. Killer with a 4-liter Pyrex beaker when mixing up tons of D-76d and fixer for my 8x10 deep tanks.

Ken

emeraldcity_grain · Jan 14, 2009

Only one? Thats tough.

Most Used - I'm with Ken, a Hass K250 Intellifaucet. I simply can't be in the darkroom without it.

Favorite - Heiland Splitgrade (used with a 4500II and a V35). A luxury but what a pleasure to use.

nworth · Jan 14, 2009

The honest answer would be the trays, followed by print tongs and a towel. But there are three exposure aids that I use a lot and have some fondness for. The first is my Beseler enlarging timer. It's accurate, easy to use, and it beeps every second, which makes dodging and burning a lot easier. The second is an ancient Kodak Projection Print Scale (they're still available). It takes the bother out of test strips. The third is a Beseler color analyzer - used mostly for black and white. Once I have determined the exposure for one negative, I can use it as an on-easel photometer to get in the ballpark for most of the rest of my prints, saving the bother of test strips.

Philippe-Georges · Jan 14, 2009

Ken Nadvornick said:
Most used? A Hass Mfg K250 Intellifaucet. It's also the calibration standard for ALL thermometers I own, and as such, all of my film development calibrations as well. Someone told me years ago to give up something else in my then-under-construction darkroom in order to get one of these. Best darkroom equipment advice I ever got. Stunning piece of equipment.

Favorite? A Corning PC-620D hot plate/stirrer. Makes mixing homebrew almost something to look forward to. Killer with a 4-liter Pyrex beaker when mixing up tons of D-76d and fixer for my 8x10 deep tanks.

Ken

Forgive me my ignorance, but what is a Hass K250 Intellifaucet?
(Intelli---- = the first part of intelligent? )

Philippe

Steve Smith · Jan 14, 2009

leicam5 said:
Forgive me my ignorance, but what is a Hass K250 Intellifaucet?
(Intelli---- = the first part of intelligent? )

Faucet - for some reason Americans invented an alternative word for tap!

My favourite - I don't know.

Most used - Washing up brush.

Steve.

sidearm613 · Jan 14, 2009

favorite: either the enlarger or any of the accessories that go with it.

most used, especially considering the fact that i do not have my own darkroom, i would have to go with inversion tank and 35mm reel(s)

hka · Jan 14, 2009

My most used and favorite tool is the Heiland Splitgrade System in combination with a Heiland Coldlight LED Head

gr82bart · Jan 14, 2009

Fav: drum processor
Used: enlarger

Regards, Art

Solarize · Jan 14, 2009

My printing log - makes revisiting old negatives sooo much easier.
A drying cabinet is also a luxury - picked one up for £6 off ebay (RRP around £450) - it means I can now avoid a dust dodging clamber to the shower for film hanging.

Nicole said:
I mix so much Xtol, I couldn't do without my magnetic mixer.

It sounds like some sort of electonic mixer would do me the world of good. I also mix a load of Xtol, and doing it with a pair of tongs or something takes ages.

Ciaran

Mick Fagan · Jan 14, 2009

Foot switch!

Mick.

Ken Nadvornick · Jan 14, 2009

leicam5 said:
Forgive me my ignorance, but what is a Hass K250 Intellifaucet?

A very well engineered, computer-controlled water tempering device. While admittedly not a must-have piece of equipment, it nevertheless offers totally unattended pinpoint water temperature control to those who either need it, or just want it.

I fall into the second category. After having dealt for years in an earlier darkroom with ambient cold water temperatures in the 80-85F/27-29C range, upon relocating to a colder climate I was determined to never have to resort to ice cubes (or fish tank heaters) again.

See: http://www.hassmfg.com/search.pl/1230777385-57977?keyword=1008&submit=Search

(Note that there are many different models, including a D250 designed especially for darkrooms that is about half the price of the K250.)

Ken

Philippe-Georges · Jan 15, 2009

Tank you for enlightening me about this device, very tempting indeed...
But, as we are talking about darkroom equipment, is there a substitute for the traditional and now disappearing red bulbs, perhaps a red led based system, in the EEC (230 Volt/50 Hz).

Philippe

2F/2F · Jan 15, 2009

Nicole said:
So what's your...

1) favourite darkroom tool (apart from music)?
2) most used tool (apart from the rubbish bin)?

Sometimes the answer may be different to each question.

I mix so much Xtol, I couldn't do without my magnetic mixer.

Favorite is amber glass bottles of various sizes. Most used is probably my developing tank and reels.

firecracker · Jan 15, 2009

My favorite: Dektol (fresh stock)
The most used: Dektol (fresh and old mixed)

Morry Katz · Jan 19, 2009

most important tool

The garbage can!

Morry Katz
Lethbridge, Alberta

Peter Schrager · Jan 19, 2009

darkroom

hmmm let's see....
azo
my hands
my brain
Best, Peter

David Brown · Jan 19, 2009

leicam5 said:
...is there a substitute for the traditional and now disappearing red bulbs ...

There is no shortage of proper safelights.

Ken N · Jan 19, 2009

Garage Door Opener. My darkroom is currently boxed up and sitting in the garage.

Gary Holliday · Jan 19, 2009

The darkroom torch I made after a donation of safelight gels. Perfect for finding my third favourite...the collection of burning-in tools.

The scraps of gels also covers up the bright light from the radio which blasts Planet Rock all afternoon!

Jim Chinn · Jan 19, 2009

My Stop Clock F-Stop timer from RH Designs and second would be my JOBO.

What's your favourite & most used darkroom tool?

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