Where can I buy a Darkroom sink in Europe?

[mshchem]

The two big stainless sinks I have are both insulated on the bottom.

 

[hiroh]

Why don't you try calling B&H in NYC. They sell Arkay stainless steel sinks made to order for photographic use. I bet B&H could find a solution. You should find someone who knows what they are doing.
I have a secondhand Arkay sink, 10 feet long, has a nice stand.

Plastic or fiberglass makes for great sinks too.

I checked B&H first, but with shipping, import, and customs duties, the price of each sink doubles.

I found two manufacturers of plastic sinks in Europe—one quoted €10k (not including installation) for two 2-meter sinks, and the other never responded after multiple emails. It turns out I can get a custom stainless steel sink made here in Lisbon for much less.

Don't put up finished, wet prints on any surface at the sink, where unseen splashed chemicals can ruin your prints, even if it'll take weeks, months or years to show the damage on the prints.

A magnetic stainless back wall or tall splash guard that you can place test strips and prints, data, charts, etc, on, with magnets, etc, sounds like a good idea.

I mentioned earlier in this thread that a large sink basin with a cover and drain should be incorporated.

You can use it for a water thermal bath and even take the additional steps of installing thermal insulation to the sides and bottom of the outside, underneath the lower sink, for better performance.

IMO,
Eli

Good point about the unseen splashes of chemicals. Definitely, finished prints should be placed much higher for that reason.

As for thermal regulation, I think that's beyond what this company handles (they specialize in stainless steel work) and would likely require bringing in other specialists, which could complicate things. Here in Lisbon, we don’t have low temperatures, and my darkroom will be air-conditioned, so maintaining an exact temperature doesn’t seem crucial. So far, I’ve never paid much attention to it, and the room temperature has always been around 20-23 degrees. It would be nice to have precise temperature control, but right now that sounds a bit complicated. I’ll still talk to the guys and consider it, though.

I just looked at the German sinks, those look amazing.

I have 2 big stainless sinks and 1 fiberglass. The fiberglass one is 7 feet long and has a built-in dump trough, so when you're finishing up you just lift your tray and dump the solution in the trough. This is a Kreonite sink, probably 45-50 years old, came from a factory graphic arts lab.
The fiberglass sink is (essentially plastic) great.
One other thing, before you order a 4 meter long sink, remember it's got to fit through doors and hallways.

I would get in touch with Deitenbach and see what they think.

This is the German company I mentioned, and they quoted me around €5000 for one of those 2-meter plastic sinks. For that kind of money, I could almost buy one from B&H, including shipping and customs. Plus, I’m not really a fan of plastic. Stainless steel just looks better—more like an architectural piece—and it’s easy to maintain. Plastic, on the other hand, looks cheap, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets dirty over time to the point where I can’t clean it anymore, like what happened with my plastic trays after using developer and other chemicals.

Whatever you design, make sure you can actually move it into the place it'll need to be installed in. Take into account any corners, turns etc you'll have to navigate on the way in. It sucks to order something only to realize you need to break out a wall to install it once it arrives at your doorstep.

Haha, true. I’ve already measured all the doors and entrances because I’m making some other furniture for the house besides the darkroom sinks. It’s so easy to overlook something like that.

A sloped bottom, and a multi-section removable rack inside that is flat and allows water to flow under it. Plastic shelving material is good.
A comfortable to lean on front lip is important, and a height that matches your height is too.

Great point about the removable rack. I'll add that to my design notes. Not sure what plastic shelving you're referring to though. Something inside the sink or above/below it?

And yeah, the height won’t be standard for this sink. I’m 6'5", and standard heights are always too low for me, so I need to future-proof my back with a slightly raised sink.

 

[Frank53]

Darkroom Sinks made from sturdy low-cost polyethylene - The Imaging Warehouse | Nova Darkroom & Digital Inkjet Supplies

 

[Frank53]

You can also check local auction sites. Where I live, they are sold there second hand occasionally. I bought mine, 2 professional sinks there, a few years back For very little money.

 

[hiroh]

Darkroom Sinks made from sturdy low-cost polyethylene - The Imaging Warehouse | Nova Darkroom & Digital Inkjet Supplies

UK customs still apply here, unfortunately, but shipping will probably be a bit cheaper than from the US.

You can also check local auction sites. Where I live, they are sold there second hand occasionally. I bought mine, 2 professional sinks there, a few years back For very little money.

I did, but there aren’t any here in Portugal.

 

[Castrillo]

You may find something on the second hand web sites if you have the time and patience.


Wallapop España

 

[mshchem]

UK customs still apply here, unfortunately, but shipping will probably be a bit cheaper than from the US.



I did, but there aren’t any here in Portugal.

I will take a couple pictures of my sinks and post in a bit.

 

[mshchem]

 

[mshchem]

As you can see why I cling to analog as I can't figure out how to post pictures.

The 10 foot Arkay sink has a slight crease towards the back that channels water to the drain in the end of the sink. The Calumet 7 foot is a great wide sink 33 inches wide inside. The green sink is my favorite, Kreonite, designed for a graphic arts process camera darkroom, has provision for warming trays with shallow water jacket, and a nice trough in the back where you can dump chemistry without getting it all over the main sink.
Stainless steel requires TLC. If you leave a big stainless tank sitting in a stainless sink, and any bits steel or iron get in between, and there's water you will have intergranular corrosion.
You want 316L alloy.

 

[mshchem]

Cost, I'm known to other nuts.
The 10 foot Arkay w/stand was delivered to my driveway for free.
The green sink was salvage that I paid 40 bucks for.
The 7 foot x 3 foot Calumet was salvage and my friend sold it to me for $100.
The mixing valves were mostly salvage or NOS salvage.

 

[mshchem]

 

[mshchem]

8x10 and 5x7 Zone VI variable contrast enlargers with RH Designs Vario timers.
Squeegee board from a friend
5 gallon cans of Dektol

Don't seek and ye shall find.

Most of my stuff has been assembled over the last 30 years. I currently have 4 enlargers set up, 4 sinks, a couple print dryers, multiple color processors, separate chemistry and equipment storeroom. And apparently my film and paper fridge is a bit more than most of my friends. ( no food because if the power goes out I don't want anything harmed)

 

[mshchem]

 

[MattKing]

Great point about the removable rack. I'll add that to my design notes. Not sure what plastic shelving you're referring to though. Something inside the sink or above/below it?

Inside the sink - to raise trays off the bottom, and in some cases make it easier to pour chemicals out of the tray. Removable because that makes them easy to clean.
We have modular plastic shelving systems available here from big box home and hardware stores that one can re-purpose the shelves from, as well as customize the length of the "legs".

 

[mshchem]

You need to be careful with "duck boards" they can trap things that corrode stainless, mainly ferrous metal tiny bits. I put boards that span the gap when I set up a processor, that way I can rinse under everything and squeegee the sink dry.

Clean and dry.

 

[eli griggs]

I checked B&H first, but with shipping, import, and customs duties, the price of each sink doubles.

I found two manufacturers of plastic sinks in Europe—one quoted €10k (not including installation) for two 2-meter sinks, and the other never responded after multiple emails. It turns out I can get a custom stainless steel sink made here in Lisbon for much less.



Good point about the unseen splashes of chemicals. Definitely, finished prints should be placed much higher for that reason.

As for thermal regulation, I think that's beyond what this company handles (they specialize in stainless steel work) and would likely require bringing in other specialists, which could complicate things. Here in Lisbon, we don’t have low temperatures, and my darkroom will be air-conditioned, so maintaining an exact temperature doesn’t seem crucial. So far, I’ve never paid much attention to it, and the room temperature has always been around 20-23 degrees. It would be nice to have precise temperature control, but right now that sounds a bit complicated. I’ll still talk to the guys and consider it, though.



This is the German company I mentioned, and they quoted me around €5000 for one of those 2-meter plastic sinks. For that kind of money, I could almost buy one from B&H, including shipping and customs. Plus, I’m not really a fan of plastic. Stainless steel just looks better—more like an architectural piece—and it’s easy to maintain. Plastic, on the other hand, looks cheap, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets dirty over time to the point where I can’t clean it anymore, like what happened with my plastic trays after using developer and other chemicals.



Haha, true. I’ve already measured all the doors and entrances because I’m making some other furniture for the house besides the darkroom sinks. It’s so easy to overlook something like that.



Great point about the removable rack. I'll add that to my design notes. Not sure what plastic shelving you're referring to though. Something inside the sink or above/below it?

And yeah, the height won’t be standard for this sink. I’m 6'5", and standard heights are always too low for me, so I need to future-proof my back with a slightly raised sink.

The thermal insolation is the do it yourself type, spray or brush on foam, pink fiberglass by the large roll, thermal tiles fixed to the bottom and sides by adhesive, etc.

There is no electricals involved and simple silver metallic duct tape cnd be used as a wrap to prevent particles from contaminating your space and lungs.