4x5 darkroom in a box anyone?

antonroland

antonroland

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Hello everyone

I am hugely excited! For my upcoming Lesotho trip with the old camera I just spoke to a mate who is very good with his hands.

We are now starting the design of a stainless steel tank that will hold 4 sheet negs for simultaneous development.

All of this will live inside a light tight wooden box that I will use as a mobile darkroom!

Will show some piccies as soon as it starts to take shape!
 
Liking the sound of this, what a great idea.
 
Looking forward to see how this progresses....very interesting.
 
So the basic idea so far is a wooden box with a slide lid...the inside to be painted with black resin so it is splash proof and chemical resistant.

The box will be approximately 2' x 3' x 1.5 - 2' deep.

Inside the box will be a stainless steel tank with a wire cage containing slots to hold 4 sheets of 4x5...not sure yet if they will be suspended portrait or landscape.

The bottom of the tank will have a slightly sloped v-profile so chemicals can drain out completely.

An intake of 10mm to 0.5" I.D. so chemicals can pour in quickly.

The stainless steel tank will also have a double-lipped lightproof lid so the outer box can be opened.

We are figuring in air vents to allow rising chemicals / water to expel air and not cause airlocks.

Future phases include a second larger tank filled with water containing the original one to regulate chemical temperature more precisely and agitation mechanisms.

Well, those are the general outlines...construction starts tomorrow...:D
 
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Well, here it is:

:D

M5V8962.jpg


Uploading a few more pics right now...
 
With the "sleeves" tucked in...

M5V8977.jpg


Basically it is a pine box, approximately 500mm x 500mm and 400mm high with a stainless steel plate sliding lid.

The inside is painted matt black for obvious reasons...
 
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Inside the box is the real gem...this little stainless steel tank...

M5V8965.jpg


The lid has a beautifully snug fit and is light-tight with internal tubing that will prevent any light reaching the negs during the process.

The outflow is also light-tight...all that is needed is a piece of black rubber hose fitted to the outflow port more for convenience in catching the chemicals or wash water than anything else...
 
Inside the tank this drop-in cage hold up to 4 sheets of 4x5 at a time...

M5V8972.jpg
 
antonroland said:
The inside is painted matt black for obvious reasons...
Click to expand...

Actually, if there is no light getting in, it doesn't matter what colour the inside is!

Looks like a fun project though.

Are you planning to do all of the processing inside the box? I would personally use it to load the film into something like a Paterson Orbital and process outside the box.

The box could also be used to load film into the film holders - but I expect you have already thought of that.


Steve.
 
Hello Steve

Pretty much everything inside the box although the tank is not mounted inside the wooden box so it can come out once the exposed negs are loaded.

I do not have a Paterson Orbital or anything like it and it was the steep price of buying one off Fleebay that caused my Scottish soul to design this...:p

Remember, paying in ZAR at currently 15 - 16x the asking price in GBP:bang::bang::bang:...it can get a bit steep...:naughty:

It is very much a work in progress but with my bit of darkroom experience and the abilities of the mate who did the actual work I am fairly certain it would perform flawlessly...

It will start working in near freezing temperatures this coming week, will keep you guys posted...:thumbs:
 
I am not sure why you need a box
In the old days I had a stainless "Dallon" Tank and large changing Bag. You loded the film or plates in the holder and put it in the tank in the changing bag, then did the rest in daylight.
 
Terrywoodenpic said:
I am not sure why you need a box
In the old days I had a stainless "Dallon" Tank and large changing Bag. You loded the film or plates in the holder and put it in the tank in the changing bag, then did the rest in daylight.
Click to expand...

The box is probably not necessary but I bought a changing bag yonks ago which is way too small for 4x5...

As the box will live in the back of my Landy it serves as storage for the chemical bottles too.
 
antonroland said:
The box is probably not necessary but I bought a changing bag yonks ago which is way too small for 4x5...

As the box will live in the back of my Landy it serves as storage for the chemical bottles too.
Click to expand...

It all looks very well made.
I would like to see a locking device on the box lid slide in case it gets nudged open a crack. click shut would be best with a press to open.

does the tank lid have a rebate on the inside to light trap the tank sides.?

It looks as if you would be able to process back to back film in each slot of the carrier. I have done this on clip hangers. Some times you have to clear the anti halation layer afterwards. (can use old developer)

Most such tanks need to have the base tapped during processing by lifting and banging the bottom to release bubbles attaching to the film.

How do you agitate.... the two normal methods are to totally lift out the film cage during processing for large tanks, or by inversion on small tanks..?
 
Whilst the box isn't necessary, It would certainly be easier than using a bag if you have the room for it.

Terrywoodenpic said:
Some times you have to clear the anti halation layer afterwards. (can use old developer)
Click to expand...

Water should do it.


Steve.
 
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Terrywoodenpic said:
It all looks very well made.
I would like to see a locking device on the box lid slide in case it gets nudged open a crack. click shut would be best with a press to open.

does the tank lid have a rebate on the inside to light trap the tank sides.?

It looks as if you would be able to process back to back film in each slot of the carrier. I have done this on clip hangers. Some times you have to clear the anti halation layer afterwards. (can use old developer)

Most such tanks need to have the base tapped during processing by lifting and banging the bottom to release bubbles attaching to the film.

How do you agitate.... the two normal methods are to totally lift out the film cage during processing for large tanks, or by inversion on small tanks..?
Click to expand...

Pretty much all those points covered...

The box lid has a metal clip on both sides do seal it and keep the lid in place.

The tank lid has a flange of approximately 1 inch deep and it is sealed very near airtight with foam strips that keep all light out...only small gaps at the corners to allow air to escape during inflow.

Incorporated into the lid is also a tube system for inflow of chemicals so no light will reach the negs.

The same is true for the outflow port.

As for agitation, the tank capacity is just right for gentle side-to-side tilting so that should take care of it.
 
Love it.

Great work
 
Hello everyone

I have been busy for a while and I need help!

Kindly advise on 4x5 developing tanks...my improvised idea did not work on several levels...I need to redesign my 4x5 developing completely...are the inserts for the tall Paterson tanks worthwhile?

Jobo systems? Just had a looky on Fleebay and the variety is somewhat bewildering and rather too pricey to buy the wrong thing...any ideas highly appreciated!

Cheers!
 
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