auntiemaryscanarys new darkroom

auntiemaryscanary

auntiemaryscanary

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The last 2 years have been a little strange to say the least. An immediate family member was diagnosed with a terminal illness - thankfully they are doing very well currently. This has meant I haven't had the time or the inclination to develop a b&w film since May 2024. It's also the reason my efforts to organise the 2025 F&C Derbyshire photo walk were half-hearted.

Anyway, the good news. After 35 years in local government I took my work pension and "retired" last week. Two days later my retirement present to myself arrived:

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It measures 12 x 8 (3.6m x 2.4m in new money). The half with windows will be a home office and the other half will be a darkroom. The darkroom half has a separate wooden door. I'm putting a stud wall down the middle thus giving me 2 spaces of approx 7' 6" x 5' 6".

The electricians are in next week to run the armoured cable down and do the first fix. I'll then insulate, and board out with light proofing and fitting a ventilation system in the darkroom side. The sparks will come back and then wire everything up.

Currently I'm planning what goes where including the wet and dry sides. It's not a huge space so I'm trying to maximise the layout without it being too cramped.

It's great to be doing something positive.
 
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Not cheap are they shed purchase, install and fit outs.

Will you be plumbing in water? A cheap water heater might also be on the list.

And congratulations on your retirement!
 
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Barney said:
Not cheap are they shed purchase, install and fit outs.

Will you be plumbing in water? A cheap water heater might also be on the list.

And congratulations on your retirement!
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Yes, I'll be piping water down. I think I'll see how I get on with the cheapest form of water heater first - a kettle!

No, a good quality shed nor the electric install is cheap but it's a once only expense. We aren't moving house or anything so it will be the darkroom of my dreams so worth it :)
 
Great idea for a darkroom! Good luck with the fit out. I always think that a well laid out small space is much more efficient and pleasant to work in than a poorly laid out large space.

Will you have a bit of space heating, or is it for fair weather only?
 
Glad the family member is doing well and congratulations on your retirement.
 
Middle of winter and chemical hands, I would not want to be washing them with a kettle. :) ;)

I am so jealous!
 
Am I missing something ? Why do you need a home office it you are now retired?
 
My darkroom is 7x5 feet with floor standing kitchen units (and fridge) along two walls. The space is fine. I don't know what equipment you have, but a Nova print processor saves a lot of space, a lot of time and is far more convenient than trays. I use a bucket of water for the fixed prints, and wash in the bathroom (doesn't everyone wash in the bathroom? :) ).
 
A very nice looking shed and I love the plans. It's worth taking the time at this stage to get it right. Good luck with it!
 
Just a thought. The sloping roof may fix the enlarger location, depending on the height of the column. My darkroom ceiling fixes the position of my LPL 5x4 enlarger because of the height needed to have the head at the top of the column, which needs more height than just the column.
 
F1.2 said:
Am I missing something ? Why do you need a home office it you are now retired?
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I've taken my local government pension at the earliest opportunity (I was 55 last week) so not ready to fully retire just yet.

The home office will have a desk but also a new stereo (purchased with my v generous collection from my now former work colleagues) as well as a comfy chair.

In the new year I will be starting an online business retailing film, mainly b&w, and film supplies, accessories etc. I can now 3d print Minolta 16 cassettes and although fiddly I can fit them with felt light traps - I'd been selling these on an auction site a couple of years ago but stopped when HMRC said they would tax on sales of £1k plus (I didn't reach that limit). I'll try this for a couple of years and if not financially viable I'll get a part time job.

I've already got an obscure 35mm film stock which I'll offer a few rolls free to members to test.

What I'm not wanting to do is fall foul of the forum rules on advertising etc.
 
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StephenM said:
Just a thought. The sloping roof may fix the enlarger location, depending on the height of the column. My darkroom ceiling fixes the position of my LPL 5x4 enlarger because of the height needed to have the head at the top of the column, which needs more height than just the column.
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That is where I have lucked out. I've just had major renovations to the house finished - with the exception of the cellar. I've been graciously allowed to bag that space as a darkroom. It's vaulted, and the curve of the wall just about matches the profile of the enlarger. I'm hoping to have it kitted out by March or so next year. Humidity is the only issue, but I'm thinking of changing the entrance to allow for a landing space at the top of the stairs. I can store paper there.
 
auntiemaryscanary said:
I've taken my local government pension at the earliest opportunity (I was 55 last week) so not ready to fully retire just yet.

The home office will have a desk but also a new stereo (purchased with my v generous collection from my now former work colleagues) as well as a comfy chair.

In the new year I will be starting an online business retailing film, mainly b&w, and film supplies, accessories etc. I can now 3d print Minolta 16 cassettes and although fiddly I can fit them with felt light traps - I'd been selling these on an auction site a couple of years ago but stopped when HMRC said they would tax on sales of £1k plus (I didn't teach that limit). I'll try this for a couple of years and if not financially viable I'll get a part time job.

I've already got an obscure 35mm film stock which I'll offer a few rolls free to members to test.

What I'm not wanting to do is fall foul of the forum rules on advertising etc.
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Congats on the retirement - and with the new imaging facility! What is the obscure stock you hold?
 
Damp can be a problem with cellars. For a brief time, I had my enlarger in the cellar of my mother's house (I was still at school) but moved back to using my bedroom after noticing rust on the enlarger column.
 
StephenM said:
Damp can be a problem with cellars. For a brief time, I had my enlarger in the cellar of my mother's house (I was still at school) but moved back to using my bedroom after noticing rust on the enlarger column.
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Yup. It has been treated extensively for damp and is currently going through another phase of dehumidification. It's now pretty good but requires on-going maintenance. That's why I'm leaving it intil next year before seting it up. I have the enlarger down there at the moment. It's on a table and covered, along with dessicant. I'm monitoring it on an on-going basis. Given the geology of where I live (very chalky substrate), humidity is a problem which wil require on-going attention, but I'm aming to have it under control.
 
auntiemaryscanary said:
What I'm not wanting to do is fall foul of the forum rules on advertising etc.
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When you are up and running, drop me a PM, I'll do you a very good deal on advertising on the forum
 
StephenM said:
Damp can be a problem with cellars. For a brief time, I had my enlarger in the cellar of my mother's house (I was still at school) but moved back to using my bedroom after noticing rust on the enlarger column.
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Before I got my current Nova darkroom tent, I used a shower room as my darkroom. It's not that uncommon to use a bathroom by moving the equipment in just when you need it, but very, very, stupidly, I left the enlarger there all the time. It was covered so it didn't get wet directly from the shower, but humidity caused a lot of problems. The enlarger has some rust, but is still working fine, but an RH Designs Analyser eventually stopped working altogether after too much of this ill-treatment.

In warm weather, the Nova tent also has problems with condensation, but this cold weather is fine.
 
StephenM said:
Just a thought. The sloping roof may fix the enlarger location, depending on the height of the column. My darkroom ceiling fixes the position of my LPL 5x4 enlarger because of the height needed to have the head at the top of the column, which needs more height than just the column.
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The shed is "extra height". Internally height is 7'6" at the highest and 6'6" at the lowest.

You are right, the large column enlarger will dictate the whole layout. It will certainly be at the highest end of the slope.
 
I just popped in to my darkroom, but without a tape measure. Visually, I'd guess the ceiling height at 8 feet, based on my height; and at the top of the column my LPL 5x4 seems to have about 8 inches clearance. Possibly slightly less. So at 7'6" you should be OK - unless you happen to have a floor standing De Vere...
 
auntiemaryscanary said:
Yes, I'll be piping water down. I think I'll see how I get on with the cheapest form of water heater first - a kettle!
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The late John Whitmore @thedarkshed had an arrangement with a couple of tanks IIRC. He filled the top one with a hose from time to time; it had a tap at the bottom above a sink which drained into another tank or a bucket, can't remember.

His shed was, um, slightly larger!
 
ChrisR said:
His shed was, um, slightly larger!
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I've been in there quite a lot over the last few days. I got the stud wall for the partition up today (as well as a coat of oil based preservative on yesterday due to the dry weather - relieved to know it will be protected from wet until spring).

Really getting a feeling for it now and I agree it's not massive, but compared to my last shed based darkroom of 4' x 4'3" it's positively palatial. The high roof makes a big difference too.

The layout is starting to shape up. I'm confident I will have room for a sink of some description.

Got to get a move on now, electricians arrive Wednesday!

PS: I've had a very good quote plus site visit from the for aircon/heat pump installation. He's registered, branded units, warranted etc.
 
First practice at installing:

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Thankfully it will easily fit in the new mega shed. Height to top of the column is 78" and the internal shed height is 90". Phew!

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I dropped the adjustment down about 8" just to know it would go in the shed come what may. I think I should have room to have the head assembly fully extended as required. The table is adjustable too so plenty of options if required.

Just as importantly it survived it's trip from London and 2 months in the garage

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Electrician did first fix a couple of days ago

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I'm more or less certain what the darkroom internal layout will be. I've just got to decide where some further batons need to be to support the lining boards. But being as though I've been doing this shed, and the prep for it's arrival, for at least 5 weeks I'm having a Christmas and New Year break from it all. (Plus Mrs amc wants some jobs doing in the house :) ).
 
Work on this has been steady. The insulation of the shed was lengthy, hideous, fiddly and dusty.

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I quite enjoyed the boarding out of the office side, at least to begin with!

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Eldest daughter (17) helped me install the engineered oak flooring. V good at it she was too. You can probably make out the lift out internal door.

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By the time I'd finished boarding out the darkroom side (2 days ago) and light proofing as I was going along, I was loosing patience. The black silicone is where I'd made cutting mistakes... Floor insulation and carpet tiles finished today.

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Electricians back in a week to wire everything up. Hopefully I'll get the edging strips in the office side done before then but if not it doesn't matter.

After that it's modifying, insulating (all pre-cut and aluminium tape sealed) and light proofing the darkroom shed door, fitting the benches (cheap work tops arriving tomorrow) and connecting up the ventilation systems. All the holes are cut for ventilation. One system will recirculate air internally into the office side where the aircon will be and the other will suck in fresh air and expel it out via separate holes.

Then it's check, check, check the darkroom is light proof. The external walls and ceiling have 21mm of wood, 50mm of foil covered insulation and 6mm ply so no light should get through that. The internal wall is 12mm pine, at least one layer of 100% light proof fabric plus 6mm ply with blackboard paint where the sockets will be.
 
Good to see "electricians" plural, as everyone e knows the saying "many hands make light work" and you will need working lights :exit:

More seriously, I'm interested in your choice of carpet for the floor. I used lino as being less likely to produce or hold dust, and better for cleaning in the event of liquid spills.
 
StephenM said:
Good to see "electricians" plural, as everyone e knows the saying "many hands make light work" and you will need working lights :exit:

More seriously, I'm interested in your choice of carpet for the floor. I used lino as being less likely to produce or hold dust, and better for cleaning in the event of liquid spills.
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The carpet tiles were for ease of fitting, cheapness and to add another layer of insulation to the floor.

I did consider lino but my only time fitting it was a disaster (a piece in our small WC room) and I vowed never to fit the stuff again :headbang:.

You can just make out in the last pic above a black vac hose. It's semi commercial and has powerful suction so that will take care of dust in the carpet tiles and will also be used occasionally on the walls and ceiling. It's also "wet" capable so will deal with any spills. We also have a spot washer if any spills need more of clean than my scrubbing can achieve and as a last resort I've a few spares so the affected tile(s) can be replaced.

To summarise: lino would be better but I'm stubborn!

As for "sparks" plural we'll see. There should have been two for the first fix but only one arrived. I'd moved a ton of stuff in the garage (motorbike, freezer, tumble dryer, multiple shelving units etc) so they could take power off the garage fuse box and route the armoured cable. The lone spark said he'd cable lay in the garage on the second visit. My protestations that I "ain't shifting that sodding lot again" meant he did do the required garage work!
 
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Looking good (y).....as I had a tiny room in the garage I was worried about light refections on the paper when enlarging (from the wooden walls) so painted all the walls black..but as your room is quiet large you probably wont have a problem....erm well that is if you can even buy matt black emulsion paint these days :(
 
Looking good, are you not concerned about potential chemical spillages.
 
excalibur2 said:
Looking good (y).....as I had a tiny room in the garage I was worried about light refections on the paper when enlarging (from the wooden walls) so painted all the walls black..but as your room is quiet large you probably wont have a problem....erm well that is if you can even buy matt black emulsion paint these days :(
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Thanks. I'm going to see about reflections affecting the paper first. They didn't on my tiny former darkroom (4' x 4' 3") and that had the same ply but I was only using lower powered enlargers.

If needed I've got a litre of blackboard paint I can apply in the corner where the large, more powerful, 5 x7 enlarger is going. The paint is acrylic but cheaper than you can get in artists shops. It sticks to anything without prep and is what I will be using on the ducting to make it light proof including the multiple right angle bends that will make up the light traps.
 
Getting there now after electrics completed yesterday.

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Speakers will be wall mounted.

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I've some strip wood to sort out the sagging roof ply now the lights are up.

Retrieving stuff - 12v fans, transformers, cables & controllers and ducting, enlargers etc from the crammed garden shed to start getting them set up.

The big 5x4 enlarger will go intoday if I get time or otherwise tomorrow.
 
auntiemaryscanary said:
Getting there now after electrics completed yesterday.

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Speakers will be wall mounted.

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I've some strip wood to sort out the sagging roof ply now the lights are up.

Retrieving stuff - 12v fans, transformers, cables & controllers and ducting, enlargers etc from the crammed garden shed to start getting them set up.

The big 5x4 enlarger will go intoday if I get time or otherwise tomorrow.
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What enlarger did you get?
 
auntiemaryscanary said:
I'm now home after a long day. Whilst I was in London I took the opportunity to meet up with a young chap who is on an old car forum we both frequent.

His car is an Invacar! He does have a disability himself and finds this more comfortable than a "normal" car. I shot a roll of 120 of his Invalid Carriage on the C3 so I'll post some of these in the future.

The seller of the enlarger was v helpful in taking time to show me both disassembly and how it re-assembles. I took a million phone pics of this process but not one of it complete so here are couple of screenshots of the for sale pics:

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Hmmn..

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... these excess darkroom & shed building materials have been "temporarily" stored here for 6 weeks. The dust sheet bound item is the enlarger.

Being as though we are at school for parents evening at 4pm I'll retrieve it tomorrow!
 
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