When will it end?

Kev M

Kev M

Suspended / Banned
Messages
4,347
Name
You can call me Sir.
Edit My Images
Yes
Okay, more pipe-dreaming from me here. I thought a darkroom would be a no go because I havn't got running water near my garage and I thought an MF enlarger would be silly money. Surfing t'internet I see a thing that rinses resin coated prints in a couple of minutes meaning they could be done in the kitchen sink and I could carry jugs of water into the garage to fill the dev, stop and fix trays.

I'm loving my time in the darkroom in college and I'm not sure where I'll get my printing fix once the course is over. It's another film based activity mixing equal parts pleasure, frustration and satisfaction. I'd happily sell my PC and a well used kidney for a decent darkroom and supply of papers and chemicals.

Practically, how hard is having your own darkroom in the garage? How expensive does the habit get with chemicals, paper, water etc? (Paper I know about price wise as I'm buying shed loads to use in college.)

Kev
 
I don't think converting your garage into a darkroom would be actually all that difficult.

Thinking about the best way to lay it out, just a table in the middle for trays of dev, stop and fix (and POSSIBLY wash). Then an area for an enlarger.

I think the most costly things are going to be a decent enlarger and the actual converting into a darkroom.

Chemicals, paper, etc would be small sums in doses.

It would eventually all add up but as long as you don't need to buy it all in one go it's fine.
 
I only plumbed the water and waste into my darkroom last year.

Before that I carried jugs and buckets of water to and from the darkroom which is in my loft.

Obviously it's easier to be plumbed in but it's not essential.

Is it not possible to plumb water to your garage? A working drain would probably be of more practical use than running water.


Steve.
 
I didnt have running water in my darkroom I use buckets 1 for clean for 1 for used, empty after use, and returned stacked nice and neat one thing I would say make sure its dry if your storing your printing papers in there.
 
I've seen MF enlargers for around £100 which is the less than what I was about to blow on an RC Helicopter, dunno how good they are though, obviously not top of the range but if I start looking properly I know I won't get a decent one unless I spend shed loads.

I could get water plumbed in I suppose but it would depend on the mess/disruption and the cost, a drain might be easier as there's one outside the garage door. Two rpoblems I can think off is making the garage lightproof as the door is a thin white plastice job that glows when the sun hits it and leaks light all around it. The other problem is disposing of the chemicals, can they go down the drain or will the greenies be banging my door down and complaining about fishes with three heads in the local river?
 
For the volume of chemicals an individual is likely to use disposal is not really an issue, plus its a lot nicer than what goes in to making a digital sensor or the battery in the greenies awful hybrid car.

My darkroom facilities are only temporary and I have no problem, you just need to be organised. Looking to convert a bit of a massive shed into a darkroom this summer which wont have plumbing either, dont really find it an issue.

Paper and chems are not a lot of money either

I dont think it ever really ends Kev, you just find another thing to move on to. You've got a whole world of Large Format, Ultra LF, rangefinders, TLRs, alt process, contact printing, colour printing, lith, ilfochromes...

Its a fairly endless list, and one that should last several lifetimes
 
I use my utility room and all my stuff packs away into a cardboard box and gets stored in the cupboard. (OK so I've not got an enlarger, the ironing is in the way!)

But developing is no problem. Runs off to get the Mamiya out!
 
you can get a Meopta enlarger that does 35mm and MF. I have seen them sold on ebay for around £60 a few times now. basically, in the bit that holds the film, there is an interchangeable mask that has a square/rectangle that lets one frame of film have light shone through at a time. definetly does square mf and 35mm but I remember the tog tutor in college saying that masks could be bought for some other frame sizes too:shrug:
 
-it is "pick up only" but when I rather sillily purchased 2 enlargers (on seperate occasions:bonk:) ended up organising postage/a courrier to deliver it for less that £50 (around £20 was the cheapest)
 
Hey Kev
Im' finishing college at the end of July after completing a BTEC National Diploma in Photography and really loved my time in the darkroom. I was worried about never being able to get my hands on a darkroom again but have just been accepted at University so will be using theirs for the next three years.
Oh man, what a dream having your own darkroom! I develop all my own films at home as i have all the chemicals etc...but thats as far as i can go with it really. My Lambrettas and superbike have hijacked my garage so i dont have a chance.
Post some pics of your garage as it looks now mate - you might be able to get a few pointers with a few fresh sets of eyes.
 
I'd be wary of that enlarger posted by Aleksander above...

!BTF+i4QBWk~$(KGrHgoOKjsEjlLmVqugBKGqd6YRbw~~_12.JPG


never heard of a gas powered one before ;)
 
Kev M said:
Okay, more pipe-dreaming from me here. I thought a darkroom would be a no go because I havn't got running water near my garage
Click to expand...

I've got a pic somewhere of an AP 'tog developing his own films - in the boot (or trunk, seeing as he was an American) of his car :shrug:
 
;) Take one bloke, a darkened private room with a lock on the door, maybe the occasional red light, some chemicals and a bit of mechanical gadgetry and thats it, they are happy as pigs in mud!

Sounds like that garage darkroom is pretty close to being a reality kev, plumbing or not. Have fun :thumbs:
 
Developing film isn't a problem, I've got a changing bag, tank, etc etc. Printing is a whole different league though.

Thanks for you help folks, I'm a bit rushed at the minute but will come back to answer properly later.

Kev:thumbs:
 
TheBigYin said:
I'd be wary of that enlarger posted by Aleksander above...

!BTF+i4QBWk~$(KGrHgoOKjsEjlLmVqugBKGqd6YRbw~~_12.JPG


never heard of a gas powered one before ;)
Click to expand...

haha! never seen that kind of set up before:thinking::cuckoo: i'm sure it would work! super-fast focusing et al!

but they are good enlargers! ive used them with meopta made lenses and nikkor ones, and they are just as good quality I have found. only thing is you need a timer attached (pretty normal) and either re-wire a plug to a UK fitting, or just run it through an adapter.
 
Yv said:
;) Take one bloke, a darkened private room with a lock on the door, maybe the occasional red light and thats it, they are happy as pigs in mud!
Click to expand...
Can't argue with that! :naughty:

:coat:
 
I built a darkroom in my back garden .... some people would call it a shed. instead of the normal featheredge or shiplap cladding I used sheets of plywood over CLS framing. It helps when you have the workshop facilities and trade accounts that I have but I reckon that the average joe could build one for around £200, you just need to source an external door from somewhere.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top