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Photo Forum / Film Photography / Darkroom / August 2003

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Setting Up Small Darkroom

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Lyle Gordon - 27 Aug 2003 22:15 GMT
I'm in the process of setting up a small darkroom and I am not sure where I
should place things like safelights. I dont have much space. Here is a scale
drawing of the space I was hoping you could help me out. The ceilings are
7ft high. I have a small Durst 35mm enlarger and a opemus 6x6 thats a bit
larger. I am also wondering what kind of table I should place the enlargers
on, I was thinking of a few cinder-blocks with a piece of plywood across the
top braced with 2x4s if nessessary.

Thanks,
Lyle Gordon

Drawing: http://members.rogers.com/lyle/darkroom.gif
Tom Thackrey - 28 Aug 2003 06:01 GMT
> I'm in the process of setting up a small darkroom and I am not sure where
> I
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> the
> top braced with 2x4s if nessessary.

I would build a 2x4 frame with a plywood top for the enlargers. Screw it
into whatever walls are available. Sturdy is good.

Too bad about the location of that post, but I've seen worse. At least you
have a nice big sink. I like to work clockwise somehow anti-clockwise seems
backwards. You have kind of a long walk from the enlarger to the sink but I
don't see any alternative except to swap the positions of the 6x6 enlarger
and the sink. It will make life easier if you can fit between the post and
the sink.

I use the cheap (well relatively) bare safelight bulbs. I have 4 on the
ceiling, one over each enlarger (they're next to each other) and two over
the sink. Each is in it's own fixture with a pull chain. You also need an
inspection light over the wash end of the sink. I took apart a desk lamp and
screwed it to the wall. It has a twist switch. I like having completely
different switch types for the lights, wall switch for the white, pull
chains for the safelights and twist switches for everything else.

Signature

Tom Thackrey
www.creative-light.com

Jim Phelps - 28 Aug 2003 09:19 GMT
> I'm in the process of setting up a small darkroom and I am not sure where I
> should place things like safelights. I dont have much space. Here is a scale
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Drawing: http://members.rogers.com/lyle/darkroom.gif

Lyle,

  Lousy place for a column:~)

  You didn't say if you were going to only do B&W or possibly color, but
anyway you look at it the suggestion is the same.  I'd locate the safelight
down the end and over the sink.  This way it will be as far as possible from
the developer and enlarger.  This will keep shadows down on the chemical
line and if you throw a shadow on the enlarger easel it's OK.  Which end
will depend if you're right or left handed, so the best way for me to put it
is; where the fixer tray(s) are going to go.  If you're planning to put
shelves over the sink (and you will), put the safe light toward the front
edge of the sink.  Paint your ceiling flat white, except above the enlarger
(flat black).  Don't forget to test when you're done.

Jim
 
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