Sadly the problem is not space but objections from other members of the
household. No chemicals allowed in my dark bit, I have to use the kitchen
which is too much hassle to black out (too many doors and windows and it's
on the route to the bathroom!)

"Dennis O'Connor"  wrote in message

   My darkroom is a converted outside lavatory, 6' x 4', maybe a few inches
bigger. I can scarcely run to a row of trays in the shelf below the enlarger
worktop - can JUST do it with the edges overlapping if I use my three 12" x
16" capable trays (which are actually about 17 x 22). But the space is
exclusively mine and not otherwise too bad for comfort and workability.
Luckily a high ceiling allows overhead shelf storage too. And so...

   ...GO VERTICAL. I have a tray stacker on that lower shelf made out of
basic melamine MDF panelling (ex-kitchen unit doors) which has three
openfronted drawers that slide on drawer sliders - the metal ones with ball
bearings, ex-office desk, as they're far smoother than the plastic runner
type. Each has a low lip enough to retain the tray, and with a pull knob. If
rocking of the tray required, the tray can be rocked by hand on the shelf or
agitated by sliding the drawer back and forth with the knob. Dev at the top,
then stop then fix, so prints and drips travel down the tower. Proper drawer
sliders cantilever right out on two rigid lengths, so you can get a 10"
slider to pull out about 17" without sagging, so if you're monitoring the
dev under safelight you can actually have the tray to full view without
squinting. The plastic runners don't extend so you're limited to rather less
than the full extent.

   The result is a cube no bigger than 2' with great functionality,
constructed for peanuts - the drawer sliders were from a car boot or
possibly even the dump, I can't now recall. Melamine or a similar surface is
a good idea to wipe off  the crystallising drips from the trays which can
make bare wood swell and stain. Such a box could be constructed with front
lid and possibly casters if you need to remove it from a work space and stow
it elsewhere. And of course all your chemicals can be rescued into
squashable bottles between sessions instead of a total-loss routine. Can
even store them in the tray tower with the trays! (There's about 6" headroom
in each compartment).

   Another budget tip: if doing 10 x 8, a cheap substitute for dev trays is
cat litter trays from a pound shop or pet shop. Great inert cleanable
plastic, and they come in fetching colours so you worry less about mixing
them up (though label them nonetheless).

   I do have the guts of a Jobo somewhere in a shed, rescued by a friend
from a skip but not yet had a reason to get it going.

   One could make something along the lines of a Nova vertical slot
processor from some suitable non-tainting plastic like perspex assuming the
edge joints stay drip tight (!) , which would be marvellously economical on
footprint space but not only can you not readily see the print developing,
but there's no great economy of chemistry. I calculate a 12 x 16 capable
tank even 1cm wide would need at least 1.2 litres of solution to get full
immersion, as you can't slosh. A 16 x 20 would need 2 litres plus. I mix up
chemistry a litre at a time for my printing (mostly 10 x 8 in the cat
trays), slosh gently and have no problems. The Jessop storage bottles are 1
litre each.

   Tony Clarke, minimalist printer but not THAT minimal

...

September 28, 2005, from Lloyd Erlick,

I think some of the guys who have done
literally that include Ansel Adams, Edward
Weston, David Vestal ... I'm sure single-tray
work came from young photogs who never had
any money, early in the history of
photography (and long before Adams and
Weston, too).

One of Vestal's books has a picture of one of
his early 'darkrooms' -- it amounted to a
very thirties-looking bathroom sink.

regards,
--le

 I did mention drum use when no dark space exists
for processing; that the main reason for using a drum.
 A little aside: Long, Wide, Deep, Sinks. I don't
know where they came from. I spent years in three Army
labs which had ample processing couter space. The sinks
were sized for water supply and washing up. I don't
understand why anybody would wish to be bent over
reaching down to process.
 There are those with a "of course if you care to do it
up Right and Proper" attitude which won't go near a
darkroom if it is without a Long, Wide, Deep, Sink.

 I consider it a gas; one tray, one shot, no stop,
and archival results with one very dilute fix. The only
down side is the time for development. The more then usual
dilution will call for more time. I allow for 3 or 5
minutes ordinarily.
 The remarkable way highly dilute fixer works came
as a real surprise. For 8 x 10 FB I suggest A. Thio. at
1:41 and a solution volume of 250ml; 3 minutes constant
agitation. S. Thio. will also work; 6 grams anhydrous.
Agitate by pulling and folding the paper upon itself
rear to front, right to left. Do not reduce the
fixer's volume. As it is you'll have archival
results with one fix. Dan