How can I make a darkroom in a small condominium

[kex]

Thankyou very much for telling me about how to set up a dark room. I can get the the idea of setting up the dark room!

But I don't know how many equipments that I should need and which type of equipments should I use ( eg, cylinder with 'mL' mark or with 'oz' mark? And can anyone tell me which chemicals that I should use? , etc.

u need a set of film developing kit which i mentioned b4 in the earlier post,and a printing kit which consist mainly of an enlarger,silver halide paper,a set of printing chemicals(developer,stop bath,fixer,hypo clearing agent) 3-5 trays and a safe light with a grain focusing aid to get the projected image in focus,a timer to time the developing time and a few tongs to transfer the print from tray to tray.

 

[selina]

Mine is a mobile darkroom. My enlarger is placed on the computer table (with 4 wheels) in another room. To print, all I need to do is push the table to my master bedroom with attached bathroom and at the time enjoy the comfort of airconditioning with plenty of space. Papers and accessories are on the keyboard tray and CPU compartment. Developing are done in the bathroom with trays on the floor and put a stool to sit comfortably. The drawback is that I can only start printing after dark which I normally starts as early as 7.30 pm until past midnight.

Safe light is clipped onto the towel rack with a clock placed next to it.

 

[lukeseow]

hi selina! I m interested to know the brand of your enlarger and where do u buy it? I intend to set up a mobile darkroom.

 

[rubric]

This is a great thread! I want to know how you guys/gals with pokey little darkrooms cope with ventilation. I have a storeroom which is about five feet by five feet and six feet in height. There's a powerpoint which I'll use for the enlarger and safelight. But what about ventilation? Is it really necessary to set up an extractor fan? I've been advised to print at night and keep the door open/leave a gap. Either that or close the door and limit printing to half an hour. What's the best solution? TIA.

 

[Wai]

Really!?
I live in Hong Kong but in North Point, Hon Kong Island.

I used to stay in Quarry Bay, just one stop away :bsmilie:

 

[zhuangyan]

how much is needed to setup a simple darkroom?

 

[hongsien]

This is a great thread! I want to know how you guys/gals with pokey little darkrooms cope with ventilation. I have a storeroom which is about five feet by five feet and six feet in height. There's a powerpoint which I'll use for the enlarger and safelight. But what about ventilation? Is it really necessary to set up an extractor fan? I've been advised to print at night and keep the door open/leave a gap. Either that or close the door and limit printing to half an hour. What's the best solution? TIA.

Well, in my case there was no ventilation! , and I could spend hours in that little room.......

But, I was living in Holland (not Holland Village as one taxi driver thought) at the time, so we don't have the heat as in Sing Sing........I used a little bulb to light the room and check the prints.......

And threadstarter: have you set up your little darkie?

Hongkongsien

 

[kex]

hong kong sian?

then come back singapore la!

 

[hongsien]

hong kong sian?

then come back singapore la!

No, lah! Somewhere in Clubsnap, someone mentioned Sing Sing to be very dull!! Hong Kong is lifelier!

Hongkongfoei

 

[selina]

Hi lukeseow
I bought the "Meopta" enlarger from CP during their stock clearance last year at $385 which came with a 50 mm lens FOC. Sorry it was the last piece that I grabbed without 2nd thought. Thereafter sourced from Ruby the safe light and 250w bulb.

 

[lukeseow]

Thanks Selina! Will check it out at CP

 

[ratboy]

This is a great thread! I want to know how you guys/gals with pokey little darkrooms cope with ventilation. I have a storeroom which is about five feet by five feet and six feet in height. There's a powerpoint which I'll use for the enlarger and safelight. But what about ventilation? Is it really necessary to set up an extractor fan? I've been advised to print at night and keep the door open/leave a gap. Either that or close the door and limit printing to half an hour. What's the best solution? TIA.

if its chemical fumes you are worried about,
the fumes from chemicals for B&W are quite mild
and i have not developed any reaction that i know of
from printing in my bedroom w/out proper ventilations.
Just open all windows to air out the room after session.

there are also alternatives like print drums that allow
you to do the chemical process outside of the darkroom
but you lose the advantage/disadvantage of seeing the print
develope.

 

[DTan]

i've been toying with this idea for the longest time. how would u incorporate the toilet bowl in the darkroom setup? Stable enough to set up your enlarger on it?

also i recall reading before about the need for the ventilation fan exhaust. any help here?

 

[moon]

I had my darkrm in one of the 5room flat. I am able to place cardboard on the windows to seal the light and remove them when i have to. And it's comfortable to have an air-condition and a radio so it wouldn't be so boring. The heat emitted from the enlarger lamp is very hot so air-condition helps. Safety light is a 220V philips red bulb. Just clip it to the window grill.

The big enlarger(secondhand) has to be place on a solid table. My case it's a small computer table and can be wheel around easily. Placing the 3 trays on a table or floor and after fixing i leave the room carry the print on a 4th tray and wash them at the toilet. As i walk in the out, ventilation is not necessary. Furthermore, my room is big so not so stuffy. Anyway the strong smell comes from the fixer. i think... I check my prints in the toilet, fluorescent light, some say it's not the right kind of light?? Anyway the prints are whiter when wet and darken slighty when it drys up, maybe its the light? Finally after wash, i squeeze off the water with a rubber scraper (for windows) and place the wet prints on newspapers and let it dry up naturally.

After printing, just cover-up the enlarger with a big plastic cover to prevent dust and tuck in one corner and remove the window cardboards. And it's back to a normal room again. I open all windows and door to air away the smell. Fortunately, my room is very windy. And my flooring are tiles so i'm not worried about staining them, not sure about marble or paraquet.

My toilet, no doubt is quite big and nice for a wet area and it's convenient whenever i need a leak, but it's still not so idea. And since the area is small i believe ventilation is a must. And it's a hassle moving the heavy enlarger (big meopta, 6X9) and table in and out....phew..

They most important thing is DUST free. Try to keep as less fabric/cotton items away from the darkroom as possible. And minimise the air movement when you are printing. It's really annoying to find dust on your negatives or masking glass.