Darkroom basics

External Since: Apr 17, 2005 Posts: 1

What are the minimum requirements for a darkroom?; in other words, what
am I missing.

So far I've got:

The Enlarger
Bulk Film Loader and cassettes
Developing Trays
Photo Paper
The necessary chemicals (I think)

Besides these, what items are essential to a darkroom? The items I
have listed may seem without priority, but I've just gathered them from
around...relatives, garage sales etc. I'll be developing both film and
the prints, and I've got a couple months to get the rest of the
essentials.

Also, for your sake, can any body recommend a book or too which will
help me get under way?

Thanks;
Sean

External Since: Oct 31, 2004 Posts: 906

On 4/17/2005 9:52 PM hatchsea DeleteThis @msu.edu spake thus:

> What are the minimum requirements for a darkroom?; in other words, what
> am I missing.
>
> So far I've got:
>
> The Enlarger
> Bulk Film Loader and cassettes
> Developing Trays
> Photo Paper
> The necessary chemicals (I think)
>
> Besides these, what items are essential to a darkroom? The items I
> have listed may seem without priority, but I've just gathered them from
> around...relatives, garage sales etc. I'll be developing both film and
> the prints, and I've got a couple months to get the rest of the
> essentials.

You're doing the right thing, gathering the stuff you need from here and
there. You'll find you don't need to go to a photo store for very much of the
stuff you use.

Rather than give you an exhaustive laundry list of every little thing you
might ever need in a darkroom, I'll just list a few things that I consider
basic essentials in addition to what you already have:

o Print tongs: I use the cheap bamboo & rubber ones
o Thermometer. Don't bother with digital anything or a fancy-schmancy dial
type (although I do have one I got at a flea market); the most accurate type
is still the standard glass one. This you should buy at a camera place.
o Timer: you'll need one for your enlarger to time your prints, and another
for film development. For the latter, any cheap little digital job will do.
o Safelight: if nothing else, you can actually use red christmas tree lights
for making (black & white) prints. Or get a used photo safelight cheap.
Remember: no safelight for film (unless you're using orthochromatic film,
which you probably aren't).
o Containers: I've been replacing all my PE (polyethylene) bottles with PETE,
which is better for chemicals as it's less porous. In any case, you should be
able to pick up all the containers you need for free. Check your local
recycling center.
o Big tray for washing prints. A dishwashing tray (or larger) will work.
o Funnels; mixing containers; measuring cup, graduated cylinder or other
measuring device.
o Some way to hang film & prints to dry. I have a piece of telephone wire
strung across my bathroom with wooden clothespins.

One thing NOT to get: a film squeegee. Don't let anyone talk you into getting
one of those horrible things!

--
"I know I will go to hell, because I pardoned Richard Nixon."

- Former President Gerald Ford to his golf partners, as related by
the late Hunter S. Thompson