Moving After 17 Years in My Studio.

sepiareverb

sepiareverb

genius and moron
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Feb 7, 2007
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St Johnsbury VT
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Gulp. This is going to be a long drawn out process, but in the end I'll have both a bigger sink (easier 20x24" prints), better ventilation and a slightly larger work space. Downside is no more 8x10 enlarger- the ceiling in the only places the darkroom can go are just too low. Looks like contractors are going to start opening up the floor to put a new stairway in to the darkroom/workroom area tomorrow or Monday. I'm not looking forward to the next few months (other than the bonfire of old work), but afterwards I'm pretty sure I'll be much happier in the new space.

I'm starting with raw space again, so have plenty of decisions to make: so, anything you can't live without in your darkroom or workroom?
 
If I had an 8x10 enlarger I would be hard pressed to give it up. But I am not you. I have yet to use an 8x10 camera I have. So my opinions on keeping an 8x10 enlarger aren't worth much. (Probably no other photographic opinions either 😀 😀)

But an 8x10? Wow. Good luck in your new location. At least it sounds like you are getting a chance to do everything just the way you want it. That in itself is worth a lot.
 
I'm in the scouting process for a new home also.
And this time, I'm going to have a built from scratch darkroom.

I'm thinking a decent number of drawers, for storing negative holders, flashlights, gloves, tissue, loupe, scissors.

And a zip line above the sink to hang pictures to dry.
 
When I lived at my parents home I had a permanent Darkroom set up...It was maybe 5x12 feet...I would love to have something that size again in a permanent set up...again...
 
My favorite solution to having a 8x10 enlarger and limited ceiling height was Wynn Bullocks. In the their kitchen was this strange box - dead center. It handled the top of the enlarger column (about 2.5 feet above the floor level). The box was nicely made - matched the kitchen cabinets in wood and coloring. It also made it easy to change bulbs in it - rack the head all the way up - lift off the box and it was all accessible!
Now it depends on what is above your new darkroom space though?
One thing that I did with my current darkroom (9x12") was building all the walls from 3/4" marine plywood. This means that you never have to look for a stud to attach something - just anchor it anywhere.
I also put in electrical outlets (4 plug grounded) every linear 48" - and at 5.5 ft height. Never have to have long, tangled power cords dangling everywhere. Used three different circuits too - a spike in power demand never affects the enlarging bulb.
Maximum under sink storage - racks for trays and cabinets for chemistry and all the small stuff that tends to accumulate in darkrooms.
Overhead "pull" wire that can turn on white lights over the sinks. Sounds simple- but saves a lot of time and also demands a conscious effort to turn on - makes it less likely to do it by mistake and discover that you thought you had put the lid back on the box with 4x5 film!!!!
Put in a good floor surface - slightly soft (I used some kind of vinyl flooring used in operating rooms in hospitals). The "edges" are bent up and go up about 4" high against the walls. Easier to handle chemical spills. The soft cushion of the floor makes it less tiring to stand to.
One of my sinks is a 30x36" deep sink (18") - it is used for washing larger prints. usually it is covered by a lid, hinged at the back so when the sink is not in use - it can be folded down and used for loading film-tanks etc. Surface is a thick, lab-type vinyl (I think it is vinyl} that can be cleaned easily. Make a "catch" for it though - had the damned thing falling down one day on my hands!!! Now it is very securely fastened when "up". I need to make a stainless steel "sheet" for the underside of it though. This way it can be used to squeege prints when you pull them out of the wash.
One tip - that most darkroom workers can agree with. ROUND OFF the corners of every table etc. Nothing like running a hip into a sharp edge!
My current darkroom is probably #5 or 6 that I have designed and built from scratch. Getting better - but not yet perfect though. Always something that could be improved (position of drain in the 96x30" sink - to far into a corner now - needs to be a bit centered. More shelves - cant have too many of those.A second air vent with a fan etc, etc.
 
Let's see beer fridge, Coffee maker, Sound system. If you have all three, i'll swing by next time I'm in VT.
 
No tip from me ... I had never had my own darkroom, had once one co-designed in my highschool and that worked well enough.

Good luck with your design ! ... and while it is hard work it is also fun to design something from the scratch. 🙂
 
In my old darkroom I mounted the enlarger on the back of the cabinetry and cut away the surface beneath. On the exposed sides of that cutout I installed rails into which I slid the 'baseboard' of the enlarger. This made making big prints a snap.

Could you do something similar to accommodate your enlarger?
 
I'd do nothing permanent until I'd used the space itself for about 5 months.. then I'd start sketching out the layout and figure out how to work the space.

Strangely a kitchen designer might give you ideas.. they specialize in setting things up so there is minimal moving from a working station. Just a thought.
 
Love that idea for the 810 Tom, but don't think that would fly here, the floors are pretty shakey in this balloon framed house...
Tom A said:
One thing that I did with my current darkroom (9x12") was building all the walls from 3/4" marine plywood. This means that you never have to look for a stud to attach something - just anchor it anywhere.
Click to expand...

Excellent idea! I was going to use that behind the sink, but why not everywhere?

Tom A said:
I also put in electrical outlets (4 plug grounded) every linear 48" - and at 5.5 ft height. Never have to have long, tangled power cords dangling everywhere. Used three different circuits too - a spike in power demand never affects the enlarging bulb.
Click to expand...

I've got the enlargers on their own line now- will definitely do that again, and was thinking I needed the outlets higher- that's higher than I would have gone but sounds ideal.

I'm ahead of you on the rackes etc. under the sink, and the floor- I'm laying down a rubber floor here- there is concrete on the floor now. Pull wire for overhead lights sounds very nice, I've got a chain now, but the wire works from anywhere along the sink!

Tom A said:
usually it is covered by a lid, hinged at the back so when the sink is not in use - it can be folded down and used for loading film-tanks etc. Surface is a thick, lab-type vinyl (I think it is vinyl} that can be cleaned easily. Make a "catch" for it though - had the damned thing falling down one day on my hands!!! Now it is very securely fastened when "up". I need to make a stainless steel "sheet" for the underside of it though. This way it can be used to squeege prints when you pull them out of the wash.
Click to expand...

I've got a wash sink in the plan, wide enough for a squeegie board in front of the washer. Was thinking of a centered drain too- and at the developer tray end of the sink, so I'm rinsing prints and washing the sink at the same time. Looking into an air to air heat exchanger for exhausting chems, hoping to save some heating cash over the next few winters. In VT every little bit helps.

This will be my 6th darkroom, #5 is nearly perfect, and I will really miss it unless I get this one 'righter'!

Jan- that is exactly what I did here- worked in the space for about a year drawing on the walls where things should be, then did a reno. Three years later I spent a few days going over all my workflows and did a final reno. This is underway again here before I start building the new space.
 
spyder2000 said:
In my old darkroom I mounted the enlarger on the back of the cabinetry and cut away the surface beneath. On the exposed sides of that cutout I installed rails into which I slid the 'baseboard' of the enlarger. This made making big prints a snap.

Could you do something similar to accommodate your enlarger?
Click to expand...

A possibility I've not ruled out. But the Zone VI has enough tilt to the column that this might make the regular height counter not terribly useful. Currently I can use the counter (no baseboard on the Z VI) when not enlarging 810s. And I rarely shoot 810 anymore, but of course just know as soon as I can't I'll find some great 810 project. My thought is that I'll shoot anything LF in 45 if big prints are needed. The Z VI is not VC and I doubt I'll ever get a colorhead to fit it, so it may go into storage for a while.
 
How about putting the 8 X 10 enlarger on a low platform: 12" 6" or 2"; whatever it takes to clear the ceiling. You could just assume a cross-legged yoga position when using it.
 
Dad had an entire large quarter of the basement setup as a darkroom. He shot star and moon shots with a Criterion telescope and developed everyting himself. Circular door, enlarger, space for baths, sinks (plural), hanging neg's, etc. Growing up not knowing any better, it didn't occur to me that not everyone had that..in fact NOBODY had a darkroom like that in their home.

It wasn't until I got back into film decades later that I realized how fortunate I had been to have experienced a treasure like that, and been able to learn how to develop from a master.

If only I could afford to have a space like that OR remember how to use any of it.

Gratz for getting the space you want!
 
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