Darkroom Renovation Phase 1

Hi Big Ursus,

Thanks for your response! I'm thinking a used "Bose Wave" for my sound system, my wife has hundreds of CDs. And I have a large roll of thick plastic and a staple gun, so that is how I will seal the dust in the ceiling. Lots of mud up there from construction time.

Right now I have a long run of wooden spring clothespins, strung on picture framing wire, in my laundry area of the basement. I've been using that up to now for film drying, it works OK. I haven't dried any fiber prints in a while (I have a freezer full of Ektalure and fibre Forte papers), but last time I had a "real" darkroom, I used Kodak blotter rolls, which I still have. Then I flattened the prints in a dry mount press.

Lots to consider! Plenty of time to do all of this .........................

I think I have sold my Kreonite 16" CPT16 color processor, so that will go into the garage as soon as it warms up, waiting for pickup. That will free up a lot of basement space in the laundry room.
 
Oh I did buy 100 sheets of Ilfospeed Grade #2 8x10 Pearl finish. $89 at B&H, gosh has that gone up! This will be used for making contacts, and for a few printing sessions at least, as I ease all this back into use
 
Doesn’t look safe to me.

Dust is the least of your worries.

Wires all over. And water? Is that a gas line I see in the ceiling? You’ll probably have light bouncing off the ventilation ducts?

Lot more items to consider.

Get some pro help.

Sorry to be critical, I’m just looking with my eyes and it’s what I see. Trying to help.
 
Bill Clark said:
Doesn’t look safe to me.

Dust is the least of your worries.

Wires all over. And water? Is that a gas line I see in the ceiling? You’ll probably have light bouncing off the ventilation ducts?

Lot more items to consider.

Get some pro help.

Sorry to be critical, I’m just looking with my eyes and it’s what I see. Trying to help.
Click to expand...

Yes to this ^. I would not feel comfortable covering up all that spaghetti wiring with plastic!
 
Hi Bill and Saul,

I appreciate your concerns, Thank You.

This is a temporary setup only (that's why Phase I; get things going again). The room is completely light tight, no leaks at all. I've loaded film in there for twenty years so far with no leaks or light fogging. As far as wiring, also temporary. All I have done so far, is to run a heavy duty extension cord in, to power three 15W safelight bulbs. The only time this is plugged in, is when I am loading Ortho dry plates or developing same. I've been assured this is totally safe. I will not be enlarging for a while. We got brand new furnace and air conditioning last year, and I have inquired about extending a heating duct into this room. We will see. The gas line is capped off and I've been told is not an issue. Lots of homes have gas pipes running through them.

This spring or summer I will have the copper lines to the processor and also the drain line (just on the outside wall of the room) extended into the darkroom, and my $1000 Kreonite water mixing board will be installed. I'll also be building PVC sinks and wooden work tables. The plastic will only go up when things have been made permanent.

I also have a very expensive Kreonite platemaking sink I will install as well. I need to build a base with legs and storage underneath for that.
 
I wouldn’t be concerned about the wiring or the gas pipe.

Unless you have exposed junctions without face plates there’s nothing to stress.

I’m sure you know that any outlet within your body’s reach of a sink/water source needs a GFI. You can also install GFI breakers if you have an excess of outlets near a water source.

GFI’s will be one of the more expensive bits.

I liked your idea to install a drop ceiling, affordable, it gives you access to the utilities you want to cover. With the plastic my concern would be condensation especially if you do a good job with the staples. It takes very little difference in temp between that air gap and your basement to create moisture. No different than say... camping in a tent on a cool summer evening and waking up the next morning with damp blankets.

Just my 2 penny’s! I’ve been an active carpenter/contractor for over a decade now.
 
Vintage Delta Miter Saw Harbor Freight Miter Stand by Nokton48, on Flickr

My Father in Law just gave me this vintage Delta Miter Saw. I bought a heavy duty Miter Saw Stand at Harbor Freight, just put it together. I am going to learn to make darkroom work tables and storage and legs under darkroom sinks. This is a badass miter saw.

I also bought a laser to modernize it, and an extra Irwin 10" 200 teeth fine cutting blade. Almost good to go.
 
Too Cold! Ha Ha Snowstorm here. See outside? Prolly not like what you get out there.........

Actually the board needs drilled out and bolted down before running it
 

Darkroom renovation 4 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Here's today's update. I am working my way around the room, using the shop vac with brush attachment, dusting and cleaning everything, and doing some basic layout along the left wall. The Kreonite plate making sink fits well, that will go to the far left corner of this wall (it's just there where is it is, to see how much space it takes up). I'll use it for film developing, chemical mixing, etc. The rest of the left wall will be spacious wide PVC sink, that will hold 20x24" trays. I think the enlargers will be situated across the back wall, we will see. I may add a third enlarger, I'm thinking an 8x10" Beseler with an LED head for split contrast VC printing. My basement has an extra high ceiling (extra course) so a humungous enlarger will fit. That's down the road anyways. I'll keep the work table area as it is for now. Plenty of room for dry work. Oh, and a good stereo system (I'm thinking Bose Wave) and some photo posters hanging on the walls, for inspiration. My Kreonite water board will be installed above the sinks. An electrician will rewire the room and add lots of safe outlets. And I'll be addressing the ventilation issues as well.

I measured the space, it's 130"x145". I'm going to price materials to put in a cheap drop ceiling.

It's time for Coors, of Course! 🙂 Oh, and a Guy out in Seattle has agreed to buy my Kreonite color processor. He's driving cross country to pick it up, when it warms up. Glad to help him out, he needs a second unit. CPT16s are getting hard to find; a new one is 38K
 
Nice saw!

Sit back with a beer and watch a few youtube DIY videos on table making.

You might find yourself inspired to own a set of sharp chisels.

That big green Kreonite would look stellar with a set of heavy walnut legs and a tall apron out front.

Throw some cheap locking casters on those enlarger cabinets. Being able to push things around makes life so much easier! Effectively double your space by crowding them in a corner or rearranging for a specific job.

Looking great!
 
B-9 said:
Nice saw!

Sit back with a beer and watch a few youtube DIY videos on table making.

You might find yourself inspired to own a set of sharp chisels.

That big green Kreonite would look stellar with a set of heavy walnut legs and a tall apron out front.

Throw some cheap locking casters on those enlarger cabinets. Being able to push things around makes life so much easier! Effectively double your space by crowding them in a corner or rearranging for a specific job.

Looking great!
Click to expand...

I'm all about casters but not on an enlarging base which should be as rock solid as possible.
 
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