Muggins
Junk magnet
Your fault, @Yokosuka Mike , you thought this was a good idea!
So, a warning. This is not the creation of a professional quality darkroom in a backwoods-style privy. It's the ongoing meanderings of an arch-muddler who has collected random darkroom bits over the years and finally has a bit of time to devote to his dream. It won't be perfect. It might not even work very well, but I'm having fun doing it, and I'll pick up the experience to know what to do better as I go. I am only an expert in the sense of combining "x" - the unknown - with "spurt" - which is a drip under pressure.
So, the "outside toilet". My house was built as social housing in 1946ish. When the house was constructed, there was a flat-roofed area at the rear separated from the back wall of the house by a passageway, but still roofed over. In this was almost certainly a coal storage area, and a toilet. Sometime since the passageway has been blocked off at one end, and a door fitted at the other to bring it - just! into the house. So it's not really outside any more, but I call it that as it's a fair description of where it is compared to the bathroom we actually use.
I refer to this as "the back passage" because it's a passage, it's at the back of the house, and I have a scabrous sense of humour.
The back passage by gray1720, on Flickr
Behind the red door is the loo. It's not coming out because if we ever sell the place having two loos will add value. Having a second loo that you can use without freezing your bum off, and having to wash your hands in the kitchen, would probably help a lot more, but I'll leave that bit to the estate agents. Hence why the porcelain has stayed. It's been used three times in nine years - when the local archaeology group did a test pit in the back garden, when my Dad visited (he couldn't climb stairs any more), and when the other bathroom was being refurbished. So it's no great shakes having it harder to use.
Thus far I've built the shelf. It's the leftover kitchen worksurface that was cut out to fit the sink in, and it was *just* wide enough - I had to cut about 4 inches off. It's also held down by gravity - again, for easy removal. It's going to be quite high to work at, but I needed to keep the cistern as well as the pan.
Outside bog by gray1720, on Flickr
Note the black material - window blind swiped from a skip where I used to work, from one of the old microscope suites. It's heavy and lightproof, and there's a piece already cut to cover the window.
More as it happens...
So, a warning. This is not the creation of a professional quality darkroom in a backwoods-style privy. It's the ongoing meanderings of an arch-muddler who has collected random darkroom bits over the years and finally has a bit of time to devote to his dream. It won't be perfect. It might not even work very well, but I'm having fun doing it, and I'll pick up the experience to know what to do better as I go. I am only an expert in the sense of combining "x" - the unknown - with "spurt" - which is a drip under pressure.
So, the "outside toilet". My house was built as social housing in 1946ish. When the house was constructed, there was a flat-roofed area at the rear separated from the back wall of the house by a passageway, but still roofed over. In this was almost certainly a coal storage area, and a toilet. Sometime since the passageway has been blocked off at one end, and a door fitted at the other to bring it - just! into the house. So it's not really outside any more, but I call it that as it's a fair description of where it is compared to the bathroom we actually use.
I refer to this as "the back passage" because it's a passage, it's at the back of the house, and I have a scabrous sense of humour.
The back passage by gray1720, on FlickrBehind the red door is the loo. It's not coming out because if we ever sell the place having two loos will add value. Having a second loo that you can use without freezing your bum off, and having to wash your hands in the kitchen, would probably help a lot more, but I'll leave that bit to the estate agents. Hence why the porcelain has stayed. It's been used three times in nine years - when the local archaeology group did a test pit in the back garden, when my Dad visited (he couldn't climb stairs any more), and when the other bathroom was being refurbished. So it's no great shakes having it harder to use.
Thus far I've built the shelf. It's the leftover kitchen worksurface that was cut out to fit the sink in, and it was *just* wide enough - I had to cut about 4 inches off. It's also held down by gravity - again, for easy removal. It's going to be quite high to work at, but I needed to keep the cistern as well as the pan.
Outside bog by gray1720, on FlickrNote the black material - window blind swiped from a skip where I used to work, from one of the old microscope suites. It's heavy and lightproof, and there's a piece already cut to cover the window.
More as it happens...
Freakscene
Obscure member
This is the greatest thread in RFF history. Not joking. A true feat.
Muggins
Junk magnet
Consider my day made, @Freakscene!
Vince Lupo
Whatever
Since we’re on the subject of toilets, I now have an issue that I hadn’t considered in our new house. We’re now on a septic system and I discovered that photo chemicals and septics are not a good mix (I’d suspect that even washing film would be unwise). So I’m now not sure what to do as far as chemical disposal goes. Does anyone else have that issue here? Hoping I won’t be forced to abandon film photography for good.
Freakscene
Obscure member
How dry is your air? I can leave my chemicals in wide-topped plastic bottles and let the water evapourate. But where I live this happens quickly. It also leaves all the chemistry behind. There are also licensed reception facilities, but that tends to get costly.
Vince Lupo
Whatever
Thanks very much for the reply. Right now with all the snow on the ground I don’t imagine that it’s particularly dry. Plus it can get rather humid in the summertime. So I guess the answer is not very.
Freakscene
Obscure member
Evapouration is probably not an option then.
How big is your block of land? And how shallow is the groundwater? Nothing in photo chems is terribly toxic, and land disposal is possible if it is legal. I have even grown plants in mine.
Vince Lupo
Whatever
We have about 14 acres so that thought did cross my mind.
Dralowid
Michael
We called it the gardener's convenience.
It was strategically placed allowing rapid entry on the way back from the pub. Being windowless it seemed the right place for a darkroom but it was very damp and the spiders would crawl across the condenser....
It was strategically placed allowing rapid entry on the way back from the pub. Being windowless it seemed the right place for a darkroom but it was very damp and the spiders would crawl across the condenser....
Muggins
Junk magnet
Happy to oblige Vince, always good to know I have a use to humanity!
Muggins
Junk magnet
Yes, mine gets a bit moist too! But, as you say, it's (nearly) windowless and there is power and water close by. I suspect I'm going to be washing in the kitchen sink, but it's more for fun than serious work so I'll cope. Hopefully.
You could always use the Toilet for the film wash... Nice swirly motion.
Great use of an extra space.
Great use of an extra space.
Yokosuka Mike
Abstract Clarity
It's only natural that a toilet should be converted into a dark room; both are the centers of creativity.
I once wrote a poem about a toilet, I think I titled it "The King of the Can"; I must see if I can find it.
Muggins, I look forward to watching this thread progress.
All the best,
Mike
Edit: I found that old poem.
Potty Poetry
Here I sit with my poetic thoughts
Wondering when things will drop
I’m a King on his throne, the Man in the can
Ruling the world with newspaper in hand
My thoughts are laced with wisdom and wit
Whilst I sit here in my modern day pit
The sanctuary of the luckiest few
Checking out the TV guide and the Wall St. Review
From beyond my chamber I hear a sound
From outside the door someone doth pound
“Are you done in there?” my wife demands!
“I’ll be out in a second” says the King of the can
“I’ll be right out”
I once wrote a poem about a toilet, I think I titled it "The King of the Can"; I must see if I can find it.
Muggins, I look forward to watching this thread progress.
All the best,
Mike
Edit: I found that old poem.
Potty Poetry
Here I sit with my poetic thoughts
Wondering when things will drop
I’m a King on his throne, the Man in the can
Ruling the world with newspaper in hand
My thoughts are laced with wisdom and wit
Whilst I sit here in my modern day pit
The sanctuary of the luckiest few
Checking out the TV guide and the Wall St. Review
From beyond my chamber I hear a sound
From outside the door someone doth pound
“Are you done in there?” my wife demands!
“I’ll be out in a second” says the King of the can
“I’ll be right out”
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