“Maggie” is not so happy about my darkroom sink purchase, but I am mucho happy.
50.5 inches by 26 inches makes for a nice sized wet counter, and the depth is 9 inches.
Pretty much a centerpiece of a darkroom.
In my basement is stored a darkroom. My enlarger is a non XL version of a Besseller. The XL version would of been better, but I bought it almost 2 decades ago for no money with a lot of other stuff. At B&H I bought some Schneider lenses and an alignment tool.
In my garage I have a sheets of R-12.6 rigid foam that has double sided radiant barriers. These I can easily make into Structural insulated panels. My neighbor has a full pallet of 1/2 exterior plywood he does not need that he got at a contractor’s pricing.
It might not pass code, but tapping into my upstair’s bathroom plumbing to have hot and cold running water would not be so hard.
Whatever you do “don’t tell Maggie.”
My basement is a kinda dirty area. The idea of a darkroom there is just plain nasty. The attic space that is usable is 15x16 feet with a A-framed ceiling without any knee walls.
Devil Christian pointed out that having a sealed attic is not a bad thing. The key is to avoid condensation. If I add a mini-split for heating and cooling, and the attic is well sealed, condensation will not be a problem. The mini-splits dehumidify the air.
The 2 inch sheets of rigid foam with double sided radiant barrier along with metal foil tape should create a totally sealed envelope. This would of course be applied over the rafters to also avoid thermal bridging. In between the rafters would be installed rock wool for added insulation, sound proofing, and comfort.
A lack of knee walls would be a space for guitar amps and guitar cases.
The floors would be insulated with rock wool and the floor would be 1/2 plywood. Because of my stairway the 4x8 sheets would have to be ripped lengthwise to negotiate the second floor landing. Oh-well. Not a big job, but of course time and money.
Need to hire a plumber and an electrician.
This seems the way to go because I think the C-10 is a keeper even though it is a future project. I think knowing that it could be delayed makes it more cool. If I can do just a head job and get it on the road as a local driver it would be great. Maggie of course sees little value. The big-big picture is one day it could be an old truck with a completely new drivetrain and A/C.
The body would be original OEM 1966 except for the new replacement wood bed and the relocated gas tank under the bed. Originally the gas tank back then was behind the seat in the cab. How crazy was that?
Anyways Maggie has little understanding of my values here. The new sink and the old truck are junk to her.
A thought though is to build out half the garage. The truck would reside in the garage, and the Audi A4 in the driveway.
A darkroom in the garage would likely would need a sump, a water supply, and likely utilize an electric hot water supply. Most likely a mini-split for heat and A/C. While plausible also more costly than an attic darkroom. Hmmm.
Six of one; half a dozen of an other. What say you?
I could see half the garage though easily set up with a wood stove and into a studio. A wood stove and/or later additional mini-split for heat and A/C. The garage door on one side would have a removable wall to seal the carriage doors on the studio side. I saved the original rear exterior door from our kitchen that was replaced and upgraded. This door would be installed in the interior of the garage for access. Pretty much a 10x20 foot space with half a hip roof cathedral ceiling.
The garage studio would have a stealth-factor. Even with just a wood stove it would be like a secluded space. The addition of a mini-split just adds comfort and usability.
I have a library ladder I found being thrown out by a health food store on Second Avenue in Madhattan while walking to work from Grand Central. I smuggled it into my lab, and at a later date drove in to remove my treasures. This would be perfect for having a loft area,
One idea is to use and exploit the taller area of the hip roof over the non studio side and create a balcony of sorts. Part of this would be like a cave of sorts that’s elevated. The idea is to have a nook for storage. The library ladder would allow to exploit shelves for additional storage.
My garage has 8x8 foot doors, where most garages only have garage doors 7 feet tall. Having a somewhat cathedral ceiling gets compounded by this extra foot.
This would be a really great work space, open and with height. The long exterior wall faces due south, so I could enlarge the window to exploit a really nice view of our back-backyard, woods, the marsh and the hillside.
I lIke the idea of a wood stove as a secondary heater. Did you know you kinda get stoned by the negative ions generated by a wood fire. A mini-split for heat and A/C means it could serve as a great digital studio. My worries is that Maggie would like to invade or share the space.
Of course if there is running water then the mini-split would be required to prevent freezing pipes. Without running water the mini-split and wood stove could only be activated when occupied for economy. The attic would have the most stable temperature and humidity control I figure, and the garage could just be used as needed/required if not with running water.
Could be used as a guest room also. The nearest bath is through the kitchen door. The powder room off the kitchen. This might free up the second bedroom. Hmmm…
I can see having the Jersey Barrier set up there along with my 27 inch EIZO and a 27 inch Studio Display. Know that I salvaged some articulating medical platforms. One I salvaged from my lab, and the other I found being thrown out by a medical professional building. My new digital work station will be so pro, and don’t forget that I also have that viewing booth that our friend Landrew gifted me.
My 330B tube stereo and music gear would fill out the studio.
BTW adding a mini-split to the attic is really just adding a zone to a future upstairs mini-split.
I don’t know if I can have all my dreams come true: one is the attic; two is the garage studio; and third is the truck.
All require time and money. I’m pretty much a goal oriented guy, and given enough time I could achieve all three, but of course there is “woman-factor.”
Having a 15x16 studio and having a second 10x20 would be mighty cool. No shortage of capacity, even if Maggie wiggles her way into the garage studio for the A/C in the summer. Bonus is I can find a place of artistic solitude to work. She does not like the attic stairs so I know that space will be off limits to her. To build out the garage space I might have to concede her having some access. I can be a mucho clever manipulator.
So you can see, I am a bit ambitious and perhaps a bit crazy. Understand that in talking with Devil Christian that the attic, except for the likely illegal darkroom sink and plumbing is really just storage space. Of course the sink install would be discrete and under the radar.
Secondly the garage would still be a garage. The idea here is that I would not pay additional taxes. The garage and attic are not considered living spaces. Realistically though woman-factor might have to come into play to build out the garage. The idea of building out the attic first is a bit of a bait and switch. “Don’t tell Maggie.” LOL.
Phase 2 of clever Calvin is to next try to build out my second studio. Know that it might make sense to keep the attic as my analog and digital printing studio. Generally the limiting factor for printing and developing is usually drying space. For digital printing the same is true: drying space is the limit.
I concede the C-10 is last of the three dreams come true. If I just get the head done to make it a local driver the truck’s value increases. I could actually use the truck for many-many years as a “survivor” that pretty much would have a great amount of “you suck factor.”
Pretty much I could see the truck rather easily in that state. Head job and fresh tires is all that is needed along with replacing the cracked windshield that is available for about $300.00. The new wood bed in oak is about $1.5K, and that would be all that would be required for the body besides a good waxing to protect patina and seal the tiny areas of surface rust.
I have somewhat of a plan. Somehow I think I could have it all, but of course printing can get expensive.
The act of buying a darkroom sink accelerates my thinking…
Cal