Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free:   AG Photographic   The Imaging Warehouse   Process Supplies   RH Designs   Second-hand Darkroom Supplies  

Notices

Go Back   Film and Darkroom User > Equipment > Darkroom

  ***   Click here for the FADU 2015/2014 Yearbooks   ***

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 4th August 2020, 09:27 PM
Britman's Avatar
Britman Britman is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 24
Default First darkroom, I think I've ordered everything I need

So I'm in the process of setting up a darkroom (in the bathroom) and I think I have ordered everything needed to at least get crackkng.

Durst F30 enlarger (used got for cheap)
50mm f4.5 lens (used got for very cheap)
Chemicals, Ilford multigrade dev, stop and rapid fix (I already have from developing film)
Ilford Multigrade RC paper
Safe light
Focus checker
Trays (that may or may not be cat litter trays)
Tongues
Multigrade filters (Ilford education pack)
Timer (used)
Home made easel.

Am I missing something?

I hope it all arrives this week.


Sent from my SM-T810 using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 5th August 2020, 12:12 PM
Molli Molli is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Victoria, Australia
Posts: 149
Default

The only things I'm not seeing are a thermometer which I'm guessing you may well have amongst your film developing supplies, and a line and pegs to hang your prints. Other than that, you seem well set!
Welcome to the best part of using film :-)
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 5th August 2020, 12:32 PM
Britman's Avatar
Britman Britman is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 24
Default

Yes, thermometer I have. 👍
Pegs totally forgot about that.

My enlarger arrived today, absolute mint condition. It's never been used, just need a lamp now.

Sent from my SM-T810 using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 5th August 2020, 01:00 PM
Molli Molli is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Victoria, Australia
Posts: 149
Default

I made a rope and pulley sort of thing for my print drying line. I started out using my laundry, but drying prints (and film) in my bathroom. Since I'm in a rental property, nothing permanent is possible. So, a couple of tack nails in the surround above the door and window makes for a very fast print dryer, easily taken down and with no nail holes visible ever.
The pulley system is only slightly fancier. I put two nails above each door in the laundry (one leads into the house, the other goes outside) and a length of dowel is seated above the door, behind those nails, with a third dowel used to raise and lower the strings.
Photos would probably explain it better, but you possibly already have a print drying idea in mind. Window screens are another option.

Do yell out if you need any DIY tips, though. As I mentioned, I'm in a rental property so I specialise in discrete and reversible options and, also, I'm on an extremely tight budget so I have cheap workarounds for most things.

Well done on your mint F30. It's always a treat to acquire things which simply work straight out of the box!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 5th August 2020, 02:26 PM
Terry S Terry S is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Southend on Sea, Essex, England, UK
Posts: 3,775
Default

It sounds like you've got all the main things to get you started.

Enjoy!

Terry S
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 5th August 2020, 02:35 PM
Ian Marsh's Avatar
Ian Marsh Ian Marsh is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Central Portugal
Posts: 292
Default

Not essential, but you may like to consider a print squeegee to remove the surplus water from the prints before hanging them up.

Have fun
__________________
Ian
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 5th August 2020, 03:15 PM
MartyNL's Avatar
MartyNL MartyNL is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: based in The Netherlands
Posts: 3,339
Default

Looking forward to seeing some prints, Best of luck!
__________________
MartyNL

“Reaching a creative state of mind thru positive action
is considered preferable to waiting for inspiration.”
- Minor White, 1950
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 5th August 2020, 05:35 PM
Britman's Avatar
Britman Britman is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 24
Default

Thanks for the wishes and tips.

I have to confess that I have now jumped the gun slightly, as this enlarger didn't come with a lamp I couldn't wait for an enlarger lamp to be delivered so went to B&Q a bought a Diall 1055 lumens 75w LED neutral white (4000k) lamp.

It seems to have worked, illuminated the board evenly, well to my eyes.

So after I did a light leak and safe light test I did a couple test prints on small strips.
But because my temporary safe light is a bicycle rear light I couldn't really see shit 😂 and messed up.

Sent from my SM-T810 using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 5th August 2020, 05:50 PM
Richard Gould Richard Gould is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Jersey Channel Islands
Posts: 5,433
Default

Just Hi Britman
Led lamps work very well for Enlarging, I have been using one in my meopta for around 2 or 3 years now, also a B@Q dial one, i8n my case a 14.5 watt, but I did some trials with them before I commited to mine and I found you need a 2700 k warm bulb, which seems to match the enlarger bulb in tone, and to get all the grades with MG paper,so I would suggest you get the warmer bulb, and use the colder tone in your room light, as far as the rest, I can't see anything else you need to start printing' just one thing, when using RC paper you don't need a line, just somewhere to lay the prints out, the will dry fast and flat, I have been known, in the past , to lay them out on sheets of newspaper, back down, you only really need a line for FB prints, pegging them back to back in pairs with a peg at each corner helps the not to curl to much
Richard

Last edited by Richard Gould; 5th August 2020 at 05:55 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 5th August 2020, 06:21 PM
Britman's Avatar
Britman Britman is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Posts: 24
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Gould View Post
Just Hi Britman
Led lamps work very well for Enlarging, I have been using one in my meopta for around 2 or 3 years now, also a B@Q dial one, i8n my case a 14.5 watt, but I did some trials with them before I commited to mine and I found you need a 2700 k warm bulb, which seems to match the enlarger bulb in tone, and to get all the grades with MG paper,so I would suggest you get the warmer bulb, and use the colder tone in your room light, as far as the rest, I can't see anything else you need to start printing' just one thing, when using RC paper you don't need a line, just somewhere to lay the prints out, the will dry fast and flat, I have been known, in the past , to lay them out on sheets of newspaper, back down, you only really need a line for FB prints, pegging them back to back in pairs with a peg at each corner helps the not to curl to much
Richard
Thanks Richard, I bought 2 of those lamps so will exchange one for the 2700k warm 👍

Sent from my ONEPLUS A6013 using Tapatalk
Reply With Quote
Reply
Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free:   AG Photographic   The Imaging Warehouse   Process Supplies   RH Designs   Second-hand Darkroom Supplies  

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
can I use what I learned in a b&w darkroom in a color darkroom cndnlfartist Colour printing techniques 8 17th November 2015 03:14 AM


All times are GMT. The time now is 08:47 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.