how to build a darkroom cheaply

Try this link, it might help.

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http://darkroomsource.com/

Amy, depends on what you mean by 'build a darkroom'.... I built a

darkroom last year by partitioning off a part of my double garage

with plasterboard on a wood frame, added some kitchen cabinets and

tops, put a door in with blackout additions. I didnt put in running

water and a sink as that would have significantly increased the cost -

this probably the biggest decision you have to make. I wash up

prints and films in the utility room and carry water to the darkroom

in a 5litre jar - 5l is enough to set up for 12X16 printing with a

wash holding tank. I purchased secondhand a 5X4 enlarger plus lenses

and other darkroom paraphenalia. I guess total expense has been £500 -

£750 ukp including building costs. I now have a permanent darkroom

that is easy to use whatever time of day with minimal start up and

take down time.

Some of my first darkrooms where a 4x8 sheet of plywood put on 3 saw

horses for the trays putting the enlarger on the washer in the

basement... of course I was limited to printing at night but that was

my time anyway. A tray of water on the set tub with a syphon works to

wash the prints pretty well and then put your prints into a blotter

book to dry them. I also had an apartment that had a closet for a

washer and dryer right next to my second bathroom. I made the closet

into a darkroom with my D2 on a microwave cart with a set of ladder

trays behind me and all my tools and supplies on shelves I put up to my

left. I would expose the print, turn around to process and then go into

the bathroom to wash and hang the prints. My print dryer was, at that

time, a plastic garment bag with a hair dryer in the top that worked

well for prints and negatives!

Here is the minimum that you need:

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Two long tables, one for a dry area (enlarger and an adjacent space

for handling paper and negatives) and one for a wet area (your trays).

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A safelight.

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Enlarger.

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Timer.

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Three trays for developing, stopping, and fixing.

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A container for rinsing prints.

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A sink somewhere near (mine is across the basement from

my darkroom area.

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An area to dry your prints.

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Some shelves for storing chemicals and supplies.

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The table for the enlarger should be sturdy enough to minimize

shaking when you are exposing prints.

One more thing:

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You can develop film without a darkroom using a changing bag

and a developing tank.

I use cardboard black plastic and gaffers tape to black out the

bathroom window, Black plastic over the outside of the bathroom door,

and turn on the vent. The suction holds the black plastic over the

door, yet allows for easy entry and exit between batches of film.

Sounds like you dont have an intake vent, Eric. there should be some

fresh air exchange going on. Anyway this brings up a good point for

building a darkroom-proper venilation. I bought several used muffin

fans for $5 at a surplus store. These are quiet and move a high volume

of air. I didnt have to make them light-tight because I only print at

night. I mounted them to a board and just place them in the window

when I work. The window is behind my sink, so the setup is ME-->Sink

and fumes-->fans-->outside. This way I never even get a whiff.

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I built a sink from 1/2 inch plywood and drywall screws. I plumbed it

similar to the setup shown at darkroomsource, which (in hindsight)

isnt the best setup but it works. That setup allows crossover of

hot-cold water to the other side, which can happen occasionally if

pressure drops. But it all cost less than $100 and was fun to build,

and i'm pretty inept at such things. I coated my sink in swimming pool

paint.

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I bought just about everything else for my darkroom at very reduced

prices by being patient and making phone calls. Got my safelights on

ebay. Got 4x5 Beseler enlarger, 20x24 dry mount press, electronic

timer, for about $125 total from a newspaper that phased out their

darkroom. The only thing I spent any real money on was the Rodagon

lens