Topic: Leon's Darkroom

[LT]

Mine is situated in an outhouse attached to the front of my house.  My wife delights in telling the story about when we moved in, the house was in a terrible state - lots needed doing, but the first room that was started (and finished) was my darkroom - Hillarious!

I started out with a meopta opemus enlarger, but have graduated to a wall mounted DeVere 504 - that thing took some installing I can tell you - huge bolts into the wall, but it's solid as a rock and adjustable in all stages and dimensions to get it level.

The sink came from a dog grooming parlour, and could do with being a bit bigger - I can only get 2 12 x 16 trays in it, so the dev goes on a tray warmer and the stop and fix sit in the sink.  A sulphate holding tray sits on the rack shelf and prints stay in there until I'm ready to wash them, and then it;s wash and change trays ready for toning.  not easy in a small room like this.

Like Don's, I can touch both walls at once with my arms outstretched - it is a one person darkroom - nowhere near enough room for 2.

The enlarger is controlled by an RH designs stopclock pro - I dont think I could work using linear timers anymore - this thing makes darkroom work so easy.  You can programme in a series of exposures and burn exposures then operate it with your foot and have hands free for holding cards/ masks/ dodging tools etc.  Does so much more - programmable drydown compensation, split grade mode, test strip mode etc etc.  Love it.

I've got a nova slot washer too, but that's stored under the bench with the trays etc.  Note the 3 bottles of the no longer available Ilford cooltone developer.  I'm slowly getting through it, but it's lasting just about ok.  I love the stuff, and it will be sorely missed when gone - then it will be homebrew paper dev time.

Also, I've got a shot of my water filter.  The ground here is chalk (I'm only 15 miles from the white cliffs of Dover), so the water is packed full of limescale.  I use mains water for print processing chems, but all my film solutions are made with the Reverse Osmosis filtered water - it;s made a huge difference. To the right of the filter (not shown ) is the chemicals cupboard - very messy.

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[Francois]

Quite a nice setup you got there Leon.
Ever since looking at the first picture, I keep wondering what it is the white thing under the enlarger with green LED's that say 45 ? Either it's a heater and you like things toasty warm or it's some off device I never heard of

[Andrea.]

Nice one leon Sir.
I go for the simple un-cluttered look

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[db]

Quite a nice setup you got there Leon.
Ever since looking at the first picture, I keep wondering what it is the white thing under the enlarger with green LED's that say 45 ? Either it's a heater and you like things toasty warm or it's some off device I never heard of

the bread maker?

[db]

The enlarger is controlled by an RH designs stopclock pro - I dont think I could work using linear timers anymore - this thing makes darkroom work so easy.  You can programme in a series of exposures and burn exposures then operate it with your foot and have hands free for holding cards/ masks/ dodging tools etc.  Does so much more - programmable drydown compensation, split grade mode, test strip mode etc etc.  Love it.

Ay-yiyi. I haven't seen one of those before.    Does it make expresso as well? Also, I notice a ghetto blaster  must be as vital equipment in a darkroom as an enlarger- everyone has one. Can't have a darkroom without music.

That looks like a nice place to work Leon. Although perhaps you need a few things decorating the walls 

[LT]

Francois - that is an oil filled radiator. Vital in the winter as the outhouse is only single- skin walled so get v cold. The green thing is a built-in spirit level so you can make sure it's on an even surface. Not sure where you see the number 45 though?

Don - www.rhdesigns.co.uk well worth the spendout.
As for pics on the wall ... It's dark in there - I wouldn't see them

[Francois]

Francois - that is an oil filled radiator. Vital in the winter as the outhouse is only single- skin walled so get v cold. The green thing is a built-in spirit level so you can make sure it's on an even surface. Not sure where you see the number 45 though?

On the first and second pictures under the enlarger... looks like an LED 45...

I find it funny you still use an older Patterson focus finder. I have one which still sports it's "As selected for the Design Centre London" sticker. But ever since the thing was given to me, I keep wondering if there should be some kind of felt pad underneath or if the bare plastic naturally has that marbled effect?

[cpierce]

Leon, nice set up.  Is that wiring up to code...ha ha

[Skorj]

Damn! Talk about neat. Smooth set up there.