Author Topic: I can't breathe.  (Read 2163 times)

Stu

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I can't breathe.
« on: October 27, 2009, 01:12:36 PM »

Hi,

I have a new darkroom. Toot toot.
Bad news is, the fumes are in there with me.

I gotta getta vent that is light tight... any ideas?
Do you need an in vent and an out vent?

Any hints and tips are welcome.

Ta,
Stu

edthened

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Re: I can't breathe.
« Reply #1 on: October 27, 2009, 03:25:42 PM »
Och Stu, a dinnae no if ye wontae go tae sutch extremes but havva look at dis URL :-
http://tinyurl.com/ykwov8g
an see wit ye think   :)
A Man's a Man for a' that
Robert Burns

gothamtomato

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Re: I can't breathe.
« Reply #2 on: October 27, 2009, 03:29:02 PM »
I know that Kodak used to have technical info on all that. Maybe they still do. Not neccessarily the brand of fan to buy but rather how it should be rated to give you safe air.

Francois

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Re: I can't breathe.
« Reply #3 on: October 27, 2009, 04:24:43 PM »
No need for complex fans like the ones from Ventaxia. Just a good and quiet bathroom fan is enough.

Here is a page on the subject
http://www.darkroomsource.net/ventilation.shtml

One thing I've seen once in a magazine is a vent hood directly over the trays. This is probably one of the best designs I've come across in a long time.

Otherwise, a fan placed at one end near the chemical trays and a filtered air input grill at the opposite end will most likely be plenty.

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Francois

Film is the vinyl record of photography.

Heather

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Re: I can't breathe.
« Reply #4 on: October 27, 2009, 06:10:35 PM »
Alternatively, use citric acid-based stop and odourless fixer.  The biggest stink is that acetic acid (aka vinegar, or rather, Non-brewed Condiment with some indicator in it) which won't harm you but it'll make you smell like a chippy.
Heather
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moominsean

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Re: I can't breathe.
« Reply #5 on: October 27, 2009, 06:37:22 PM »
another option...

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"A world without Polaroid is a terrible place."
                                                                  - John Waters

Ed Wenn

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Re: I can't breathe.
« Reply #6 on: October 27, 2009, 06:55:37 PM »
Wow! I wonder if these two were born wearing these?

Francois

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Re: I can't breathe.
« Reply #7 on: October 27, 2009, 09:43:44 PM »
Wow! I wonder if these two were born wearing these?
They remind me of the alien in U.F.O. :)
(from the same guy who did Space 1999)
Francois

Film is the vinyl record of photography.

db

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Re: I can't breathe.
« Reply #8 on: October 27, 2009, 11:33:12 PM »
When I was building my darkroom I salvaged some old cabinets and benches from a lab dismantling their darkroom.
Amongst the collection was a standard bathroom wall-mounted exhaust fan to which they'd fixed a home made light-trap, built of
scrap timber.

You have to imagine the invisible wall running between the body of the fan on the inside, and the box which fits over the outlet on the outside. Ive not installed it b/c my rattly old air conditioner seems to change over the air pretty well.

PS  Stu- Post pictures of your new space please. We love a bit of darkroom action here..



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« Last Edit: October 27, 2009, 11:37:58 PM by db »

LT

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Re: I can't breathe.
« Reply #9 on: October 28, 2009, 07:12:03 AM »
Stu -I use one of these http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/shop/search/Fan/0/ventaxia/ventaxia-solo-plus-p-extractor-fan/.  It's sold as a darkroom extractor, but in reality it let's quite a bit light through so I made a light trap - the lid from a cardboard box with the internal surface painted matt black. And yes, you do need an inlet vent if you don't want to starve yourself of oxygen.
L.

Stu

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Re: I can't breathe.
« Reply #10 on: October 28, 2009, 09:33:03 AM »
Ta everyone.

Getting myself a fan on ebay. Rock and roll!