Darkroom on a budget

[PhotoCalifornia]

Hello all my darkroom enthusiasts and anyone who is interested in starting there own darkroom. One large issue every one faces is cost. Face it, it is expensive for equipment, paper, film, chemicals, lights... it really gets overwhelming. Being the thrifty person I am, I have thought up and used a lot of solutions, that you can use to save you money.
1. Table.
so in a darkroom, you need Space to put your things, and if Luke me you are not blessed with counters, then you must use a table. An okay table will run you around 60-75 dollars. But my cheap solution with cut that cost in more than half.
with a simple door and two saw horses
I got my door for 5 dollars at a reuse store, and saw horses are around 12 dollars for 2(which is all you need)
75$-17$ Is 58$ in savings

2. Blacking out
So one of the most part of a darkroomis that it is dark, and this usually means that you need to black out windows, usually with black out curtains. These curtains can run from 50 to 75 dollars. I did not have this money soo I improvised. Cardboard boxes make great black out covers that you can cut to size. New, boxes run 1.50 a piece, and let's say you use three plus a roll of duct tape.which is about 4 dollars. So total of 5.50 dolLars compared to 75 dollars, is around a $70.00 savings!

3.
Chemical bottles.
The delta chemical bottles coast around 5.95 and the other ones that accordion style cost around 10 dollars. You need 4 chemical bottles. Film developer, paper developer, stop and fixer. So you are spending about 24 dollars. A two liter bottle of soda cost 1 dollar at the right place, and a can of black spray paint is 3 dollars. You get a nice drink too. Just spray paint the bottles black, and slap on a label from the duck tape and you are good. They are air tight and you probably have some laying around. If you want a smaller batch of chemicals, use a smaller bottle. I've used other things I've found around the house. Like laundry soap bottles. (Note: you have to clean these out good.)
You save 18 dollars at least.

4. Random tips

• Go onto creiglist and look for equipment. People are practically giving this stuff away.
• look through your house and be creative, you will be surprised what you can find.
• Ones man's trash... go to garage sales, or ask your friends and family if they have stuff they don't want or need. If they had a party then ask for there bottles after. If they are moving and they have extra boxes, this eliminates a little bit of cost. Better yet, if they don't want an old table, then offer to take it off there hands.
• Have fun.

So if you follow all this, you can save
146$

If you guys have any more tips, or questions do not hesitate to comment or message me.
-Chris

 

[480sparky]

What am I looking at? Cardboard and masking tape surrounded by cloth?

 

[tirediron]

 

[PhotoCalifornia]

What am I looking at? Cardboard and masking tape surrounded by cloth?

Sorry posted it before I was done.

 

[Alexr25]

Cardboard and masking tape surrounded by cloth?

Correction: Out of focus cardboard and masking tape....

 

[tirediron]

....
3.
Chemical bottles.
The delta chemical bottles coast around 5.95 and the other ones that accordion style cost around 10 dollars. You need 4 chemical bottles. Film developer, paper developer, stop and fixer. So you are spending about 24 dollars. A two liter bottle of soda cost 1 dollar at the right place, and a can of black spray paint is 3 dollars. You get a nice drink too. Just spray paint the bottles black, and slap on a label from the duck tape and you are good. They are air tight and you probably have some laying around. If you want a smaller batch of chemicals, use a smaller bottle. I've used other things I've found around the house. Like laundry soap bottles. (Note: you have to clean these out good.)
You save 18 dollars at least.
View attachment 90337

DO. NOT. DO. THIS!!!! Chemical bottles are called "chemical bottles" for a reason. Specifically, because they are CHEMICAL-SAFE! While most darkroom chemicals aren't terribly caustic or volatile, some can be. In addition, containers such as pop bottles are very thin, and easily damaged. Saving money is great, and I'm a big fan of doing things that will save you a buck or ten, but there are places where you HAVE to spend the money. Chemical containers are one of those areas.

 

[480sparky]

....
3.
Chemical bottles.
The delta chemical bottles coast around 5.95 and the other ones that accordion style cost around 10 dollars. You need 4 chemical bottles. Film developer, paper developer, stop and fixer. So you are spending about 24 dollars. A two liter bottle of soda cost 1 dollar at the right place, and a can of black spray paint is 3 dollars. You get a nice drink too. Just spray paint the bottles black, and slap on a label from the duck tape and you are good. They are air tight and you probably have some laying around. If you want a smaller batch of chemicals, use a smaller bottle. I've used other things I've found around the house. Like laundry soap bottles. (Note: you have to clean these out good.)
You save 18 dollars at least.

DO. NOT. DO. THIS!!!! Chemical bottles are called "chemical bottles" for a reason. Specifically, because they are CHEMICAL-SAFE! While most darkroom chemicals aren't terribly caustic or volatile, some can be. In addition, containers such as pop bottles are very thin, and easily damaged. Saving money is great, and I'm a big fan of doing things that will save you a buck or ten, but there are places where you HAVE to spend the money. Chemical containers are one of those areas.

In addition, the beverage industry spends billions every year getting people to recognize simple shapes.... like a soda bottle.

How sad it would be if a child saw a soda bottle and started drinking.

 

[timor]

....
3.
Chemical bottles.
The delta chemical bottles coast around 5.95 and the other ones that accordion style cost around 10 dollars. You need 4 chemical bottles. Film developer, paper developer, stop and fixer. So you are spending about 24 dollars. A two liter bottle of soda cost 1 dollar at the right place, and a can of black spray paint is 3 dollars. You get a nice drink too. Just spray paint the bottles black, and slap on a label from the duck tape and you are good. They are air tight and you probably have some laying around. If you want a smaller batch of chemicals, use a smaller bottle. I've used other things I've found around the house. Like laundry soap bottles. (Note: you have to clean these out good.)
You save 18 dollars at least.
View attachment 90337

DO. NOT. DO. THIS!!!! Chemical bottles are called "chemical bottles" for a reason. Specifically, because they are CHEMICAL-SAFE! While most darkroom chemicals aren't terribly caustic or volatile, some can be. In addition, containers such as pop bottles are very thin, and easily damaged. Saving money is great, and I'm a big fan of doing things that will save you a buck or ten, but there are places where you HAVE to spend the money. Chemical containers are one of those areas.

Plus they don't have to be containers made specifically for photography. Could be bottles from cleaning chemicals. Usually free. Or pharmacological containers. I got some free to. Look around.

 

[gsgary]

I got my Focomat 1c with wallner color head for free

 

[timor]

I got my Focomat 1c with wallner color head for free

DON'T even remind us about that, you lucky one. I guess your number of friends is large enough to be that lucky.

 

[gsgary]

I got my Focomat 1c with wallner color head for free

DON'T even remind us about that, you lucky one. I guess your number of friends is large enough to be that lucky.

He was given a mint Leitz V35 it must be the most beautiful enlarger ever

 

[gsgary]

I forgot to mention I was given 2 other enlargers with it, a Gamer and a Gnome

 

[timor]

I asked you for something... please... mercy !

 

[Madelaine Mideri Wong]

Hello all my darkroom enthusiasts and anyone who is interested in starting there own darkroom. One large issue every one faces is cost. Face it, it is expensive for equipment, paper, film, chemicals, lights... it really gets overwhelming. Being the thrifty person I am, I have thought up and used a lot of solutions, that you can use to save you money.
1. Table.
so in a darkroom, you need Space to put your things, and if Luke me you are not blessed with counters, then you must use a table. An okay table will run you around 60-75 dollars. But my cheap solution with cut that cost in more than half.
with a simple door and two saw horses
I got my door for 5 dollars at a reuse store, and saw horses are around 12 dollars for 2(which is all you need)
75$-17$ Is 58$ in savings
View attachment 90338
2. Blacking out
So one of the most part of a darkroomis that it is dark, and this usually means that you need to black out windows, usually with black out curtains. These curtains can run from 50 to 75 dollars. I did not have this money soo I improvised. Cardboard boxes make great black out covers that you can cut to size. New, boxes run 1.50 a piece, and let's say you use three plus a roll of duct tape.which is about 4 dollars. So total of 5.50 dolLars compared to 75 dollars, is around a $70.00 savings!
View attachment 90336
3.
Chemical bottles.
The delta chemical bottles coast around 5.95 and the other ones that accordion style cost around 10 dollars. You need 4 chemical bottles. Film developer, paper developer, stop and fixer. So you are spending about 24 dollars. A two liter bottle of soda cost 1 dollar at the right place, and a can of black spray paint is 3 dollars. You get a nice drink too. Just spray paint the bottles black, and slap on a label from the duck tape and you are good. They are air tight and you probably have some laying around. If you want a smaller batch of chemicals, use a smaller bottle. I've used other things I've found around the house. Like laundry soap bottles. (Note: you have to clean these out good.)
You save 18 dollars at least.
View attachment 90337
4. Random tips

• Go onto creiglist and look for equipment. People are practically giving this stuff away.
• look through your house and be creative, you will be surprised what you can find.
• Ones man's trash... go to garage sales, or ask your friends and family if they have stuff they don't want or need. If they had a party then ask for there bottles after. If they are moving and they have extra boxes, this eliminates a little bit of cost. Better yet, if they don't want an old table, then offer to take it off there hands.
• Have fun.

So if you follow all this, you can save
146$

If you guys have any more tips, or questions do not hesitate to comment or message me.
-Chris
View attachment 90339

What do you do with enlarger? I want to start my own darkroom at my place and I'm trying to find the best deals on the equipments. Also where do you dispose the chemicals?

 

[Designer]

What do you do with enlarger? I want to start my own darkroom at my place and I'm trying to find the best deals on the equipments. Also where do you dispose the chemicals?

Welcome, Madelaine!

An enlarger makes larger prints from smaller negatives. So you can use a 35mm negative and make an 8" by 10" print or even larger. Since many people no longer dabble in film photography, you can find used darkroom equipment for very little money. Sometimes free if you know someone getting rid of his stuff.

Most municipal waste water treatment facilities can accept darkroom chemicals. I just poured them into the drain when I did it.