Everything but the darkroom sink

[oriecat]

Sinks... who's got em? What kind? Did you build it? Did you buy it? How long is it? How deep is it? Do you have water temperature control?

 

[ksmattfish]

The house I live in was once divided into apartments; my darkroom is an old kitchen with a standard 2 well sink. This works okay for most things, although recently I've been taking my homemade 16x20 printwasher to the bath tub because it's too big for the darkroom sink. I would like to get a long, shallow darkroom sink. I used to use my own bedroom for a darkroom, so now I'm just really happy to have running water.

I have no temperature control other than the H and C knobs and a thermometer. In the summertime in Kansas the ground heats up so much that I can't get tapwater to drop below 80 degrees. I make ice water in 5 gallon buckets to process roll film, and I save sheet film until the fall. In fact my tapwater just got back down to 70 last week, and I'm discovering photos I forgot I took as I develop the accumulated film.

 

[Jeff Canes]

My guess is that you need to built or find a used one. Also look for a used commercial kitchen sinks. At work I had a design project for one of our R&D labs were a large sink was need. I found a processing sink for McMaster-Carr www.mcmaster.com that fit my needs it was 1200 USD new. My second guess is that out of your price range

 

[oriecat]

Yes, that is definitely out of my price range! I've seen pvc (I think it was pvc) sinks at the photo sites for under 200 not counting the stand. But I don't know how good they are, and I've seen a lot of people talk about building their own wood sinks for way cheap. I just bought a book on building a home darkroom, so I will see what kind of stuff it has, but I just thought I would see what peeps around here have done or recommend.

 

[oriecat]

Matt, so your developing trays are just on the "kitchen" counter then? No lip or sides or anything to catch spillage?

 

[ksmattfish]

Matt, so your developing trays are just on the "kitchen" counter then? No lip or sides or anything to catch spillage?

Yeah, I just have them on the counter, and I put the 8x10 printwasher next to the sink. My film washer fits in the sink. I use plastic tubs I bought at the hardware store for my chemistry trays. They have taller sides so spillage isn't a problem. They are also cheaper than authentic photo trays. Unfortunately I can't find ones that'll fit 16x20, so I do use the standard short sided trays and try to be careful.

 

[oriecat]

Cool. Thanks for the tips!

 

[motcon]

my sink cost me 30 bucks. regular ol' run in the mill sink from the local hardware store. my 11x14 trays fit in nicely w/plenty of room. if i need to wash 16x20, i have a shelf next to the sink and i just tilt the tray and allow it to flow into the sink.

top photo on right:

http://www.keidel.com/design/select/sinks-utility.htm#laundry

 

[oriecat]

And what do you do for your trays, Will? Also just on a counter or table or sumthin'?

 

[motcon]

yep.

 

[Geronimo]

wine glass? Got to have the esstentials huh Will?

 

[motcon]

wine glass? Got to have the esstentials huh Will?

yah and i learned a long time ago (the hard way) that i have to keep it away from my paper and my chemicals, hence; its current location.