D.I.Y dip n' dunk tanks

[Michael Rosenberg]

Benito,

Try looking for PVC sheeting to cut and make a tank. Many plastics fabrication places have it. You can cut it with a table saw. If you go to the LF home page there is an article on making a sink with instructions on how to cut and glue the PVC. You can make a jacketed tank - double walled, as well as light-tight lids. If you don't have the equipment to cut the PVC the plastics place may cut it for you to your specifications.

Mike

[John Cahill]

Benito,
You are, indeed, batting a sticky wicket. In light of your predicament, you might try building the tanks with plywood, square cut, well glued and screwed. Then pain the inside with several coats of fiberglass paint.
Another inelegant, but highly workable solution, will be old automobile batteries. If you cut the tops off and remove the innards, they are quite useable as darkroom tanks. Be warned: be careful of residual acid--washing them out well with plenty of water then baking soda is an help. And they are tough to cut into. But once done, they are practically indestructable.
Good luck.

John "Rube Goldberg, Heath Robinson, Cahill" Mount Vernon, Virginia, USA

[Brian C. Miller]

Benito, are you handy with Fiberglas? You should be able to make your own mold, then make your own tanks like that. Use a good epoxy resin, and it will be chemical resistant.

[steve_geo]

I'm in South Australia, so the outlets mentioned are not an option. (FYI it's not just the names that are different - retail in Australia in NOTHING like I've experienced in the USA.)
Cheers!

G'day Benito,
Never been to the US, .... but I know what you mean by limited selection in Oz.
You may find something interesting in plastic plumbing, they have store in SA, .. but not sure where http://www.plasticplumbing.com.au

You many also consider howards storage, .. they may have some tubs http://www.hsw.com.au

http://www.clarkrubber.com.au may not be the best place, .. more foams and rubbers, but thought I'd drop that one in ;-)

Thanks again everyone - If I end up 'MacGyvering' something worth sharing I'll post some pics.
Cheers!

look forward to seeing what your get up to.

What processing are you doing B&W ?
What do you photograph?
What equipment are you using?

Steve (Melbourne)

[steve_geo]

Just stumbled over this site for an ACT photo
http://www.robgray.com/about/about_e...t/equip_lf.php

Look down in the darkroom section, he has description on making his own 4x5 dip an dunk. Maybe you can contact him, and see what containers he used.

C'ya
Steve

[Richard Ide]

Some of my stainless tanks leak so I am making replacements using 1/4" acrylic. PVC or Lexan would also work well