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Thread: My Kitchen Counter Darkroom

  1. #1
    jesskramer jesskramer's Avatar
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    My Kitchen Counter Darkroom

    Friends,

    With the help of this forum I have created my version of a kitchen counter darkroom. I process Black and White in either 4x5 or 5x7

    Jobo 3010 Expert drum, (10) 4x5 or (5) 5x7 sheets

    Bessler Rotating Motor Base

    Rube Goldberg fixed standing funnel to keep my hands free,
    mounted on a painted wooden base

    Gralab Timer

    GravityWorks washer fits either film size

    Hanging File drying Cabinet with small drilled holes for dust free air circulation

    I have great fun with this setup

    Thanks to all whose ideas contributed to my kitchen counter darkroom,

    Jesse








  2. #2
    jesskramer jesskramer's Avatar
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    Re: My Kitchen Counter Darkroom






  3. #3

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    Huntsville, Alabama, USA
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    Re: My Kitchen Counter Darkroom

    Thanks for posting images. The film washer looks like a good idea to "copy"!

  4. #4

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    Re: My Kitchen Counter Darkroom

    Nice setup. You must not be married. : - )

    Just a thought for others contemplating a similar setup - BTZS tubes would cut way down on the space and would be easier to set up, take down, and store.
    Brian Ellis
    Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you do criticize them you'll be
    a mile away and you'll have their shoes.

  5. #5
    Analog Photographer Kimberly Anderson's Avatar
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    Re: My Kitchen Counter Darkroom

    Here's mine.

    I like that negative dryer. Pretty clever. I use string, clothespins and a Bogen lightstand.

  6. #6
    Scott Walker's Avatar
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    Re: My Kitchen Counter Darkroom

    Very cool, I love your idea for the film drying cabinet. I do beleive that I will have to make one of them.

  7. #7
    Cordless Bungee Jumper Sirius Glass's Avatar
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    Re: My Kitchen Counter Darkroom

    Jesse,

    I have done a similar set up in my kitchen to process black & white and color 35mm, 120 and 4"x5" film:
    Jobo CPP2 processor
    Jobo 3010 Expert drum, (10) 4x5
    Jobo 1540 with four adjustable 35mm to 120 reels
    Gralab Timer

    The PhotoFlo or C-41 stablized is done in a 1 liter plastic cubic Tupperware-like container

    The drying is done with a nylon line looped around the shower head. I slid on clothes pins separated by figure eight knots. The end of the line has a group of clothe pins for attaching to the shower curtain or a heavy weight depending on which home I am in.

    Steve
    Last edited by Sirius Glass; 27-Jun-2011 at 08:50.
    Nothing beats a great piece of glass!

    I leave the digital work for the urologists and proctologists.

  8. #8
    jesskramer jesskramer's Avatar
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    Re: My Kitchen Counter Darkroom

    Brian,

    If I am not mistaken you have to change the chemicals in the dark if you are using the BTZS tubes.

    With the Jobo drum only the film loading needs to be done in the dark, in my Harrison Jumbo Tent

    My fabulous wife Kim is very understanding when I take over the kitchen for an hour

    My whole setup stows away easily in the corner of closet

    Jesse

  9. #9
    jesskramer jesskramer's Avatar
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    Re: My Kitchen Counter Darkroom

    here is the wooden base that my drum and motor sit on

    I painted the wood with epoxy waterproof paint
    Handles for easy moving
    rubber feet on the bottom
    the fixed funnel is from an auto supply store Auto Zone
    The upright threaded PVC tube allows hands free chemical pouring
    The upright screws into a metal flange

    The drum is kept in place by the metal guides that are house framing hardware from home depot. I put some fuzzy velcro where the drum would contact the metal

    The level is for adjusting the motor base before I put the drum on it

    There are broom handle clamps to hold the funnel stand when I store this rig

    None of these are my original ideas.. all copied from the wise men and women of this forum

    Jesse


  10. #10
    jesskramer jesskramer's Avatar
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    Re: My Kitchen Counter Darkroom

    One point about the drying cabinet. This method of drying is VERY slow. It is portable and very effective but it is slow

    Since EVERYTHING about large format photography is slow, this aspect of my dust free portable drying cabinet does not bother me

    Jesse

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