I've been learning b&w printing at my local university, and having fun. I am assembling what I need to do this at home and have accumulated:
Bogen 22A enlarger with 35mm carrier
printing easel with hinged glass, 8x10
print washer, 8x10
8x10 trays, measuring cylinders, rocket bulb, antistat-brush, cloth gloves
Patterson domed red light
GraLab 300 timer
Chemicals: Ilford multigrad developer, Ilford rapid fixer
Ilford MG paper, pearl
I need: stop bath (?), 6x6 neg carrier, contrast filters, selenium toner, grain focuser.
Pertinent information: I've been regularly shooting and developing b&w film for ~5 years, mostly sheet film but also 120 (and some 35mm). I've now spent about 10 hours in the university darkroom making prints with Beseler 45MX and 4x5 negs. (I also shoot wet & dry plate for past 4 years.) My goals: contact prints 8x10 and 5x7 negatives at home, make quality 8x10 (and maybe 11x14) enlargements from 6x6 (and a few 35mm) negs.
My questions at the moment are:
(1) do I need a stop bath other than just water? If so, wouldn't just a bit of added vinegar work? How much?
(2) what grain focuser do I need? Will be used for 35mm and 120. Looking at ebay I don't want the cheapest. How about Bestwell? Micromega seems like overkill for me.
(3) I'm wanting selenium toner both for archival and warm toning reasons. Are the different brands basically the same? i lean toward Ilford.
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