DIY darkroom tent - bad idea?

[Will Frostmill]

Hi all,

So, I woke up this morning with an idea for a faster, easier, bigger darkroom for myself, and I'm worried I'm missing something really obvious.

The problem: my house leaks light like a seive, and I want to cut down x ray film to different sizes, so changing tents are a bit small for that sort of thing.

Proposed solution: in my (dusty, moldy) basement, I could set up an ad hoc darkroom space with boxes, broomsticks and folding chairs, wrap it in 3 mil black plastic sheeting from the hardware store, and inflate it with a box fan to make a room-sized dark tent. I could mitigate the dust problem by putting a furnace filter in line with the box fan. Air would slowly leak out of the crevices of the dark tent, providing some minimal level of ventilation.

What am I missing? (Aside from common sense!)

[Jim Jones]

It seems easier to use that black plastic to make the darkroom really dark. Perhaps a really good cleaning and sealing of most surfaces will reduce the mold and dust. Then you'll have a darkroom that is always ready to go. However, a furnace in that basement will complicate the process. Improvised darkrooms can be difficult to use. Edward Weston suffered greatly in using a '38 Ford as one in deserts. If you do improvise a tent, draw air in from the outside and warm it if necessary rather than wrestling with basement air.

[Pfsor]

Without proper ventilation you would have serious problems with carbon dioxide and humidity of your own breath. A bad idea.

[mdarnton]

I did something similar in a house I rented once. I bought a roll of black construction plastic and stapled one edge to the beams, forming a large room. The plastic was a foot or two wider than the height of the ceiling so it formed a skirt around the room that turned out to be mostly light tight. I think I might have put two-by-fours around the bottom to hold the plastic to the floor. The entrance was simply an overlap that I could walk through.

It didn't have a water supply, though of course if there'd been one, I would have built the room around that wall. This darkroom worked well, and I used it for a few months.

Ventilation was not a problem, and the basement I used was not damp, so that was not a problem. I would not worry about the dust--I think just hosing down the area you were going to use before building the room would work fine. But I would worry about the damp and mold's effect on anything I kept down there.

Now my darkroom is a basement laundry room. There's one window, and I filled that by cutting a piece of cardboard to fit, then draping a t-shirt over it, shirt outside with the edges wrapping around to the inside, so that when the cardboard is pressed in place the t-shirt forms a light-tight gasket.

[xkaes]

So, I woke up this morning with an idea for a faster, easier, bigger darkroom for myself, and I'm worried I'm missing something really obvious.

I'm unclear as to whether this means you have a darkroom right now or not, but you can "throw something together" and regret it later, or take a few breaths. There are lots of "How to build a darkroom" books out there that you can get cheap. You can spend some time reading one of these books, or you can "throw something together" and regret it later.

I know, I've been there.

[John Kasaian]

What about working at night?
Also, if you have a suitable counter top or table, find or make a cardboard box large enough to work in and spray the interior flat black. The box will cut light from the top and sides. Just make sure you have a dark, nonreflective wall behind you---hang up your focusing cloth if need be.

[Graham Patterson]

I have worked in a portable darkroom (big enough for two people side by side with a 35mm enlarger and a set of 8x10 trays) that was free standing. This was done in a tent in a field.

If what you need is a sort of walk-in changing bag for film handling, and you do not have scope for a permanent installation (rental, small space, etc.) then a frame from PVC pipe and a covering of light-tight fabric is viable. It can also be disassembled.

But if you have the option of a fully or even semi-dedicated space, even small, you are likely to do more with it.

[Pawlowski6132]

I'll assume you are not kidding about this. So, rather than build a tent using plastic, why not just buy a real tent and wrap it in the opaque plastic? Don't worry about killing yourself by inhaling your own carbon monoxide. That's stupid. You're just cutting film right?

[alexmuir]

You used to be able to buy tents made for use as a Darkroom. If you can source one, you could set it up wherever suits. It may not have to be your basement? There are also tents made for growing ‘Tropical Plants’ which may work. I believe they are lightproof. Just make sure the neighbours don’t get the wrong idea!
Alex.


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[Will Frostmill]

Thanks for your ideas, everyone! I see some really good points in this discussion. Perhaps I should consider something like John Kasian's idea, and use a large box as a basis for a rigid changing tent.

[Pfsor]

Why don't you just close yourself in a wardrobe and after having night vision see eventual light leaks and stop them. I did so for many years when I was loading 100ft film to film canisters. Always glad to leave for fresh air.
It's not for nothing that normal tents used in nature have huge air flaps for air flow. And even so, in a cold morning you will find its walls wet from your breath.
Heck, close yourself to a wardrobe and see for yourself how you like it. No need to ask anybody else.

[Chauncey Walden]

And you can comfortably cut X-ray film under a red safelight so it won't matter what color or reflectance the walls of your "tent" are.

[Pfsor]

Don't worry about killing yourself by inhaling your own carbon monoxide. That's stupid. You're just cutting film right?

That is really stupid because there is no known case of a human being exhaling carbon monoxide...
Had problems with chemistry in your school?

[Jac@stafford.net]

You used to be able to buy tents made for use as a Darkroom.

They are still available. Google darkroom tent. Some are intended for gardening, sprout growths, and some are really quite comfortable - like 5'x5'x6'6" tall (https://heavygardens.com/sun-hut-blackout-160-4-9-ft-x-4-9-ft-x-6-6-ft.html?fee=5&fep=2591&utm_source=google-feed&utm_medium=shopping%20feed&utm_campaign=HG_googleshop_0831&gclid=Cj0KCQjwvabPBRD5ARIsAIwFXBliJZvLMfppwLQrP9sBQDKBgHitxbIHRVQhc-3P57ND1wqOc7nxescaAmd3EALw_wcB).

[R.K]

Stain used darkroom made from black plastic like for years.

[LabRat]

I considered lining the garage in the last house I lived, building a "room-in-a room", but it was too naturally dirty, also too drafty, no water/drain, and a rental so I passed on the idea for a printing room there...

I printed in a lab that had plastic lining once, but noticed that the walls would attract dust/dirt/lint due to static charge,and could "sweat" in high humidity...

I also considered a light framework, that could be clad with fairly lightweight tileboard, and like a stage set wall, that could be hauled outside now and then and hosed off, but didn't figure how to install the important canopy top to keep airborne dust from settling to the workspace below...

A film processing room was easy, as I had a spare bathroom with a tub, so easy to put 2 2X4 "rails" over it, and a junk tabletop as a processing bench, but not enough room for an enlarger, large trays + print wash/drying...

I couldn't afford it, but even considered buying a small (Scottie) travel trailer I could convert into a darkroom, and park it in the garage, but still water/drain issues...

Considered the enclosing the back patio awning, but too dirty, and too hot/cold (even in LA), so nixed that idea...

Finally had to move, so I hope for new possibilities when I get re-settled...

I don't think it needs to be inflated, but what space are you looking at??? I think one of those outdoor event canopies with the wall sides would do if bright light (work at night) was not a problem, if just for a clean enclosure (in a larger space)... But the black construction plastic is mostly light resistant (but not 100%)... But just re-lining a room with tileboard sheets is a cheap, semi-permanent solution in an basement/garage etc...

If you have property, maybe one of those large wood prefab sheds you can attach utilities and heat/cooling??? Trailer shipping container etc ??? Cave on premises??? Get rid of the kids???

There's always a way...

Steve K

[Monza1966]

I'm not sure if this helps much or not, but I know someone that modified a pop up hydroponic greenhouse. They're black with a reflective inside. It was small enough to be put into and used in a small SUV.

[Jim Jones]

One of the seven darkrooms I improvised over many years was in a former chicken house with electricity but no running water or drain. I stored water inside in gallon milk jugs and carried waste water out in a large bucket. Thermostatically controlled heaters and an air conditioner maintained useable temperature for water, chemicals, tanks, and me. Two lightly framed walls supported heavy black plastic with plywood wainscoting in the bottom 4 feet. Four inch insulation batting on the outside plus the plastic completely blocked light. The two original walls and ceiling were insulated and lined with cheap paneling. Dust was not a major problem, although I did get good at spotting prints. The 8x12' size was plenty for a desk and 8' long surface for trays. An Omega B22 enlarger perched on an old TV cabinet and the 5x7 Elwood sat on the floor due to the low ceiling. This was the most comfortable of all of those darkrooms. I might have used it a few more decades had it not burned down.

[xkaes]

I might have used it a few more decades had it not burned down.

Bummer, but at least you got some fried chicken out of it!!

[Two23]

Thanks for your ideas, everyone! I see some really good points in this discussion. Perhaps I should consider something like John Kasian's idea, and use a large box as a basis for a rigid changing tent.

Something like a box a refrigerator came in would probably work. I have a long narrow space in my basement I've been thinking of adding a sink to (water lines already run along the wall), and sealing off the entrance with a frame made of PVC pipe and thick black plastic. If you made panels from PVC and black plastic, you could quickly set them up/take down.


Kent in SD

[popdoc]

Have a look at Ctein’s set up
in his online book...


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