Building my own darkroom for 4x5 negs

[Peter Lewin]

Lotus: may I suggest that you make two exposures of each scene, i.e. both sides of a holder. Then unload the holders into two sets. When you try tray developing the first batch, you will make mistakes, have scratches, etc. Then develop the second group the next day, and you will already be quite a ways up the learning curve. I would compare it to learning to ride a bike: the first time you will have beginner's mistakes, but once it clicks, you have it for life.

Incidentally, I suspect the dimpled, grooved (Patterson), or flat trays all have their devotees. I use the common 8x10 Patterson trays, with grooves on the bottom, for developing, and have never had a problem. The grooves let me get a finger under the negatives when starting to shuffle. At the end of the day, you will adjust to whatever trays you choose.

[LotusEsp]

ok, so I am loaded up with:

3 x 8x10 plastic trays
Ilfosol 3 developer
Ilfostop
Ilford Rapid fixer
Ilford Washaid

I'll only be processing a single sheet at a time to begin with. I am shooting on Ilford FP4 film.

Now its just a case of getting my timings and order of operations, and I can give it a go

[bw-king]

I'm fortunate enough to have some space in my home to build a dedicated darkroom, but I am a little confused about which direction to take with the processing equipment
I'll want to be developing both colour and b&w 4x5 negs (no slide I dont think)

I'm not sure if I should be looking for a drum & electric agitator setup, or tanks, or even trays

if anyone has any thoughts on this I'd gratefully hear them

thanks
Simon

If you are a serious photographers and comparing film processing, should use the full immersion type deep tank flushing of the film.
B&W KING 4 x5 Developing Tank (Install 10 film). B&W KING 5 x7 'Developing Tank (Install 6 film),
Can be your choice.


B&W KING 4 x5 Developing Tank (Install 10 film)


B&W KING 5 x7 'Developing Tank (Install 6 film)


Film placing rack for stainless steel manufacturing

[LotusEsp]

If you are a serious photographers and comparing film processing, should use the full immersion type deep tank flushing of the film.
B&W KING 4 x5 Developing Tank (Install 10 film). B&W KING 5 x7 'Developing Tank (Install 6 film),
Can be your choice.


B&W KING 4 x5 Developing Tank (Install 10 film)


B&W KING 5 x7 'Developing Tank (Install 6 film)


Film placing rack for stainless steel manufacturing

they look interesting, but I cant seem to find anyone selling them here in Canada, and the website is down.

[LotusEsp]

ahh, looks they didnt pay their domain registration/hosting fee

I think I'm going to stick with trays for now. Getting hold of decent tanks seems to be a little tricky here.

There is a camera fair in the city in a couple of weeks, I'll take a look there and see if there is a jobo or Paterson 4x5 tank system available.

[Fred L]

If you're talking about the shows in Toronto, I haven't seen Jobo tanks etc in a looong time. Paterson more likely. Still a few diamonds to be found if you look carefully Last show wasn't as crowded as it usually was.

[bw-king]

they look interesting, but I cant seem to find anyone selling them here in Canada, and the website is down.

Dear LotusEsp
B&W KING 4 x5\5 x7 developing tank currently has sales in EBAY.From the United States, Britain and other countries more than 20 photographer for B&W KING product evaluation.
In addition, the www.bw-king.com technical failure, are professional technicians to repair, please.Website will have the detailed introduction of this product.
B&W KING products is the time I use eight years of research and production.Hope more photographers will know it, use it.

I couldn't speak English, the above is the computer translation, I do not know whether accurate.I'm sorry

thank you




http://www.ebay.com/itm/B-W-KING-4X5...0AAOSw~gRVlncM

[LotusEsp]

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out.

[John Kasaian]

My thoughts---
Start with trays and B&W first---minimum investment and bare bones (timer, graduate---a plastic Betty Crocker measuring cup from Walmart will work , swizzle stick---enjoy a Mai Tai at Trader Joe's and the swizzle stick comes gratis, clothesline and clothes pens, those bamboo tongs.) Heck, do contact printing as well (piece of glass and a short string of led Christmas lights for safeights,) you'll already have the trays! Just have fun and you'll figure out what you'll need to expand.

[LotusEsp]

If you're talking about the shows in Toronto, I haven't seen Jobo tanks etc in a looong time. Paterson more likely. Still a few diamonds to be found if you look carefully Last show wasn't as crowded as it usually was.

Hi Fred
Yeah I'm talking about the Toronto ones. There is one on the 24th Jan at the Delta Toronto East hotel. I havent been to one before so I'll go for a sniff around and see if there is anything of interest.

Really I have all the kit I need to get going now. Pretty much as John suggests, I've done a couple of B&W exposures, used 3 trays to develop them as cheaply as possible.
I have just splashed out on a HP G4050 scanner, which was a real bargain, so I now have an entire pipeline anything else I pick up is going to be 'upgrades'

right now the two main areas of interest for upgrade is a better (brighter) ground glass, and a safelight / IR system so I get a better idea of whats going on for the 15 mins I am plunged into darkness

Thank you for all your helpful comments