Where to Work - At Home, Kids, etc

[Ari]

While I wait for chems to arrive, I've been pondering how to work here in our small house.
I have a small basement workshop which also serves as laundry room, storage, and my office is next door.
My daughter is 9, she listens to me, and she won't get into any of my gear, but I'd still like to keep most of this away from her and my wife as much as possible.

I'd store the chemicals in my film fridge and the rest in a cooler.
I've been thinking to have some kind of small tent to work in (silver bath, developer) that I can keep a gallon of water in, too.
The smaller the better. In fact, if I could make something about the size of a Harrison medium tent, that'd be great.
But it would have to be easily retractable/removable, with stiffer walls than a film changing tent, and somewhat portable.

An ice fishing tent is too big to keep in the basement, I think, but I may be wrong. I could make something out of plywood, but it'd be too heavy and not foldable.
I'll be doing wet plate at home/in the backyard for the first few weeks, but I'd like to avoid running up and down stairs with silver nitrate dripping off a plate holder.
What do you guys do? Any suggestions?

Thanks

[Two23]

While I wait for chems to arrive, I've been pondering how to work here in our small house.
I have a small basement workshop which also serves as laundry room, storage, and my office is next door.
My daughter is 9, she listens to me, and she won't get into any of my gear, but I'd still like to keep most of this away from her and my wife as much as possible.

I'd store the chemicals in my film fridge and the rest in a cooler.
I've been thinking to have some kind of small tent to work in (silver bath, developer) that I can keep a gallon of water in, too.
The smaller the better. In fact, if I could make something about the size of a Harrison medium tent, that'd be great.
But it would have to be easily retractable/removable, with stiffer walls than a film changing tent, and somewhat portable.

An ice fishing tent is too big to keep in the basement, I think, but I may be wrong. I could make something out of plywood, but it'd be too heavy and not foldable.
I'll be doing wet plate at home/in the backyard for the first few weeks, but I'd like to avoid running up and down stairs with silver nitrate dripping off a plate holder.
What do you guys do? Any suggestions?

Thanks

Here's two that I've built. The first one does up to 5x7. The top is a big piece of 1/8 inch red plexi. I do 8x10 in the second but it could no doubt do 11x14. Both of these boxes collapse--the first one folds up flat, the second is just a big storage tub and everything can be taken down and fit inside. I don't advise pouring plates (collodion) in your basement if you have a gas furnace or dryer.


Kent in SD

[William Whitaker]

Here's two that I've built. The first one does up to 5x7. The top is a big piece of 1/8 inch red plexi. I do 8x10 in the second but it could no doubt do 11x14. Both of these boxes collapse--the first one folds up flat, the second is just a big storage tub and everything can be taken down and fit inside. I don't advise pouring plates (collodion) in your basement if you have a gas furnace or dryer.


Kent in SD

Is the first one a commercially available product, in part or in total?
The cat is an interesting accessory...

[Two23]

Is the first one a commercially available product, in part or in total?
The cat is an interesting accessory...

The blue box was from Bin Warehouse and it looks like it's no longer available.


Kent in SD

[Mark Sawyer]

I don't advise pouring plates (collodion) in your basement if you have a gas furnace or dryer.

I'd also avoid working around a gas water heater, or anything else with a pilot light.

I'd consider putting up black-out curtains around a dark corner if the basement, if there is one. But you may have solved the issue already by now...

[Ari]

I'd also avoid working around a gas water heater, or anything else with a pilot light.

I'd consider putting up black-out curtains around a dark corner if the basement, if there is one. But you may have solved the issue already by now...

OP here.
Yes, I solved it a long time ago by not doing any wet plate work in the winter. During the rest of the year, I work outside.
Thanks for all the help, everyone!

[Ari]

Thanks, Kent.

The furnace is off during summer months, but if I had a rig like your first one, I could set up anywhere.

I'll send you a PM, if you don't mind. Thanks

[ghostcount]

Got a hatchback, station wagon, or a pick up truck?

This southern lady does it in her trunk. I'm sure eventually you will take it on the road someday.

Make it a dedicated wet plate wagon.

[Ari]

I do have a hatchback, nice and big, too.
But we only have one car, and in the winter, it gets used a lot.

I've definitely thought about getting a cheap second vehicle, a small van or hatchback, and using it only for WP excursions.

[Tin Can]

I will use my pickup with tall cap, everything quickly removable to my shed, oops, need another fridge for that now

I am also working on my cargo trailer to make it useful for wet plate and more

Now making Dark Slides for the 2 windows, more on that when done, with Rubylith inserts

A removable cover for my skylight aka exhaust fan

Big plans for this slowing down dreamer with endless projects, that get me up in the morning

not a moment to waste, whats that saying, youth is...

i forget