"Wet room" to be just Dark & Bio ? + To Do list
Akki
I've been thinking that the darkroom doesn't actually require running
water. You only need it for making up chemicals (done before hand, can
go to the workshop sink for this) and for washing (can be done in
daylight in the workshop, then bucket of wet prints can be brought
into the safety of the darkroom to dry.)
This week I have taught one person to develop their own film and
another on how to make cyanotypes and neither required the darkroom or
running water immediately in the room - nearby was sufficient. It
would be nice to be able to have supplies on site at the space,
though, so I can stop dragging my own equipment back and forth.
.
We do still need designated Wet and Dry areas but that can be a simple
matter of taping up some A4 paper saying which areas are which and
keeping the areas clean and cleared of items.
What does need to happen is power needs to be run into the room and
people have suggested a simple hole + power strip extension cable
would suffice for this purpose. I will check this out this evening to
see how best to do this and from which socket etc.
This leaves making it light tight (blackout windows etc.) which I will
happily do. I'll consult with the biohackers tonight on if this needs
to be removable or can be semi-permanent. I'm thinking of making a box
valence[1] over the door and attaching dark/blackout material to this.
This may help stop the spread of workshop dust into the darkroom and
while helping to blackout the cracks around the door.
I think we need some shelves or other kind of storage for both the
Biohacking stuff and future darkroom materials. I am not well versed
in the ways of attaching things to walls so whoever did the kitchen
cabinets (Paddy? Phil?) could possibly help there... or anyone else
happy to use a masonry drill. Again, Bio to be consulted tonight on
exact locations and information. Even if Bio want a sink and proper
sockets installed in the room, shelves might help considerably in
keeping the place tidy and all those things would happen under, or
near, the level of the bench tops.
Hopefully this will be okay - if not, shout now :)
~Akki (Heather)
[1] http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/box-valance/index.html Like this
but less pretty and fancypants.
Laura
One thought: Have you used a darkroom that doesn't have running
water? I have. It is *possible*, but a total pain in the arse,
especially if your nearby water source is shared with dirty processes
and/or food.
Second thing: I am going to offer my kit for the third and final
time. It has gone back into storage and I don't have transport, so I
can't bring it alone. I would need people to help me get the kit
there. This includes blackout material, chemicals (dev, process and
lith, also toners), excellent enlarger, trays etc. So far I've had no
responses, so if no-one is interested I'll see if there's any other
groups who might want it, along with me maybe teaching some fun lith
skills.
Laura
Paddy Duncan
recently has taken a step backwards, but will soon be ahead again...
Paddy
Bernard Tyers
Hash: SHA1
A quick note: my previous thread about biohacker contacts was about this very matter, so no need to reply to previous thread.
Laura: depending on where you live (and when you want to move it) I'd be able to help you bring your kit to the hackspace.
Is there alot of it? Would it fit in the back seat and boot of a VW Golf?
Paddy: about the sink, is there any help you'd need in getting the sink in and working? I know jack about plumbing but I'm happy to help in sourcing parts and doing some grunt work.
It would be handy if we (the "photography people") and the biohackers were able to come to an arrangement on what was possibly, and then maybe spilt any cost that was needed.
ta,
Bernard
=====
Bernard / bluboxthief / ei8fdb
IO91XM / www.ei8fdb.org
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Akki
using it yesterday.
The problem with accepting these things previously was we had no place
to store them. I'm hoping by getting some storage/shelves going, we
will have space to store these things. Also I don't think putting up
shelves would significantly impair the installation of plumbing and
electrics (unless someone tells me otherwise?) as long as we keep to
doing so above the bench top for now. So I will make it a priority to
see that gets done.
I don't think we need another enlarger unless it is significantly
better than the current one (which is just a B&W one no multigrade
filters etc. I'd much prefer a larger colour enlarger if that's what
you have going?) and thus we could get rid of the current dinky little
enlarger... which I've still not figured out how to open so you can
load/unload the negative for printing.
I'd be a little wary of chemicals - film developers (except for
Rodinal and that kodak HC-somethingnumbers stuff) tend to oxidise and
go off (die in the middle of developing film, not so good) so what you
have might not be useful. Stop bath and fixer don't go off like that.
We could use some Photo-Flo/wetting agent as that doesn't go off
either. Trays would be lovely, thank you :) Bernard - if you can pick
these things up, that'd be awesome, I don't have a car so can't help
in that respect.
Also any Paterson developing tanks + reels would be happily accepted.
Paddy - Does that mean we have an appropriate sink/taps? I found some
reasonably sized/priced ones online which I'm bringing a print out of
tonight.
~Akki
On Jan 25, 3:18 pm, Laura <shoo...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Smashing to see this is coming on.
>
> One thought: Have you used a darkroom that doesn't have running
> water? I have. It is *possible*, but a total pain in the arse,
> especially if your nearby water source is shared with dirty processes
> and/or food.
>
> Second thing: I am going to offer my kit for the third and final
> time. It has gone back into storage and I don't have transport, so I
> can't bring it alone. I would need people to help me get the kit
> there. This includes blackout material, chemicals (dev, process and
> lith, also toners), excellent enlarger, trays etc. So far I've had no
> responses, so if no-one is interested I'll see if there's any other
> groups who might want it, along with me maybe teaching some fun lith
> skills.
>
> Laura
>
Paddy Duncan
reasonably sized/priced ones online which I'm bringing a print out of
tonight.
Possibly - the ones from the soon-to-be ex kitchen...
Paddy
-----Original Message-----
From: london-h...@googlegroups.com
[mailto:london-h...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Akki
Sent: 25 January 2012 17:38
To: London Hackspace
Subject: [london-hack-space] Re: "Wet room" to be just Dark & Bio ? + To Do
list
Adrian Godwin
> Paddy - Does that mean we have an appropriate sink/taps? I found some
> reasonably sized/priced ones online which I'm bringing a print out of
> tonight.
>
> Possibly - the ones from the soon-to-be ex kitchen...
> Paddy
There's another new tap in my box, identical to the newer one on the
sink (because I had to buy a pair). Please grab it if you need it.
-adrian
Laura
>
> The problem with accepting these things previously was we had no place
> to store them. I'm hoping by getting some storage/shelves going, we
> will have space to store these things. Also I don't think putting up
> shelves would significantly impair the installation of plumbing and
> electrics (unless someone tells me otherwise?) as long as we keep to
> doing so above the bench top for now. So I will make it a priority to
> see that gets done.
>
Excellent. I'm happy to hold on to stuff until shelves are ready,
however long that takes, as long as I get some idea of what is
wanted/needed.
> I don't think we need another enlarger unless it is significantly
> better than the current one (which is just a B&W one no multigrade
> filters etc. I'd much prefer a larger colour enlarger if that's what
> you have going?) and thus we could get rid of the current dinky little
> enlarger... which I've still not figured out how to open so you can
> load/unload the negative for printing.
>
My enlarger is this one
http://www.novadarkroom.com/product/851/SH_De_Vere_504_Enlarger.html
Probably a bit sturdier, excellent for MF and LF, couple of lenses,
although it may need a lens for dealing with 35mm film (I pretty much
only use 120/220). I have carriers for 120, 35mm and 5x4
> I'd be a little wary of chemicals - film developers (except for
> Rodinal and that kodak HC-somethingnumbers stuff) tend to oxidise and
> go off (die in the middle of developing film, not so good) so what you
> have might not be useful. Stop bath and fixer don't go off like that.
> We could use some Photo-Flo/wetting agent as that doesn't go off
> either. Trays would be lovely, thank you :) Bernard - if you can pick
> these things up, that'd be awesome, I don't have a car so can't help
> in that respect.
Other than the stock film dev, most of the chemicals should keep fine
tbh. Plenty stop bath, wetting agent, some fix. Most toners keep
well, and the lith chems should be ok too. Enormous tub of PQ11 might
have been open too long now (12 months is ok afair)
>
> Also any Paterson developing tanks + reels would be happily accepted.
>
I have a couple of Paterson tanks and reels, and also a couple of
easy-load reels that fit the Paterson tanks. And about 6each of trays
in a couple of sizes, and other sundries, beakers etc.
I think I also have a fluorescent tube safe light rescued from my
last-but-one darkroom.
Also hidden away in storage is my lovely Cambo 5x4 camera. Potential
for glass or tin plate playing perhaps?
Laura
Akki
On Jan 26, 1:32 pm, Laura <shoo...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Excellent. I'm happy to hold on to stuff until shelves are ready,
> however long that takes, as long as I get some idea of what is
> wanted/needed.
and the tiny enlarger, most if not all is welcome.
> My enlarger is this onehttp://www.novadarkroom.com/product/851/SH_De_Vere_504_Enlarger.html
> although it may need a lens for dealing with 35mm film (I pretty much
> only use 120/220). I have carriers for 120, 35mm and 5x4
the wet room. I've taken down the approximate measurements and I'll
doublecheck if it'll fit in the room. I would absolutely love to have
a 5x4 enlarger (though I think previous discussions on the mailing
list thought this was over the top...) I still shoot 5x4, though and
have always wanted to have an enlarger for that size but don't have
the space personally for it at home.
So... baseboard 24 x 24 inches, overall depth 32 inches by a maximum
of 68 inches high sound about right? That's what I came up with
googling. I can see why you'd need good transport to pick these things
up and transport them to the space!
> Other than the stock film dev, most of the chemicals should keep fine
> tbh. Plenty stop bath, wetting agent, some fix. Most toners keep
> well, and the lith chems should be ok too. Enormous tub of PQ11 might
> have been open too long now (12 months is ok afair)
darkroom.
> I have a couple of Paterson tanks and reels, and also a couple of
> easy-load reels that fit the Paterson tanks. And about 6each of trays
> in a couple of sizes, and other sundries, beakers etc.
> I think I also have a fluorescent tube safe light rescued from my
> last-but-one darkroom.
darkroom is just an incandescent - no fluorescent tube fittings in
there.
> Also hidden away in storage is my lovely Cambo 5x4 camera. Potential
> for glass or tin plate playing perhaps?
know they're pretty darn valuable/expensive...
So far the people in the space like my tatty old Speedgraphic I bring
in to bother them with.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fishies_go_pook/sets/72157628943736897/
Funny you should mention glass plates, I just got a glass plate holder
cheap back in December and was toying with that idea...
~Heather(Akki)
Laura
bit of a beast, but lovely to work with, and very bright. In terms of
that and the Cambo, it's all really good, not cheap, kit, but I feel
so sad that it's all in storage these days. I love the idea of it
being used, by me and other people. Also, I've done almost nothing
with my photography for months now, and it's over two years since I
last exhibited. If we can get the kit in, I'm keen to try
collaborating with and learning from other people, to get a bit
reinvigorated.
Also... Speedgraphic!!!!! I so nearly bought one of those a few
years ago. Lovely cameras. Which also reminds me, I have a box of
old cameras that can be tinkered with and hacked.
Laura
Laura
soon to coordinate making this shit happen :)
tom
This reminds me, i need to chase up those holographic plates!
On Jan 26, 4:46 pm, Laura <shoo...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Also, people on this thread, maybe we can meet at Hackspace sometime
> soon to coordinate making this shit happen :)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > The sizes you mentioned for the enlarger seem about right. It is a
> > bit of a beast, but lovely to work with, and very bright. In terms of
> > that and the Cambo, it's all really good, not cheap, kit, but I feel
> > so sad that it's all in storage these days. I love the idea of it
> > being used, by me and other people. Also, I've done almost nothing
> > with my photography for months now, and it's over two years since I
> > last exhibited. If we can get the kit in, I'm keen to try
> > collaborating with and learning from other people, to get a bit
> > reinvigorated.
>
> > Also... Speedgraphic!!!!! I so nearly bought one of those a few
> > years ago. Lovely cameras. Which also reminds me, I have a box of
> > old cameras that can be tinkered with and hacked.
>
> > Laura
>
Billy
I wombled a sink last night.
You may want to measure it, and finish the discussion on where it's to
be installed, so we can put it in...
Bernard Tyers
Hash: SHA1
On 26 Jan 2012, at 16:46, Laura wrote:
> Also, people on this thread, maybe we can meet at Hackspace sometime
> soon to coordinate making this shit happen :)
How about this Tuesday? It looks like I'll be in London this week.
Laura: the offer to come and pick up stuff still stands, if said stuff isn't too far away..what area is it in?
thanks,
Bernard
=====
Bernard / bluboxthief / ei8fdb
IO91XM / www.ei8fdb.org
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Laura
got transport, then maybe once there's shelving in place we can sort
that out.
Anybody else around on Tuesday? I'm free
Akki
I should probably update this... So, Tom, Phil, eb and I made wooden frames and attached velcro to them and have made big panels of blackout material with velcro on them to stick over the windows. Sully cut a piece of plywood to put in the window above the door and Phil attached it for us.
We have a lock on the door on the inside, thanks to Sully again, and a sign to put on the door on the outside when the darkroom is in use, thanks to Tom.
More pictures added to http://www.flickr.com/photos/fishies_go_pook/sets/72157629078154817/ (really should update the wiki, though... Not sure where to begin on that one)
Sully had a look at the enlarger that was donated and sat in the darkroom for months - Where did this Durst enlarger come from, just out of curiosity? It doesn't have a lens or a lens holder, the rack&pinion teeth are plastic and some of the teeth are missing, and the gear's teeth are also totally worn out so it's very difficult to move the head up and down. No timer, looks like mains plug but EU fitting (?) and an in-line turn on/off switch, not really that accurate for timing exposures. We're considering stripping it down to parts for camera building (bellows, column) as it doesn't look that usable as it is. I figured it should be offered back to its owner before we break it up for scrap, though.
As an aside, I've won a UV light "facial tanning unit" on ebay this weekend so we can do various alternative processes such as cyanotype, van dyke brown, lumen prints etc... also if people need it for PCB exposure, it should be nearly twice as fast as the tiny one the Space already has. I'll be keeping the UV light at home and I'll make it a fabric dust cover then bring it in when it's appropriate.
I think the course of events that needs to happen is...
1 & 2 ) Sink gets plumbed in & Electricity gets in somehow and the light switch moved to the inside. I've been assured this isn't too hard to do :P
3a) Shelves get put up along with anything else likely to create a heap of brick dust
3b) Cabinets under the benches somehow, even if it's just fancy boxes with shelves in with or without doors. I think the Biohackers would appreciate some cabinet storage space rather than shelves.
4) *everything* out of the room and CLEANED.
5) Then we can finally start setting up, getting in the enlarger and all the other kit.
I realise that Bernard(and everyone else) is very keen on this but if we put up shelves above the sink before the sink is installed, they'll be in the way possibly, same for the cabinets and other storage. The place is super-scummy and dusty too and you don't want that on your film/prints so the cleaning step is actually important in this case.
Yay for the tiny bit of progress we have so far!
~Heather (Akki)
Adrian Godwin
> We have a lock on the door on the inside, thanks to Sully again, and a sign
> to put on the door on the outside when the darkroom is in use, thanks to
Can the lock be overridden without smashing stuff (I'm thinking like
the key operated locks on a toilet door) ?
>
> Sully had a look at the enlarger that was donated and sat in the darkroom
> for months - Where did this Durst enlarger come from, just out of curiosity?
> It doesn't have a lens or a lens holder, the rack&pinion teeth are plastic
> and some of the teeth are missing, and the gear's teeth are also totally
> worn out so it's very difficult to move the head up and down. No timer,
> looks like mains plug but EU fitting (?) and an in-line turn on/off switch,
> not really that accurate for timing exposures. We're considering stripping
> it down to parts for camera building (bellows, column) as it doesn't look
> that usable as it is. I figured it should be offered back to its owner
> before we break it up for scrap, though.
>
I think this might have been me (though there may be more than one so
I'm not quite certain). It was missing a lens and had a weird plug. It
came from a street market with the washing tanks and a few other bits,
all for a few quid, so do whatever you like with it. There was a
slight possibility at the time that someone could contribute a lens
but aiui Laura's enlarger is much better so don't feel you have to
preserve it. Give it away or cannibalise it as you wish.
-adrian
Akki
be. Will try to fit it this weekend if it turns up by then.
Thanks for the info about the enlarger. We'll see what we can do with
it... maybe make it into a cool camera.
It looked like it was missing the lens holder, not just the lens so we
would have had to get someone to make us a holder out of metal.
Possibly more work than it's worth in this case. We also discussed the
possibility of replacing the gear and rack&pinion teeth with a 3d
print but figured that'd be a bit pricey and possibly not durable
enough.
On Jan 30, 2:33 pm, Adrian Godwin <artgod...@gmail.com> wrote: