I know that the attic is not an ideal place to set up a darkroom since it gets too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. However that is the only space available to me right now if I want a permanent setup. My proposed darkroom space is about 6x10. It will be insulated and vented like a regular bathroom (hope this is sufficient ventilation) I don't think heating the space will be a major problem in the winter. It's the ghastly summer heat that I worry about. Here in Richmond Va. the temperature can easily get up to 90-100 degrees F in my attic. I will have a AC window unit to running when I am working up there. I know it is not a good idea to store chemicals or chemical solutions for long periods in such high temperatures but will it be alright to store the concentrate or stock solutions in a refrigerator up there. And what about dry chemicals. Any advice, suggestions about setting up a darkroom under such adverse conditions will be greatly appreciated.

-- Mei Leng Lau (bohl-lau@erols.com), May 05, 1999

Answers

If that's the only space you have . . . .

I live in Portsmouth, so I've been there. I have to cool developer in the fridge before I can even develop film in the summer, since the "cold" water comes out of the faucet at around 80F.

Storing chems and paper in the fridge should work, but how are you going to keep the temps down in your trays? Unless you're using a temp-controlled water bath in your sink, you may need to take your paper out of the fridge and run your A/C an hour or two before printing. The window A/C should help with the humidity problems you'll have,

-- Nancy Goldstein (nfayegold@earthlink.net), May 06, 1999.

To lower the tempture and not delute the chemicals fill old film cansters half full of water and freeze put this in trays to drop the temperatures.

-- Mike Hindman (mh9@gte.net), May 12, 1999.

Better yet, make up icecubes made of deleloper, stop and fix. Put the cubes to bring the temp down. This will not dilute the mixture.

Just make sure nobody uses the cubes foe a Mint Julep.

-- jack swallow (birdmanx@hotmail.com), July 20, 1999.

Here's another suggestion, shoot tmax can be dev at higher temp with shorter times ( i read that somewhere i think .... :)

-- lam (lamxyz@singnet.com.sg), August 13, 1999.