Could you please suggest avenues for me to explore in my attempt to buy darkroom equipment, and build my own darkroom in my house?

-- Mary Lou Stant (mlou82@hotmail.com), June 23, 1999

Answers

Look in Shutterbug, and keep an eye on local garage sales. I have built a complete darkroom from garage sale purchases in the past, and, though it was primitive by my current standards, it was all I needed to get started. It took about six months to find all the basics.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edbuffaloe@earthlink.net), June 23, 1999.

With the exception of thermometers and a couple of Patterson trays, all my darkroom gear was purchased used, like Mr. Buffaloe, at yard sales, flea markets, and in the classified ads.

Although photo/camera stores are a good source for this gear too, shop carefully as you can often get more bang for your buck by purchasing from John Q. Photo. My wife achieved a major coup when she got a Besselr 4 X 5 (blue that'd make it what? 70's?) with a negatrans, 50 mm El-Nikkor (forget which one), 16 X 20 easel and assorted chemicals and accesories for $400.00. She got this from a classified add.

-- Sean yates (yatescats@yahoo.com), June 23, 1999.

There is also eBay (www.ebay.com). But do some comparison shopping first, some things on eBay go for more than they should. Just about everything you see for sale now, will come around again, don't go nuts.

Also ask around at shops or even at parties. I found a complete darkroom setup by mentioning my interest on ham radio. A friend had a darkroom he hadn't used in years. At a local shop, a person there is going to digital, so is looking to sel some very nice stuff at a VERY good price. He got it at dealer price to start with.

-- Terry Carraway (TCarraway@compuserve.com), June 25, 1999.

I have put together a site that might have some of the information you are looking for, it's at DarkroomSource.com

Hope this helps

-- Andy Hughes (andy@darkroomsource.com), June 30, 1999.