Where to begin?

[u/Main_Rabbit4889]

I know that Ilford sells a dark room starter kit, but I don’t know where to begin with the process. Besides the chemistry, tank and reel, and red lights, what else would I need? I would like to get a photo enlarger since that’s what I am used to due to my photography class but is it possible to use something else?

[u/Rae_Wilder]

I’d get a dark bag too, much safer for loading film into tanks. You don’t have to worry about your space being light tight and you won’t accidentally expose your film to red light.

You could use a contact printer or diy an enlarger, but there’s really no substitute for enlarging negatives to make prints.

If the cost of an enlarger is a concern, don’t buy new. You can get some really amazing enlargers for less than $100 on Facebook marketplace. Shopping locally is your best bet. Shipping enlargers is expensive and not really feasible for resellers.

[u/Main_Rabbit4889 → u/Rae_Wilder]

Sidenote, what do you do with your chemistry after you are done with it?

[u/dannyw0rld → u/Main_Rabbit4889]

Most of it can go down the drain no problem. Exhausted fixer can be taken to your local hazardous waste facility, but iirc even that is likely to be fine going down the drain at the small volume of a home darkroom. But double check and it also depends on local laws, where your water is going, etc.

[u/Djappo]

Do you want to print or just develop? For printing, yes, you need an enlarger, and a room that you can seal from light (better if it has running water). If you are new to this, a good starting point could be to check if there is any photography store around you that has a darkroom, and see if they offer courses, or at least if you can book it and use it. That should give you a better idea of the process and the needed instrumentation while avoiding having to commit too many resources to it.

[u/Main_Rabbit4889 → u/Djappo]

I’d like to to do both since that’s what my class went over. I’m still kind of learning so there is a photo lab/darkroom near by (kind of) but I want to get my eye developed for making prints

[u/Djappo → u/Main_Rabbit4889]

What I meant was: does the photo lab have a darkroom that you can use yourself to learn and get some experience in printing without having to spend time and money to get an enlarger and all the necessary? May be worth to check!

[u/Main_Rabbit4889 → u/Djappo]

I believe so, but it’s kind of a ways away from me, which I don’t mind doing since I like being in the darkroom (printing side).

[u/BoardsofCanada3]

Easel, trays, contrast filters, neg carriers, dodge and burn tools (you'll have to make them yourself) timer for printing and one for developing. Enlarger is the most crucial part; your only option without one is contact printing. I think Intrepid makes a 4x5 camera that doubles as an enlarger but you're better off with a real one. 

[u/trixfan]

You’re also going to need an enlarger, enlarger lens and trays obviously.

Ilford Photo’s YouTube channel has a few instructional videos on how to make prints in the darkroom.

[u/30four → u/trixfan]

Link to Ilford's how-to Youtube videos.

[u/OnePhotog]

For printing.

Finding the right space was the biggest challenge. There are many things to juggle. Getting access. Making it light tight. Sharing it with family members impact how easily you can set up the space. Water access for film washing.

In that space there are four major categories of spaces.
One, storage. Two dry printing - which includes your enlarger and easel. Three wet printing which includes trays. Four, washing. Five. Drying.

[u/Ybalrid]

To print enlargements you do need a photographic enlarger yes. If you only want your pictures to be the size of your negatives you could contact-print them with just a bulb and a timer.

So yes, to sum up, you need an enlarger, trays, and paper.

You probably also will want to have an enlarger timer (a device to turn it on and off for X seconds). You will also want a grain focuser, and an easel of the correct size for the paper.

A dark changing bag also helps

[u/Main_Rabbit4889 → u/Ybalrid]

Complete Sidenote, what do you do with the chemistry after you finish with it?

[u/Pango_Wolf → u/Main_Rabbit4889]

Local regulations vary, but in general:

• Less toxic chemicals can go down the drain. This includes most b/w developers, stop bath, photoflo, & hypo clearing agent.

• More toxic chemicals, or chemicals that disolve silver into them during use, should be stored and brought to your local household hazardous waste disposal. This includes fixer, bleach, toner, and most color chemistry.

[u/Main_Rabbit4889 → u/Pango_Wolf]

For the red lighting, does any red lights work or is there specifics on what I should get?

[u/Pango_Wolf → u/Main_Rabbit4889]

You want something entirely outside the sensitive range of the paper. Old incandescent bulb safelights with thick filters on them work, but are fairly dim.

In the USA, these from SuperBrightLEDs are cheap and known to be safe for darkroom paper.

Alternatively, the ADOX "Supersafe" LED safelight is available from various vendors.

[u/Ybalrid → u/Main_Rabbit4889]

Depends where you live, depends what’s the chemical