1) B&W negatives cut into strips of 5 or 6 images each.
2) A enlarger timer (Such as the Graylab series of timers).
3) A basic condenser enlarger. Fancier models are available but this is all you really need to print b&w negatives.
4) An enlarging lens.
5) B&W printing paper. Choose an inexpensive paper at first because you will probably go through a lot of it.
6) A piece of sheet glass or clear acrylic slightly larger than 8x10 inches.
7) Three 8x10 plastic developing trays.
8) A safelight. Make sure the safelight is approved for the type of paper you will be using. For black & white work it will be designated OC.
9) Developing tongs. Many individuals are allergic to darkroom chemicals.
10) Developer, stop bath and fixer chemicals (in their own bottles).
11) Measuring graduate.
12) Interval timer to measure processing times. A watch works just fine.
13) A light tight room, such as a dark closet or windowless bathroom.

Now for the step-by-step procedure for printing a b&w contact sheet.

1) Mix the chemicals according to the manufacturer's directions. Place the solutions in their respective trays and bring the chemicals to 65-70° F. It is not critical that all three solutions be the same temperature. But if you want consistent results make sure the developer temperature stays the same during your contact printing and each printing after that.

2) TURN OFF THE LIGHTS. Place the negative strips on top of an unexposed piece of printing paper emulsion side to emulsion side. That is, the negative's emulsion side faces down, the paper's emulsion side faces up. Place a piece of clean sheet glass or acrylic over the top of the negatives.

3) Set the enlarging lens aperture to your normal printing aperture.

4) Set the timer to 5 seconds. The first contact print you make is what is known as a contact test print. It will receive a series of 5 second exposures.

5) Cover 4/5ths of the printing paper with a thick piece of cardboard and press the exposure button on the timer.

6) Slide the cardboard to cover 3/5ths of the printing paper and press the exposure button. Repeat this step until you have exposed the entire paper.

7) Develop the contact test print in the developer according to the paper manufacturer's instructions.

8) After development, place the paper in the stop bath for about 15-30 seconds. The time is not critical.

9) After the stop bath, place the paper in the fixer for 3 minutes. You can turn on the room lights after the print has been in the fixer for 1 minute.

10) Select the exposure time that records a complete black tone on the portion of the paper that was not covered by the negatives. Do not alter this exposure time. This is the correct exposure time for all subsequent contact sheets. Using the same exposure time on all contact sheets will allow you to see images that may be over or under-exposed.

11) To print a "fine print" contact sheet you repeat the process except for steps 6-9. But now set the timer for the amount of exposure you selected in step 10, i.e. if you see complete black at 10 seconds then set the timer for 10 seconds and expose the paper once.