Darkroom timer

Marco Buonocore

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I use a cheap dollar store timer that I clip to my apron to time my development when printing. It's also useful when I'm toning, or processing film semi-stand. For everything else, I've got a Gra-Lab timer spinning away.

Problem with these timers is that they're poorly made, often fail, and are very difficult to see under safelight. I go through a bunch every year.



Does anyone know of a more useful timer? Ideally, it would have red LED lights and could be set with one hand. Smaller is better.

Surely there's something on the market? Would love a lead. Thanks!
 

480sparky

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I just use a timer app on my phone. Set the colors to red on black, and start souping.
 

bdial

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ic-racer said:
Another Gray-Lab.
Click to expand...

+1

I have one on the wall above my print processing area. I slide a print into the developer with one hand and click the timer over to 3 minutes with the other. The timer switch is always on, so it just starts. My other Gra-Lab is at the sink where I process film, one would do but I happen to have both and have had them for many years. I use an enlarging-specific timer for the enlarger, which is one task the clock face Gra-Labs aren't so suitable for (IMHO).

An alternative for the print timing which works quite well is an analog clock with a second hand. Just note where the second hand is as you start the print. As a side-benefit, you can see what time it is easily too.
 

mgb74

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I have one like that - though just with text in english. But I've found a digital stopwatch works a bit better.
 

MattKing

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If you are thinking about a clock with a sweep second hand (my choice) experience has taught me that you don't want one with red hands .....

I have had good luck as well with the small digital timers when they are purchased from kitchen stores.

I just wish I could find old fashioned egg timers in variable times.
 

Gerald C Koch

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I use a 7 inch battery operated wall clock with a sweep second hand for prints. Although I usually develop by inspection rather than by time. For film I use a fairly decent digital kitchen timer. Best to get one with an 0 to 9 keypad rather than the up and down buttons. I find these a pain to program.
 

Nige

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I have one that beeps to indicate times up (it use to flash a red led also but that stopped working a few years ago). I set it to 1min (or whatever) and when you hit the button to shut it up, it resets itself. For film development I use a timer that talks. It counts down, announcing the minutes to go, then in the last minute every 10 seconds. If you don't hit the button to shut it up, it keeps counting so you can see how much over time you've gone!
 

Jeff Searust

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That's exactly the timer I use-- I have several of them, and when I teach film developing I tell the students that the "dollar store" is their friend.
 

Paul Verizzo

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I use a magnetically mounted one, count down or elapsed time. Stick it on the side of the fridge two feet from my kitchen counter whilst doing my film. Going great after 7 years except the beeper has lost some volume. Wart-Mart, I think.
 

Rick A

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I use several of the .99 cent digi's from Dollar Tree. I set one for developing, and another for fix. I have a dedicated one for other processes. It's easy to just reach up and hit the start/stop button to use. I don't care that I can't see the numbers except when setting them, and that they die. I do have expensive Gralab 525 and 505 timers for where it matters. I also have a more expensive digital kitchen timer for processing film.
 

gordrob

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I have two GraLab 300s on the wet side of the darkroom. One of them I have had for over 40 years and it just keeps on running. I have a GraLab 500 that runs the Durst 138 as well. Also use a small clip on digital timer that I picked up in the kitchen section of a department store.
 

DannL.

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GraLab 300 for all wet processes (metal timer hands, toggle switches)
Beseler Audible/Repeatable timer for Enlarging/Contact Printing

I've gone through quite a few timers over the years, but for simplicity I use these.
 
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grahamp

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I still have a cream English Clock Systems clockwork timer (start/stop lever and reset lever) that sits on the shelf over the wet bench. Still does the job.

The newer Time Controls/ECS unit is not as reliable (it needs periodic cleaning on the buttons), but keeps time with the other one to within 10 seconds in 15 minutes - plenty close enough for printing.
 

Krockmitaine

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+1 for this configuration.
Although my darkroom is not complete, I use a Gra-lab for timing my development. (Another timer will be used for the enlarger) I started using the Gralab as an experiment to see if was more convenient than a digital timer. To my surprise, the Gralab won the day. It's handy, convenient, quick and easy to setup. The digital timer has a new life in the kitchen.
 

MattKing

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The only problem with a Gralab 300 or its like as a process timer is that it requires a power plug - not ideal for those of us who have to use bathrooms as temporary darkrooms, and rely on the tub and surround as a place for our trays.

My Gralab works great where I develop film near the kitchen sink.
 
OP
OP

Marco Buonocore

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Thanks for all the recommendations. I have loads of gra-labs ticking around the darkroom, but for development time I've always liked using a timer on my apron. Just a habit now, I guess. Hard to break. I'll have a look at some of the ones suggested.
 

fotch

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The idea of using a timer that malfunctions during a process and then replacing it with another one sounds silly. Like using a film that can fail at any moments but still continue to use. I guess if the pictues taken are not valuable in some fashion however just the waste of time...is irreplaceable. JMHO
 

bdial

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