How to develop B&W film (HP4 100) with No Thermometer

ndwgolf · Dec 3, 2017

Yesterday I took some lovely 4x5 shots in B&W but when I went to develop them I couldn't and still cant find my thermometer for the chemicals...............I went and bought two yesterday in Phuket town but when I got home found that the digital and the analog one don't start recording until 35 degrees...........what can I do now as I want to develop them today.
Ambiant temperatures in Phuket range between 28 to 32 degrees Im guessing but I would say my fridge is at around 15 degrees

MattKing · Dec 3, 2017

To monitor my wash water temperatures I use an easily found digital oven thermometer that does read down to the 20C range - one of the type that has a probe that you can stick into your meat while the display sits on the counter adjacent to the stove.
It isn't particularly accurate - it reads about 1 C high at 20 C when compared to my accurate thermometers - but it would at least get you close.

removed account4 · Dec 3, 2017

hi

do you have a dark green safelight ?
if you do, you could develop by inspection ...
if not ... i'd see if you can get a better thermometer ...
or after you mix/dilute your chemicals put 1/2 the volume of your developer
and fixer in the fridge and half ambient ..
after a while, mix them together and it will be about 21ºC
im sure there is a chart that suggests time for your dev at that temperature..
good luck !

mshchem · Dec 3, 2017

ndwgolf said:
Yesterday I took some lovely 4x5 shots in B&W but when I went to develop them I couldn't and still cant find my thermometer for the chemicals...............I went and bought two yesterday in Phuket town but when I got home found that the digital and the analog one don't start recording until 35 degrees...........what can I do now as I want to develop them today.
Ambiant temperatures in Phuket range between 28 to 32 degrees Im guessing but I would say my fridge is at around 15 degrees

If your fridge is 15C you need a new fridge

Nodda Duma · Dec 3, 2017

I let my chemicals and whatever rinse water I'll need sit at ambient and use developing times off the massive dev chart for room temperature.

Select developer dilution to keep developing time above 5 minutes

Andrew O'Neill · Dec 4, 2017

Is that HP5?

Craig · Dec 4, 2017

A fridge should be about 4C!

Martin Rickards · Dec 4, 2017

Stand development, Diafine?

chris77 · Dec 4, 2017

20c is the in between temperature.
neither warm nor cold.
with some experience you can feel it, 1-2 degrees up or down.

chris77 · Dec 4, 2017

chris77 said:
20c is the in between temperature.
neither warm nor cold.
with some experience you can feel it, 1-2 degrees up or down.

certainly more difficult in a hot environment.

Doremus Scudder · Dec 4, 2017

ndwgolf said:
....I went and bought two yesterday in Phuket town but when I got home found that the digital and the analog one don't start recording until 35 degrees.... .... I would say my fridge is at around 15 degrees

You must live in a different world than I do.

I can't imagine what a thermometer that only reads 35°C and higher is for ... maybe you bought oven thermometers, but I'd think that would be clearly labeled...

If they start at 35°F, there's no problem.

I'd look harder for my thermometer.

But, if you have a good idea of the ambient temp of your processing area and can let the liquids stabilize at that temp, then you can simply adjust processing times as per the Ilford time/temp chart here: https://www.ilfordphoto.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Temperature-compensation-chart.pdf

I'd buy a new refrigerator too

Doremus

AgX · Dec 4, 2017

Doremus Scudder said:
I can't imagine what a thermometer that only reads 35°C and higher is for ... maybe you bought oven thermometers, but I'd think that would be clearly labeled...

Those thermometers that one can get most easily over here do so.
Clinical thermometers, available at each pharmacy.

Rick A · Dec 4, 2017

Go to a pet shop and buy or order one of these on line.
https://www.chewy.com/hde-lcd-digit...pzTvbRIuwd_FDAu3_xwaAiroEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

tezzasmall · Dec 4, 2017

If there are no shops locally that sell what you need, there is of course good old ebay, where if you pick the right seller, you could have the right item in a matter of days.

Terry S

Pat Erson · Dec 4, 2017

Why don't you go to the local 7-11 and rent for a day one of the thermometers they have in their freezers..?

RalphLambrecht · Dec 4, 2017

ndwgolf said:
Yesterday I took some lovely 4x5 shots in B&W but when I went to develop them I couldn't and still cant find my thermometer for the chemicals...............I went and bought two yesterday in Phuket town but when I got home found that the digital and the analog one don't start recording until 35 degrees...........what can I do now as I want to develop them today.
Ambiant temperatures in Phuket range between 28 to 32 degrees Im guessing but I would say my fridge is at around 15 degrees

They must be selling appropriate thermometers wherever you bought the chemicals.

trendland · Dec 4, 2017

ndwgolf said:
Yesterday I took some lovely 4x5 shots in B&W but when I went to develop them I couldn't and still cant find my thermometer for the chemicals...............I went and bought two yesterday in Phuket town but when I got home found that the digital and the analog one don't start recording until 35 degrees...........what can I do now as I want to develop them today.
Ambiant temperatures in Phuket range between 28 to 32 degrees Im guessing but I would say my fridge is at around 15 degrees

How to fly Apollo 11 to the moon and land with "eagle" onto Mare Tranquillitatis
at 0 degree 40' 26,69" N / 23 degree 28' 22,69" E without navigation systems ?

Have a look to following picture of Mare
Tranquillitatis :

so pls. imagine the accuracy of the full mission.

You task is just to find a correct thermometer and to use it with a tollerance of great " 1 - 2 degree C "
with regards

nworth · Dec 4, 2017

If you let the developer sit for a couple of hours, it will be at about room temperature. You can usually get some indication of what room temperature is, and you can proceed from there. This will be inaccurate, but usable.

Fraunhofer · Dec 4, 2017

Here is a solution which works without a thermometer, freshman physics lab:

There are two temperatures which you can reach reliably: 0C (water with plenty of ice cubes it in it, really more cubes than water). 100C boiling water.

Now mix 800ml of 0C water with 200ml of 100C water and you have 1000ml 20C water.

Note, that there is a 1-2 degree correction for the boiling point with air pressure/altitude and the water has to be very clean.

trendland · Dec 4, 2017

Fraunhofer said:
Here is a solution which works without a thermometer, freshman physics lab:

There are two temperatures which you can reach reliably: 0C (water with plenty of ice cubes it in it, really more cubes than water). 100C boiling water.

Now mix 800ml of 0C water with 200ml of 100C water and you have 1000ml 20C water.

Note, that there is a 1-2 degree correction for the boiling point with air pressure/altitude and the water has to be very clean.

This method may be without alternate after a massive nuce strike. If you are then able to get freezed water AND if your
are trained to make fire as people who lived 10.000bc.
But (just let me say) your method is a nice information - Before Armageddon is comming I would prever a thermometer.

with regards

trendland · Dec 4, 2017

nworth said:
If you let the developer sit for a couple of hours, it will be at about room temperature. You can usually get some indication of what room temperature is, and you can proceed from there. This will be inaccurate, but usable.

Better is to store the water a couple of hours in canisters to let them go at room temperature. (Not let the developer fresh made dillution wait so long - depending to the kind of developer and other baths you need ).
But our OP seams to have no idea of room temperature at all ( extrem climate zone) so he should minimum need a thermometer to messure room temperature.
Then he is able to use our method - or he may prefer then to messure directly.

with regards....

PS : Can't see where the problem is..
4 x 5 avaiblity is given nur no way to get in contact with a dealer who is selling minimal corect messure instruments?
But perhaps the OP was only joking with us

pentaxuser · Dec 4, 2017

OP as you wanted a solution that allowed development to take place yesterday, did you go ahead using one of the ideas given here and if so how did the sheets of film turn out?

Thanks

pentaxuser

Doremus Scudder · Dec 7, 2017

AgX said:
Those thermometers that one can get most easily over here do so.
Clinical thermometers, available at each pharmacy.

Of course. I wasn't thinking about thermometers for taking human temperatures. These, of course, are not really suitable for monitoring room or chemical temperatures.

Doremus

removed account4 · Dec 7, 2017

so,OP ///

what did you end up doing, and how did your negatives turn out ?

pentaxuser · Dec 7, 2017

Yes always a pity when we never hear about what an OP decided to do after people devote their time to provide answers

pentaxuser

How to develop B&W film (HP4 100) with No Thermometer

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