It's time to get a TIMER

[Matus Kalisky]

Hi all,

after my first attempt on developing 4x5 in a tray I realized that it would be really nice to have some kind of timer - especially if I would be developing more negatives at a time at different developement times.

My idea that it should be a simple count-down timer readable in the darkness. There are plety of timers (e.g. from Oregon) - but none of them is meant to be used in the darkness.

What do you use ?

 

[bdial]

A GraLab 300 works very well for this, and they are inexpensive used. I am not sure what the availability is like in Germany though. Jobo makes a process timer that allows you to program timing for each step, these might be easier to find there, though probably more expensive. The Fotompex catalog shows a small electronic timer.

 

[Snapshot]

You may want to consider a timer that works with and plugs into your enlarger. It allows to precisely control the amount of exposure the paper gets by cutting off the light when the time is up. I purchased 2 timers for less than $30 each.

 

[Kevin Caulfield]

Talking timer. Absolutely perfect.

 

[rwyoung]

One trick I've heard (no pun intended) recommended for developing film in trays is to make your own talking timer on cassette tape (CD-R now I suppose). A little background music and at the right times, you speak the next instruction. Maybe add a little countdown before each.

"Agitate in 3,2,1, NOW...3 minutes remaining" etc

 

[Monophoto]

All you really need for film processing is a device that will tell you when to agitate, and when to move to the next processing step. I use a Gralab 300.
I suggest doing two things with the Gralab. First, find some phosphorescent paint that you can use to make the minute and sweep-second hands of the clock clearly visible in total darkness. I found a small jar of phosphorescent paint at a chain craft store.

With my Gralab, I find that it is most convenient to use the timer to count down during the development stage, and then reset the timer while the film is in the stop and before fixing. So I cut some small tabs of phosphorescent tape to indicate the starting time for N, N-1 and N+1 development, and also at the 0 and 30 second points. (Obviously, I could have painted dots on the face with some of that phosphorescent paint.). I simply switch on the timer when I move the film from the presoak to the developer and then watch the sweep-second hand, agitating briefly each time it passes 0 or 30.

A simple alternative to the Gralab is a simple clock with a large face and prominent minute and sweep-second hands. Paint the hands with the phosphorescent tape, and put dots at 12 and 6. Then, its a simple matter of watching the hands, agitating each time the second hand passes one of the dots. It is necessary to note the position of the minute hand when development starts, and based on that, decide when to move to the stop bath. One of the advantages of a simple clock is that two people can be processing film at the same time (but avoid carrying on a conversation - you will lose track of where you are!).

 

[Roger Hicks]

One trick I've heard (no pun intended) recommended for developing film in trays is to make your own talking timer on cassette tape (CD-R now I suppose). A little background music and at the right times, you speak the next instruction. Maybe add a little countdown before each.

"Agitate in 3,2,1, NOW...3 minutes remaining" etc

That's what I've done for years. Works better than anything else I've tried. But I count, with the tick of a darkroom clock as a background. One minute TEN.... one minute TWENTY... etc.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I use a metronome. After a while, counting seconds becomes second nature. It works for everything in there from developing film to fixing prints. You also have both your hands free at all times. Just get a foot switch for your enlarger / lightbox / green safelight.
It works really well, but I admit it took me a while to get used to counting. Now it's like breathing.
- Thomas

 

[Steve Smith]

One trick I've heard (no pun intended) recommended for developing film in trays is to make your own talking timer on cassette tape (CD-R now I suppose). A little background music and at the right times, you speak the next instruction. Maybe add a little countdown before each.

"Agitate in 3,2,1, NOW...3 minutes remaining" etc

In the 1960's my father used to process films for a lab which used this method. A spoken set of instructions on reel to reel tape.


Steve.

 

[Gabe Racz]

If you have a palm pilot or a Treo there's free software called Foto Timer, it'll do audio cues for agitating & moving to the next bath (plus countdown cues). Just remember to turn the Palm's backlight off (or put lots of black tape on the screen) first!

Here's the link to Foto Timer.

 

[MartinB]

Ikea

Ikea in Canada sells a digital countdown kitchen timer for $2 with a small magnet on the back to stick on a metal cabinet. You can set any time in minutes and seconds and at the end of the time it beeps for 60 seconds then resets. They are so inexpensive you can have one for each step if necessary. Comes in many funky colours! I use one for reminding me to agitate during minimal agitation development as I am easily distracted.

Martin

 

[Dave Miller]

I use kitchen electronic timers, but make sure you get one that allows countdown in seconds as well as minutes, some are in minutes only.

 

[3Dfan]

You could tune your shortwave to the time signal from Fort Collins Colorado or the Canadian equivalent. From the top of my head, that is 3.333MHz, 5MHz, 6.667MHz, 10MHz and 15MHz.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

I'll second/third/whatever the recomendation for a big-ole GraLab or Time-O-Light.

Probably the most useful all-around timer there is. Not so hot for timing exposure but very good for process timing. I leave mine 'on' and just move the minute hand to the required time - 1 click / minute - and twirl the seconds hand if needed: drop a print in the developer and move the timer 3 clicks and rock the tray and wait for it to turn off. For processing film the sweep second hand shows when to agitate and times the agitation.

They come with phosphorescent dials and hands if the paint hasn't worn off so you can read them in the dark.

They sell for ~$30 used in very good condition. These things can get a lot of use in an industrial setting so getting one that is 'rough' isn't a very good idea.

 

[Shawn Dougherty]

One trick I've heard (no pun intended) recommended for developing film in trays is to make your own talking timer on cassette tape (CD-R now I suppose). A little background music and at the right times, you speak the next instruction. Maybe add a little countdown before each.

"Agitate in 3,2,1, NOW...3 minutes remaining" etc

that would drive me insane!

 

[rwyoung]

that would drive me insane!

A short trip?

Just for the hell of it, I tried it last night. I didn't NEED to do it as I was using my Jobo to process some 120. But while I did the first roll, I made the tape. Then I used the tape to process the second roll.

Do I really sound like that!?! Wow, this has the potential to be VERY annoying.

Product idea, hire sexy voice-over actress (and actor to cover all the bases) to make the tapes...

 

[Matus Kalisky]

Hi. Thanks for all your answers and suggestions.

I have to admit that the idea of talking timer and "music CD timer" sounds best to me.

I checked the IKEA timer - mybe htey have a different model in Germnay seems mechanical and I gues will not go beyond 5 minutes.

GraLab is probably a good device but hard to get in Germnay. To import one is not practical as US standards are 110V.

I tried counting seconds and ticks of the kitchen clocks, but found it uncomfortable.

I have just downloaded audicity mixing and recording software so I will give the counting music CD a try.

Thanks again.

 

[eclarke]

The talking timer..EC

 

[Papa Tango]

OMG

This is not rocket science, although it seems that the answers are as diverse as the posters. It's rather simple though--darkroom timers have been around for about 60 years or so, and the most dependable are Gralab and Time-O-Light. About $20 will snag you one on an auction site that is dependable and simple. Talking timers, and things that compute 10ths of a second... Bah...

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

I've seen a cheap ($5) little timer for hair stylists and hairdressers that dye hair. It clips around your ear and beeps when the time is up. No lights, one little lcd. I found them at a beauty supply store.

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

That being said, I too use a Time-0-Lite EZC-73 or whatnot, the 60 minute/second one that is comparable to a gralab.