kodak filter, will it fit into my light fixture?

Chriscc123 · Aug 23, 2010

in my bathroom where i am setting up a darkroom there is a light fixture (note pic) its EXACTLY 5.5in, if there is anyone who has this filter could you help me out and tell me if its EXACTLY 5.5in? i don't want to buy a 35 dollar filter for the hell of it, also is a 15 watt bulb really enough to make it through this?

Thanks, Chris

George Nova Scotia · Aug 23, 2010

I just measured a couple for you. Good news and not so good news. The Kodak 5.5 in diameter filter is 5.5 inches. Well the glass is, they come with a rubber gasket around them which adds another 1/16 of an inch. The glass is about 1/8 in thick with the gasket 3/16. Hope this helps. Yes 15 watt will work, in fact 7.5 watt is used sometimes..

Chriscc123 · Aug 23, 2010

George Nova Scotia said:
I just measured a couple for you. Good news and not so good news. The Kodak 5.5 in diameter filter is 5.5 inches. Well the glass is, they come with a rubber gasket around them which adds another 1/16 of an inch. The glass is about 1/8 in thick with the gasket 3/16. Hope this helps. Yes 15 watt will work, in fact 7.5 watt is used sometimes..

thanks, but that's what i feared... is there anyway to remove them or are they stuck on there good?

George Nova Scotia · Aug 23, 2010

The ones I have just peel off, no glue that I can tell.

fotch · Aug 24, 2010

An alternative would be just get a amber OC 15watt bulb (or Red, if that is what you use). Then you don't have the high cost of changing the lens.

fschifano · Aug 24, 2010

Doesn't sound like a good idea, especially if that's the only overhead light fixture in your bathroom. You are not going to be a happy camper when you need a regular light in the bathroom for performing your daily ablutions. A 15 watt lamp in a ceiling mounted fixture is going to be pretty dim without the safelight filter. With the safelight filter, good luck! It's enough so that you will find your way around and it's perfectly fine for darkroom work, but don't try to do anything else. Can you see yourself shaving under that light? Hope you have a good supply of bandages.

Incidentally, while the OC safelight is fine for most enlarging papers, there are a few that don't do so well with it. A red safelight, while a bit harder on the eyes, is much safer. So instead of the OC filter, you might want to consider this one instead. It's safe for all papers without exception.

Wade D · Aug 24, 2010

I thought of doing something like that but it was not practical. The old bullet style Kodak lamps use the filter you are thinking of. I have 2 mounted to the wall and they work well. OC filters for most VC papers work well and provide more light with a 25W bulb when pointed at a light ceiling. 1A filter in a 5x7 fixture for some of the Eastern European papers and ortho film.

2F/2F · Aug 24, 2010

For near the same amount of money, you could get this standalone safelight: http://www.freestylephoto.biz/12185-Premier-Safelight-5x7-Red?cat_id=1603.

Or, for under five bucks, you could get this red safe lamp that will fit a standard screw-in fixture anywhere in your house: http://www.freestylephoto.biz/12622-Halco-11-Watt-S14-Transparent-Red-Bulb?cat_id=1603.

The drive from Calabasas to Freestyle (about 50 miles round trip: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1c=Cal...os+Angeles:1:::/io:1:::::f:no:en_US:M::/bl:/e) would only save you the shipping charge if you have a fuel efficient car...but you could drive to the Orange Line and take that to the Red Line, then exit at Sunset/Vermont station and walk about a quarter mile to Freestyle.

Isn't getting around in L.A. grand? It is sad when is is easier and/or cheaper to pay a shipping charge than it is to go pick something up across town.

Chriscc123 · Aug 24, 2010

1. I apretiate the worry but this bathroom is never used. 2. I have another safelight already but due to the construction of the bathroom it's impossible the way I have it now, (it's a shared bathroom so there are 2 sinks and the toilet an bath go back behind them, and close off, in fact there are 5 different recessed lights in that bathroom. 3. I did consider just buying a little red safe bulb but what worries me is the fact that the glass that's there right now is very opaque. 4. I comeuit down to studio city every day, and my car us fairly new do I think I would be saving on the shipping bit.

Sirius Glass · Aug 24, 2010

I went through this had glass cut to shape and the light leaked around the edges. I put the original glass back in and bought a red bulb. Save yourself some money and just buy the bulb.

Steve

fschifano · Aug 24, 2010

Now you know why that rubber gasket is there and why it's important.

Sirius Glass · Aug 24, 2010

fschifano said:
Sirius Glass said:

I went through this had glass cut to shape and the light leaked around the edges. I put the original glass back in and bought a red bulb. Save yourself some money and just buy the bulb.

Steve

Click to expand...

Now you know why that rubber gasket is there and why it's important.

Even that did not help. Even two of them did not help.

Steve

Chriscc123 · Aug 25, 2010

should i considered getting a jumbo 25 watt oc amber one, or is it to much light? it bothers me that the little one is not oc amber...

Chriscc123 · Aug 26, 2010

well... im now confused, is oc amber or red safer?

fotch · Aug 26, 2010

It depends on the paper. Some papers need Red only, others will work with either. OC is easier on the eyes and its easier to see better. No matter which is used, you will need to test. Search the threads for a link on how to properly test.

Wade D · Aug 26, 2010

Look at the specs for the paper you will use. That will tell you which to buy. If in doubt go for the red. It's safe with just about any paper or litho film. As mentioned above OC is brighter and easier on the eyes and testing is a must.

kodak filter, will it fit into my light fixture?

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