Kodak process thermometer TYPE 3

IanBarber · May 30, 2016

I only develop black and white film.

I currently use a very low cost digital thermometer less than $5 and I have been wondering if I should be investing in something like a Kodak process thermometer TYPE 3.

MattKing · May 30, 2016

IanBarber said:
I only develop black and white film.

I currently use a very low cost digital thermometer less than $5 and I have been wondering if I should be investing in something like a Kodak process thermometer TYPE 3.

I have a Kodak Process thermometer, and I am glad of it.

I store it carefully (upright!) and use it as my standard reference.

For day to day use, I use low cost thermometers that I check periodically against my Kodak Process thermometer reference. Best of both worlds.

David Brown · May 30, 2016

MattKing said:
For day to day use, I use low cost thermometers that I check periodically against my Kodak Process thermometer reference. Best of both worlds.

Same here, the Kodak is for calibration. Although, with a decent digital ($12-15), they're usually close enough if not spot on. There are other variables that will make much more difference in the outcome than one degree in your developer temperature.

Jim Jones · May 30, 2016

I, too, only do B&W developing. With tanks, chemicals, and plenty of water stored at a stable room temperature, I rely on a spirit wall thermometer that seems close to the process thermometer used as a standard reference, and develop film at any room temperature between 65 and 85 degrees with compensation for temperature. It's not scientific, but works for me.

CMoore · May 31, 2016

Is there a Chart/Formula/Explanation that deals with time adjustment for each degree of temp rise.?
Thank You

MattKing · May 31, 2016

CMoore said:
Is there a Chart/Formula/Explanation that deals with time adjustment for each degree of temp rise.?
Thank You

Look for a Kodak Black and White Darkroom Dataguide - it doesn't matter a lot which vintage.
The Development Dial will do this for you - just set one time and temperature pair that works for you and you can read off the other combinations.

mdarnton · May 31, 2016

Everything you need to know about time and temperature, including a nice time vs temp chart, is at the Massive Dev Chart:
http://www.digitaltruth.com/devchart.php
http://www.digitaltruth.com/devchart.php?doc=timetemp

David Brown · May 31, 2016

And Ilford's contribution:

http://www.ilfordphoto.com/Webfiles/2006210208211880.pdf

RauschenOderKorn · May 31, 2016

Jim Jones said:
I, too, only do B&W developing. With tanks, chemicals, and plenty of water stored at a stable room temperature, I rely on a spirit wall thermometer that seems close to the process thermometer used as a standard reference, and develop film at any room temperature between 65 and 85 degrees with compensation for temperature. It's not scientific, but works for me.

My darkroom has a rather constant temperature between 66 f (19 c) and 72 f (22 c). In my experience, I can develop B&W film without any adjustment in this temperature range.
As a thermometer I am using a Jobo 3321, which does the trick very nicely. You can find these Jobo for very little money on the second hand market.

CMoore · May 31, 2016

Oh Wow...OK. Lots of info.
Thank You All for answering my question.!
Sorry to interrupt things.
Thanks Again

DREW WILEY · May 31, 2016

If you plan on being serious about quality control, yes, buy it. Last thermometer you'll ever need.

Ronald Moravec · May 31, 2016

MattKing said:
I have a Kodak Process thermometer, and I am glad of it.

I store it carefully (upright!) and use it as my standard reference.

For day to day use, I use low cost thermometers that I check periodically against my Kodak Process thermometer reference. Best of both worlds.

This is the proper way to work ++++.

Precise temp is not required, but doing it the same every time is.

JW PHOTO · Jun 5, 2016

I now have a beauty and it's a Kodak lab thermometer. I do use some other ones too, but the Kodak is a reference thermometer for me. I had an Omega digital for a long time and loved it until I found it didn't love me back. I was starting to have some processing problems and couldn't find the source of the problem. I thought developer exhaustion, agitation, film and a number of other things, but never dreamed that my digi thermometer could go bad. To make a long story shorter, I no longer have a digital thermometer and never will again. All the headaches I had are now gone and so much time, developer and film wasted in the process. It doesn't have to be a Kodak, but it does have to be good.

BySumbergsStache · Jun 6, 2016

Why is the Kodak Process so accurate compared to other meters? I use a $30 Patterson 9" thermometer and it seems to work fine for B&W and C-41.

JW PHOTO · Jun 6, 2016

BySumbergsStache said:
Why is the Kodak Process so accurate compared to other meters? I use a $30 Patterson 9" thermometer and it seems to work fine for B&W and C-41.

That's what I said above. It doesn't have to be Kodak, but it does have to be a good thermometer.

MattKing · Jun 6, 2016

The Kodak Process Thermometer was a lot more expensive in its time, because it was designed to be robust, easy to read (they are very large) and suitable for high volume commercial labs that required high, repeatable precision. I am sure there are more modern thermometeers that offer similar results, but not at a price of just $30.00.

CMoore · Jun 6, 2016

I have two sizes of the "traditional" glass thermometers, and one of these.......http://www.amazon.com/Lavatools-Jav...65229393&sr=8-50&keywords=digital+thermometer

For Black and White, does it really "matter".?
Did Kodak even make thermometers, or was it just re-branded.?
I would think for accuracy and speed, that a digital would be the way to go in most cases.?

MattKing · Jun 6, 2016

Kodak made them.

They are over a foot long, made of high grade steel (the outer frame) and are very, very accurate and repeatably consistent.

The earlier versions used mercury.

The best way to use one is as a reference. Use the cheaper digital thermometers on a day to day basis, but check them regularly against the Kodak reference. Most likely you will find that the cheaper thermometers are not as consistent.

And yes, their consistency is important for black and white.

CMoore · Jun 6, 2016

Yeah...I understand what you are saying. I have not done that much darkroom work yet...but I can see where you would want to make sure your digital meter had a good battery. Probably would not hurt anything to be a bit anal, and check it against another unit (the kodak for instance) each new day of use.
Thanks

AgX · Jun 6, 2016

MattKing said:
I store it carefully (upright!) and use it as my standard reference.

There is no need to store a liquid-stem thermometer upright.
But such thermometers should always be stored in a proper box. If you have got none, make one. For plain models use a stiff plastic tube with stops (one glued on).
Especially mercury-stem thermometers should be stored with utmost care.

Check liquid-stem thermometers before use for any stem seperation or condensation at the upper end.

MattKing · Jun 6, 2016

AgX said:
There is no need to store a liquid-stem thermometer upright.
But such thermometers should always be stored in a proper box. If you have got none, make one. For plain models use a stiff plastic tube with stops (one glued on).
Especially mercury-stem thermometers should be stored with utmost care.

Check liquid-stem thermometers before use for any stem seperation or condensation at the upper end.

The Kodak box is actually imprinted with the warning to store it upright .

MattKing · Jun 6, 2016

So I found a copy of the instructions on flickr, and realize that my thermometer probably is a mercury thermometer.

Here are those instructions, plus a much reduced image of the thermometer itself:

kreeger · Jun 6, 2016

IanBarber said:
I only develop black and white film.

I currently use a very low cost digital thermometer less than $5 and I have been wondering if I should be investing in something like a Kodak process thermometer TYPE 3.

Short Answer: Yes.
Long Answer: It will be the last thermometer you need. Taken care of, it should last a 1-2 photographer's lifetimes.

darkroommike · Jun 30, 2016

Note the degree of accuracy at the marked temps is +/- 0.25 degrees F. And those temps are actually marked on the column to stand out. I have both a type 2 and a type 3. The type 2 is an earlier version and only accurate to 0.50 degree F. More suitable for lower temps and black and white.

Kodak process thermometer TYPE 3

IanBarber

MattKing

Moderator

David Brown

Jim Jones

CMoore

MattKing

Moderator

mdarnton

David Brown

RauschenOderKorn

CMoore

DREW WILEY

Ronald Moravec

JW PHOTO

BySumbergsStache

JW PHOTO

MattKing

Moderator

CMoore

MattKing

Moderator

CMoore

AgX

MattKing

Moderator

MattKing

Moderator

kreeger

darkroommike

Kodak process thermometer TYPE 3

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency