My thermometer sucks - Cheap alternatives?

Sully75

Member
Joined
Jan 28, 2010
Messages
405
Location
Somerville,
Format
Medium Format
Hi there,

On round 4 of my film developing renaissance, I'm realizing the $6 thermometer I bought really blows...very slow to respond to temperature changes. Is there a cheap digital alternative? I was thinking about going to Target and buying a cheap digital cooking thermometer. Bad idea?
 

Hexavalent

Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2009
Messages
592
Location
Ottawa, Onta
Format
Multi Format
I bought a couple digital cooking thermos, a cheap one and a more expensive one ($20 ?). The cheap one filled with condensation and was useless within two days. The better one does both Farenheit and Celcius, .1 degree increments. Tested against a good laboratory thermo, it is quite accurate ( +/- .2 Deg) over the typical range of use (10 -60 C), so it's quite sufficient for my work. I doubt it's water-tight, so a submersion probably means bye-bye.

-Ian
 

ndlshootsfilm

Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2009
Messages
37
Location
Sullivan Cou
Format
Medium Format
I bought a kodak glass thermometer from BH a few months back - works like a charm. Tried the digi cooking therms, not worth the hassle. I'd say go with a good glass thermometer. I think BH still has the kodak ones still in stock.
 

BetterSense

Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2008
Messages
3,151
Location
North Caroli
Format
35mm
walmart sells a stalk-type digital thermometer with a wide temperature range and fast response. It also has a screw on the side so that you can calibrate it. They are pretty cheap and work very well. I can't seem to find them on the website, though.
 

Bob-D659

Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2008
Messages
1,273
Location
Winnipeg, Ca
Format
Multi Format
Harbor Freight http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=95382

also available for more money elsewhere. Not waterproof, but it does dry out and starts working again.

The repeatability is excellent on the one I have, which is more important than the accuracy.

The inexpensive indoor/outdoor ones are good too, just remove the plastic housing on the thermistor and dunk in liquid electrical tape.
 

Hexavalent

Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2009
Messages
592
Location
Ottawa, Onta
Format
Multi Format
Bob-D659 said:
...on the one I have, which is more important than the accuracy.

The inexpensive indoor/outdoor ones are good too, just remove the plastic housing on the thermistor and dunk in liquid electrical tape.
Click to expand...

Excellent idea - bigger display too!
 

Steve Smith

Member
Joined
May 3, 2006
Messages
9,110
Location
Ryde, Isle o
Format
Medium Format
I have one sold for wine making.


Steve.
 

Rick A

Subscriber
Joined
Mar 31, 2009
Messages
9,956
Location
Laurel Highlands
Format
8x10 Format
I bought a dial face thermometer from NAPA auto parts for less than ten bucks. Its for measuring A/C temps at the vent and reacts quickly plus accurate.
 

Anscojohn

Subscriber
Joined
Dec 31, 2006
Messages
2,704
Format
Medium Format
Sully, all good advice. I check my cheapo using thermometers periodically against a mercury lab thermometer. I have five of the lab ones, and they all agree. I have so many because I bought them from a lab supply that was closing out mercury thermometers. Problem is, they are about two feet long.
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
53,274
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
I have a number of thermometers, but basically I use two:

1) a good, accurate and somewhat expensive thermometer (Kodak Process Control thermometer) which I use as a calibration thermometer; and
2) a digital thermometer with a probe, designed for the kitchen.

Here is an example of the digital thermometer:

http://www.target.com/Taylor-TruTemp-Digital-Cooking-Thermometer/dp/B0001BFJ54/ref=br_1_4?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&qid=1272299051&searchView=grid5&sr=1-4&node=13003671&searchRank=pmrank&searchPage=1&searchSize=30&searchBinNameList=purchasing_channel%2Csubjectbin%2Ctarget_com_age%2Ctarget_com_gender-bin%2Ctarget_com_character-bin%2Cprice%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Ctarget_com_size-bin%2Ctarget_com_brand-bin

The digital thermometer is quite consistent, and reads very near the readings of the Kodak thermometer. I check the digital thermometer against the Kodak thermometer on a reasonably regular basis.

The digital thermometer responds quickly to temperature changes, and the probe makes it much easier to keep the body of the thermometer (including the battery compartment) away from liquids.

If thermometers are accurate and consistent near 20 C and 38 C, they will suffice for my uses.
 

2F/2F

Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2008
Messages
8,031
Location
Los Angeles,
Format
Multi Format
How cheap is cheap? I like the sub-$30 Paterson one from Freestyle (http://www.freestylephoto.biz/381-Paterson-12-in.-Color-Thermometer?cat_id=1603). I've bought it three times (gave one away and broke one). This thermometer seems like a good balance between cost and quality, and there is no reason it should not last a very long time if you treat it carefully.

P.S. After looking at the B&H Website, I see that they offer (via special order and a two-to-four-week wait) a Photographer's Formulary 12" thermometer that looks just like the Paterson one, but is under $15. Perhaps if you get it directly from Formulary, it will be faster and/or cheaper.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

fschifano

Member
Joined
May 12, 2003
Messages
3,196
Location
Valley Strea
Format
Multi Format
2F/2F said:
How cheap is cheap? I like the sub-$30 Paterson one from Freestyle (http://www.freestylephoto.biz/381-Paterson-12-in.-Color-Thermometer?cat_id=1603).
Click to expand...

Yes, I've bought that one twice. The column separated on the first one due to my own carelessness (got to warm) and I couldn't fix it. Now I use the replacement to calibrate the el-cheapo $10 digital kitchen thermometers from WalMart which are surprisingly consistent, if not always in agreement with the Paterson unit. The digital thermometer I'm using now reads about 1/2 deg. F low compared to the Paterson. That's ok. It's ALWAYS 1/2 degree low.
 

picker77

Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2009
Messages
121
Location
Oklahoma, US
Format
Multi Format
Can't call it cheap, but the slickest accessory I have in the darkroom is a non-contact "point and shoot" instant-reading digital thermometer with a laser beam pointer built in. I've seen them for maybe $50-$60. It can accurately and instantly read liquids or solids from a few inches up to several feet away, runs on a 9V battery. No need for water proofing, it never gets near liquids.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Sparky

Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2005
Messages
2,096
Location
Los Angeles
Format
Multi Format

Sparky

Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2005
Messages
2,096
Location
Los Angeles
Format
Multi Format
I'd avoid the paterson ones though 2F - I always found their stuff kind of junky. I think it's just rebranded bargain basement stuff... unless you're going with a kodak process thermometer, the digi consumer stuff on amazon or wherever else can't be beat. Anything that says 'darkroom' or equivalent on it is going to come with 'sucker markup'.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…