Replacement filters for Thomas Safelight?

Jeff Bannow · Mar 9, 2009

So, I acquired a used Thomas Safelight to wire into my darkroom. However, both sets of glass need replacing. Are both sets usually OC? I would like to be able to swap between red and OC - this would require swapping both sets of glass, right?

I see a seller on eBay offering homemade replacements. Any idea if these are any good? The price is cheap enough. Other thoughts? I'd like to do this inexpensively if possible.

John Koehrer · Mar 9, 2009

IF you know the filter needed you may be able to get it from Roscoe. Cut it to size & mount it between glass.
The Roscoe filters are not expensive.

srs5694 · Mar 9, 2009

Another option, which I'm using in one safelight, is to ditch the filter entirely and instead use a colored LED bulb. I bought a red LED bulb and it works great. This would require changing bulbs when you want to switch from red to amber, though, and the bulbs are more expensive than simple tungsten bulbs.

winger · Mar 9, 2009

You can get larger sheets of just the filter plastic. I can't remember for sure, but I think found it at B&H. I wanted to change my small safelights from orange to red, but didn't want to buy whole new safelights. I bought one sheet of the plastic ($16?) and cut it down (with a Dremel, took awhile but worked). I'm pretty sure the sheet was big enough to cut in half for two that would fit the Thomas (I have one that I'm not using).
I think the bulb for the Thomas ones rules out LEDs, but I'm not totally sure. It's not a regular bulb, though.
And I think you can buy replacement ones for the Thomas anyway.

Jeff Bannow · Mar 9, 2009

The Thomas uses sodium vapor bulbs, so I can't change the bulb out.

Bethe - you mean something like this? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/43084-REG/Doran_PR10X12R_10x12_Safelight_Filter_Red_.html

resummerfield · Mar 9, 2009

I thought the Thomas filters were designed for the sodium vapor bulbs. I bought a new set of filters for my Thomas safelight a few years ago, directly from Thomas (although B&H sells the Thomas filters also).

Jeff Bannow · Mar 9, 2009

Does Thomas have a website?

I can't tell by looking at the B&H site what I actually need. I would like to replace both sets of filters - the inner and the door filters. If I want to be able to switch between OC and red, I'll need a new set of each? This is starting to sound expensive ...

winger · Mar 9, 2009

Bethe - you mean something like this? http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...lter_Red_.html
________

Yup, that's what I used. But I was making a new filter for a smaller safelight. I would swear I saw ones for the Thomas ones when I was looking, though. I might have done a google search and not just looked at B&H. I'll see what I can find.

Replacement filters for Thomas Safelight?

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency