Sigh, can't find Color development temp control want to try?

peter k. · Feb 3, 2020

Sigh, ... searched on this forum and know this has been answered a hundred times, but can't seem to find the unit we want to try. Its very accurate, circulates water in a large tub. Believe its cost is over a hundred dollars.
Any suggestions...
thanks p.

Ian Grant · Feb 3, 2020

Gold fish bowl heaters work fine

Ian

AgX · Feb 3, 2020

Ian Grant said:
Gold fish bowl heaters work fine

The ones over here with integrated thermostat switch already off below the needed temperatures. And the kit of tube and external regulator regulating up to the needed temperature costs a multiple of a sous-vide device.

Martin Rickards · Feb 3, 2020

Ian Grant said:
Gold fish bowl heaters work fine

Ian

I think you will find that most aquarium heater/thermostat units have a maximum setting below that which is required. The poster is thinking of sous vide cookers.

Ian Grant · Feb 3, 2020

The Paterson tempering tank I have came with 2 fish tank heaters and a thermostat and was capable of 35°C for RA-4. I felt they were dangerous due to their age, but they were fine 20 years ago.

Ian

AgX · Feb 3, 2020

You are right, the models of stand-alone tube of the european market leader go to 34°C, which indeed is fine for RA-4.
However I got film processing with its 39°C in mind...

But we should not overlook that Kodak for instance also advised a process without temperature control.

pwitkop · Feb 3, 2020

I remember seeing an aquarium heater used in carbon printing before and it might be useful for black and white temps, but they're really engendered for fairly big volumes (lots of thermal mass) over long periods, and aren't designed to get near c-41 temps. A sous vide device is much better suited. It's designed to circulate water and color temperatures are well within it's range of temps

AgX · Feb 3, 2020

Not necessarily. The models I got in mind have range starting at 20L. This might be too much for a tray, but might be good for a bassin with several beakers

Kino · Feb 3, 2020

Are you thinking of the Sous vide cookers like Cinestill sells?

https://cinestillfilm.com/products/...emistry-and-precision-film-processing-at-home

Ian C · Feb 3, 2020

Until a few years ago, say 2014 or so, we could order the Arkay constant-temperature water bath circulation unit. It last sold for about $800 at B&H Photo in NYC. Prior to its demise, Calumet Photographic sold the same unit with a “Calumet” brand face plate over the control panel.

This did not have a thermostatic control, but rather a temperature dial. The user placed an accurate thermometer into the water bath and adjusted the dial position until the temperature stabilized at the desired value. So long as the water circulated continuously the bath temperature held constant.

The unit was supplied with common clear plastic tubing (available at most well-stocked hardware stores). One tube fed the heated water into one end of the bath (bath provided by the user) and the other hose drew water from the bath to the heater. This could be used for a variety of things, such as color film processing at 100℉/38℃, hypo-alum toning at 125℉/51.7℃, and so forth.

B&H no longer has this product listed. A quick perusal of the Internet doesn’t show it anywhere that I looked.

You might consider something like the following:

https://www.webstaurantstore.com/wa...MItoz9zom25wIVCtbACh089gDbEAQYBSABEgKGbvD_BwE

A number of used water-bath heater-circulators of various types can be found used on eBay.

Luckless · Feb 3, 2020

Kino said:
Are you thinking of the Sous vide cookers like Cinestill sells?

https://cinestillfilm.com/products/...emistry-and-precision-film-processing-at-home

"Sous Vide" should get most models on the market, but "Immersion Cooker" or other variant may be a helpful name to search for.

But whatever they're called, it is good to double check their rated precision and temp range. Most models should cover the needs for photography, but I've seen some rather cheap units online that start at like 45c, and seemed dubious as far as their accuracy went.

AgX · Feb 3, 2020

The temperature stated at such device is of little interest to us, unles steps are too big, as typically we only use 1 or 2 temperatures and can easily find out the needed setting for our use. But important is the repeatability of the set temperature and the play around the set temperature.
If it does not work precisely enough one still could use it in the kitchen or give it to someone who does...

peter k. · Feb 3, 2020

Kino said:
Are you thinking of the Sous vide cookers like Cinestill sells?

YES!!!!
That's the one!
Those who have one, and use it for developing, how do you like it?

destroya · Feb 3, 2020

have been using an extra large slow cooker, one that has a knob for temp control not just button settings, for years to heat the chems, doing both c41 and e-6. works perfectly and was cheap. think i paid $26 during an after thanksgiving day sale at target. set it on the keep warm setting/area and it keeps them chems at 102 for quite a long time

john

Ariston · Feb 3, 2020

Luckless said:
"Sous Vide" should get most models on the market, but "Immersion Cooker" or other variant may be a helpful name to search for.

But whatever they're called, it is good to double check their rated precision and temp range. Most models should cover the needs for photography, but I've seen some rather cheap units online that start at like 45c, and seemed dubious as far as their accuracy went.

I got the cheapeat one I could find on Amazon for $69, and it works perfectly... tested against a thermometer.

These really are an easy way to maintain the temperature in a tub. I use it with e-6 and c-41 with great results.

Luckless · Feb 3, 2020

Ariston said:
I got the cheapeat one I could find on Amazon for $69, and it works perfectly... tested against a thermometer.

These really are an easy way to maintain the temperature in a tub. I use it with e-6 and c-41 with great results.

Which model are you using? Amazon had a few in the $70-90 range last time I had looked, but a few other sites I've seen offered 'slightly cheaper' options that seemed far more suspect. I can't imagine any of the popular brands to cause issues, and the savings on anything cheaper than those is a roll or two of film at this point, and probably not worth the risk.

Also good point about double checking with an external thermometer. I would expect most machines to regulate to an accurate temp, but never hurts to double check with an external device.

Ariston · Feb 3, 2020

Luckless said:
Which model are you using? Amazon had a few in the $70-90 range last time I had looked, but a few other sites I've seen offered 'slightly cheaper' options that seemed far more suspect. I can't imagine any of the popular brands to cause issues, and the savings on anything cheaper than those is a roll or two of film at this point, and probably not worth the risk.

Also good point about double checking with an external thermometer. I would expect most machines to regulate to an accurate temp, but never hurts to double check with an external device.

I just looked at it. It is evidently so cheap that it doesn't have a brand on it. The technical label says "Tristar Products," if that helps. I'm actually cooking up some film right now:

peter k. · Feb 3, 2020

Does it just heat, or circulates the water also?

Edit: Searching Tristar @ their web site stated that it is discontinued.
https://www.tristarcares.com/product-power-precision-cooker-sous-vide.php

Background:
Also as stated above, like others been using a 18 qt Roaster Oven with Kodak Flexicolor. with the temp to a mark, but would like heated water to circulate and also simplify the process of adjusting temperature. Spring will be coming and that's usually color time for me.

Ariston · Feb 3, 2020

peter k. said:
Does it just heat, or circulates the water also?

Edit: Searching Tristar @ their web site stated that it is discontinued.
https://www.tristarcares.com/product-power-precision-cooker-sous-vide.php

Background:
Also as stated above, like others been using a 18 qt Roaster Oven with Kodak Flexicolor. with the temp to a mark, but would like heated water to circulate and also simplify the process of adjusting temperature. Spring will be coming and that's usually color time for me.

It circulates. It works really well. I am sure the Cinestill one works just as well... or just about any of them. Things like this are often made in a factory in China, then branded for various companies as they go out the door.

Agulliver · Feb 4, 2020

Cheaper sous-vide cooking devices may well not be calibrated but you can always buy one and calibrate it's temperature settings against a decent thermometer which can be had for a few dollarpounds. I've wondered about laboratory heated water baths as they can be set anything from 20 to 90C. I have several at work which are due for replacement in the next year or two. I know their calibration was never consistent when new, one might achieve 27C and another 33C when set to 30 but each remains pretty consistent in it's innacuracies over the years. I'd imagine more modern sous-vide devices if anything are better.

gdavis · Feb 4, 2020

peter k. said:
YES!!!!
That's the one!
Those who have one, and use it for developing, how do you like it?

I have the Cinestill, I've used it to develop Portra 120 and 4x5" and RA4 prints.

I like it, it works well. Heats up fast and is stable and accurate, the timer is convenient. It's a little bigger than I expected and requires a few inches of submersion. I'm not crazy about the form factor, I wish it didn't need such a deep container since the tub for my Duran rotary processor is a little too shallow for it. But it works great in a deeper tub to heat up bottles and keep roll film developing tanks warm. For 4x5 film and prints I use the Duran heater in the processor tub which isn't as consistent but keeps the temp close enough during development after heating up in the deeper tub with the Cinestill.

AgX · Feb 5, 2020

gdavis said:
I wish it didn't need such a deep container since the tub for my Duran rotary processor is a little too shallow for it.

You may build a holder for the heater, so that it no longer needs the wall of the container to make it stand.

gdavis · Feb 5, 2020

AgX said:
You may build a holder for the heater, so that it no longer needs the wall of the container to make it stand.

The problem is that the water is not deep enough to sufficiently submerge the heater element.

AgX · Feb 6, 2020

That is an interesting point, we never discussed when dealing with such cooking heaters.

CropDusterMan · Feb 6, 2020

I used to use two fish tank heaters in a rubbermaid container for C41 and E6
and it worked great. This was in the pre-digital days working remotely at press
rooms. I had no problem getting the 44 deg F that was req'd for the AGFA kits
back then.

J

Sigh, can't find Color development temp control want to try?

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