Temperature maintenance methods.

rwboyer · Dec 17, 2009

This is my first winter in a new place and I have a couple of issues. My darkroom area is really really cold. I have no issues maintaining consistent temps for my roll films - that is easy. I am having an issue with maintaining temps for my tray development - mostly for sheet film. Paper is no big deal.

Anyone that has a really cold darkroom that has a good way to deal with this?

RB

Ps. If you say water bath the next question is exactly how do you get your trays to stay put?

RB

brucemuir · Dec 17, 2009

Get some old oven racks or refrigerator racks from the dump/off the side of the road (keep your eyes peeled).

These will sit in the water bath and hold the trays just high enough out of the tempered bath so they don't float round.

rwboyer · Dec 17, 2009

Thanks, now where to find a dump. Any ideas on how much water I will need to deal with a 10 - 15 degree temp differential between my preferred processing temp and the air in the room?

RB

fschifano · Dec 17, 2009

You know, this doesn't really address your problem but perhaps you'd want to re-think using tray processing for film. I have a similar problem. The basement is cold in winter. Temperatures drop down into the mid 50's (F) and keeping trays at exactly the right temperature for film can be a real nuisance. Instead, I decided long ago to use a tank for sheet film so I could use exactly the same temperature control techniques I use for roll film. I like the HP Combi-Plan tank. It works well for me. Of course, the size limit is 4x5 and you might be using larger. If that's the case, the tank is no answer for you. But if you're using 4x5, it's great.

rwboyer · Dec 17, 2009

I shoot 8x10 when I shoot sheet film - I only do 4x5 (on a reducing back) when testing to reduce costs.

RB

Davesw · Dec 17, 2009

rwboyer said:
This is my first winter in a new place and I have a couple of issues. My darkroom area is really really cold. I have no issues maintaining consistent temps for my roll films - that is easy. I am having an issue with maintaining temps for my tray development - mostly for sheet film. Paper is no big deal.

Anyone that has a really cold darkroom that has a good way to deal with this?

RB

Ps. If you say water bath the next question is exactly how do you get your trays to stay put?

RB
I got some HUGE thick fender washers from the hardware store and used silicone to glue them to the bottom of my plastic trays right in the middle . they still can be rocked back and forth gentlyand thay dont try fo float away any more. Wish I could find big S.S. ones but I had to settle for plated steel.

dwdmguy · Dec 17, 2009

I recently had the same question having built my DR in my garage. I live in NJ.
I purchased a oil filled radatior for $49, electric, and I am amazed at how it heats the room.

When not in use, I leave it on low and about a half hour before I go in I crank it up.
It has a thermostat built in.
Works very well.

Apuger's of course helped me out.

squinonescolon · Dec 17, 2009

If the problem is not being able to "maintain" precise temperature, use a divided developer(split out the carbonate). Ansco 130 works like a charm anywhere above 68F. You'll likely see a lovely and extended tonal range as a side effect. ;-)

MattKing · Dec 17, 2009

One of my all time favourite APUG thread titles, concerning an electric pig warmer:

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Sorry Murray - but it truly is a great title.

Matt

rwboyer · Dec 17, 2009

squinonescolon said:
If the problem is not being able to "maintain" precise temperature, use a divided developer(split out the carbonate). Ansco 130 works like a charm anywhere above 68F. You'll likely see a lovely and extended tonal range as a side effect. ;-)

Not going to cut it - I process to a very hi CI in most cases and regularly N+1 for silver.

RB

BetterSense · Dec 17, 2009

I got a bunch of those cheap styrofoam coolers...the kind that you get for $1 for picnics. Cut the bottom off them and use them for develper trays. Solution stays +- 1C for at least a half hour.

rwboyer · Dec 17, 2009

BetterSense said:
I got a bunch of those cheap styrofoam coolers...the kind that you get for $1 for picnics. Cut the bottom off them and use them for develper trays. Solution stays +- 1C for at least a half hour.

I may try that - when you measured was the air temp 10-15 deg F different? Mine is.

RB

mike c · Dec 17, 2009

dwdmguy said:
I recently had the same question having built my DR in my garage. I live in NJ.
I purchased a oil filled radatior for $49, electric, and I am amazed at how it heats the room.

When not in use, I leave it on low and about a half hour before I go in I crank it up.
It has a thermostat built in.
Works very well.

Apuger's of course helped me out.

I have and use one of the oil filled heaters also,it does not get much below 45 deg. f. hear..Turn it on a couple of hours before use and I'm good to go.Darkroom is insulated.

rwboyer · Dec 17, 2009

gimmie a break - LA is a piece of cake.

RB

jeroldharter · Dec 17, 2009

The oil filled heater is good - no fan, no dust, no noise, no dry air/static.

The Jobo TBE is good for tempering chemicals.

A Dev-Tec tempering tray is useful also but not big enough for trays larger than 8x10.

You can use a larger tray filled with water and put the developer tray in it using the cookie cooling rack to lift the tray a bit so it won't float. Use some small re-freezable packs to cool the temp. Use a Pyrex pitcher of microwave boiled water to add heat.

Aquarium pumps and aquarium heaters are used sometimes.

There are some interesting threads about electric pig blankets/warmers also.

BetterSense · Dec 18, 2009

I may try that - when you measured was the air temp 10-15 deg F different? Mine is.

In the summer it was routinely 80F in here and I process at 68F. Nowadays my room temperature is almost processing temperature so I don't even need to ice the solutions sometimes.

Temperature maintenance methods.

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