Use of luminescent clock with tank development

zinnanti · Feb 14, 2009

Hi -

I'm a noob to 4x5 tank development. I am equipped for and planning to develop my 4x5 negs via tanks and hangars.

Light leaks in my dark room are nominal. I print without any issues.

Will use of my Gra-Lab luminescent clock create any issues, however? I would be using it in close proximity to the development/stop/fixer tanks.

Thanks a bunch.

Tony

Bob-D659 · Feb 14, 2009

I dunno about your clock, but a luminescent stick on spot on a used easel I bought will leave a nice mark on RA-4 paper it it sits on it for a sec or two. A test would be a good idea, film fogs easier than paper.

mcd · Feb 15, 2009

zinnanti said:
Hi -

I'm a noob to 4x5 tank development. I am equipped for and planning to develop my 4x5 negs via tanks and hangars.

Light leaks in my dark room are nominal. I print without any issues.

Will use of my Gra-Lab luminescent clock create any issues, however? I would be using it in close proximity to the development/stop/fixer tanks.

Thanks a bunch.

Tony

I'd worry about the light leaks before the GraLab timer. I have always handled black and white film within a few feet of the timer and never had any problems.

Eric Rose · Feb 15, 2009

I have one within 3 feet of my open tanks for doing stand and semi stand development and have never had a problem.

Adrian Twiss · Feb 15, 2009

I used to do tray processing with a luminous Smiths timer without any prombls. The timer was about 2 feet away from the tray and about 18 inches above it.

zinnanti · Feb 15, 2009

Thanks all. I'll give it a roll today/tonight and report back.

pgomena · Feb 15, 2009

I once had a problem with a gra-lab timer too close to a tray of T-max 400 sheet film. Fogged it enough to ruin a couple of sheets. It was in a borrowed darkroom and probably within 18" of the tray. I remember it seeming bright at the time. It can happen.

Peter Gomena

Monophoto · Feb 15, 2009

zinnanti said:
Hi -

Will use of my Gra-Lab luminescent clock create any issues, however? I would be using it in close proximity to the development/stop/fixer tanks.

I have a Gralab 300 with luminescent hands (and a bunch of supplementary dots) that I use when processing sheets in open trays. The timer is 3 feet away from the developer tray.

No fogging - no problem.

zinnanti · Feb 16, 2009

It worked out last night. I only develop and print during the night to assure total darkness.

Funny thing happened, though. I have my GraLab, safe-lite and fan all going through the same terminal. Because I wasn't using a safe-light, I didn't turn on the terminal. So, I dunked my negatives, reached for the GraLab and - nothing. Oh Lordy. But, I had a wall clock that was ticking away, audibly. So, I took a break from agitating. Took the entire terminal apart, found a plug and managed to get the GraLab going right in step with seconds I was counting from the wall clock.

I was using that funky juice we know and love - Ilfosol-S.

Thankfully, the exposure time was perfect.

Kilgallb · Feb 17, 2009

I use a Gralab LED timer about 4 feet from the tray with no problem. The display does have a dim mode. When I used an old clock alarm I covered the display with a fogged strip of 35 mm film that was developed and fixed. This dims the light considerably. You could probably put the timer right above the tray.

Jim Fitzgerald · Feb 17, 2009

My Gralab has never caused me any problems with my minimal agitation in open tanks in 4x5 and 8x10.

Jim

fotch · Feb 17, 2009

Not trusting the potential for fog, I would always shield the timer with cardboard so the face would only be visible to my eyes. Sort of like a super lens hood. Only needed if tray or open tank processing. When loading film, I throw a cover over the timers so nothing can fog my film.

Use of luminescent clock with tank development

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