roguewave Posted June 21, 2009 Share #1 Posted June 21, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I finally have the ability to start processing my own film. One big problem is water temperature. In the basement of my building, the water is very cold and just doesn't warm up. Has anyone found a compensation for this, Are there any tables or formula's for adjusting to this problem. I need to compensate for each of the steps. Thanks, Ben. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted June 21, 2009 Posted June 21, 2009 Hi roguewave, Take a look here Home processing of Tri-X & T-Max 400. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
kenneth Posted June 21, 2009 Share #2 Posted June 21, 2009 I finally have the ability to start processing my own film. One big problem is water temperature. In the basement of my building, the water is very cold and just doesn't warm up. Has anyone found a compensation for this, Are there any tables or formula's for adjusting to this problem. I need to compensate for each of the steps. Thanks, Ben. I process prints in our cellar with very few problems. Occasionally, when the temperature drops to 15c I have to leave prints a little longer in developer- 2 minutes with Tri-X but otherwise I don't seem to have any major problem. As far as film processing goes I load the film in a dark cupboard and process in the kitchen. I bring the water up to temperature by placing the plastic bottle containing the filtered water on a radiator which works fine as our central heating thermostat can be set at 20c. Other than this I don't seem to encounter many problems. What sort of temperatures are you referring to in your basement? our cellar certainly gets pretty cold in the winter Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted June 21, 2009 Share #3 Posted June 21, 2009 Do you not have any access to any hot water at all? (A kettle even...?) 20 deg C is the standard developing temperature - it's not that warm (68 deg F) You absolutely need a thermometer that accurately measures temperature by the way. I'm amazed that Kenneth gets useable results by leaving water on the radiator. Have you looked at the Great Big Developing Chart at digitaltruth.com? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted June 21, 2009 Share #4 Posted June 21, 2009 I used to use an aquarium water heater in a washing bowl of water which I stood the chemicals in. Basic ones are cheap and it worked well (since I started developing my own B&W again I've not had any real issues with developing at 'room temperature' which has been around 20deg so far, but I might invest in another fish tank heater!) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Albertson Posted June 22, 2009 Share #5 Posted June 22, 2009 How cold is it? Kodak's data sheets (download) for both films and developers typically cover processing times at temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees F. T-Max is a lot more sensitive to development variables, Tri-X has a lot more room for error. Try to keep the temperatures of all your chemicals the same, to save stress on the emulsion. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted June 22, 2009 Share #6 Posted June 22, 2009 As Andy said, mix some hot water with cold and the developer to get it to the correct temperature. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeplanter Posted June 22, 2009 Share #7 Posted June 22, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Got a microwave? You can use that to warm your solutions. Ilford makes a temperature compensation chart. Look at the bottom of this URL for the PDF: ILFORD PHOTO - Development Charts Jim B. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted June 22, 2009 Share #8 Posted June 22, 2009 Small portable heater, oil filled electric, to warm the area. You can wall it off and build the darkroom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roguewave Posted June 22, 2009 Author Share #9 Posted June 22, 2009 Thanks to all for the pointers, Ran a few tests this weekend, Even in summer, it's rather cool down in the basement. Below 20C. I think I can work this out. Winter might be another story. James' fish-heater might work to keep an outer bath close to the right consistent temp. Thanks again all. anyone have a favorite changing bag? I'm getting clumsy in my old age & need a bit more room to snuggle the film into it's rightful place. Thanks again for the sage advice. Ben Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
salred Posted June 22, 2009 Share #10 Posted June 22, 2009 I use an earlier version of the Calumet "Changing Room": Calumet Changing Room - RM1000 - RM1000 Plenty of room inside -- only issue is that I have to spend time relearning the internal bracing each time I use it (in other words I'm not doing much home developing these days). -- Steve A. PS: I've used the water-bath technique in cold locations -- heat the water in a small wash tub to processing temperature & set the developing tank and graduates with chemicals in it. Once temperatures stabilize it will keep them there long enough to process the film -- or refresh as necessary if you're doing a lot of processing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
specpro Posted June 22, 2009 Share #11 Posted June 22, 2009 The mass dev chart recommends for TMax 100 for 6m30s at 18 degrees C with HC110 but I find that the negatives are a little thin and not contrasty enough. Does anyone have a similar experience? Any recommendations? Does pre-washing with higher temperature water (28 degrees) affect the development? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubenkok Posted June 22, 2009 Share #12 Posted June 22, 2009 Hi Ben, I use one of these Double Lined Changing Bags Changing Bags | B&H Photo Video Maybe you can store your chemicals and a bottle of water on a warmer place. In the kitchen, like iI do ! Hope this is some help. Kind regards Ruben Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM Posted June 23, 2009 Share #13 Posted June 23, 2009 The water bath is the only way to go. Cold/warm soak the chemistry in the water bath until it stablizes at the proper temperature. Actually, this is the easist variable to control. Consistent chemistry temperature is a key to control the quality of your work and eliminate a failure point in the process. I use antique Nikor stainless tanks and reels that can be immersed in the bath between agitation cycles. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
specpro Posted June 23, 2009 Share #14 Posted June 23, 2009 Thanks for the tip LDM. Just to clarify: do you mean that the pre soak bath and the developlment bath need to be the same temperature? Is temp control during the stop and fix also important? The trouble I have is that the tap water is too warm and so I can only use limited amounts of water from a pitcher in the fridge. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted June 23, 2009 Share #15 Posted June 23, 2009 Ideally all stages should be at or about the same temperature, to avoid "shocking" the film emulsion Are you saying that the water comes out of your tap at over 20degC? Even the "cold" tap? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
semrich Posted June 23, 2009 Share #16 Posted June 23, 2009 Ben, I'll second the Calumet "Changing Room" it's what I use and I couldn't be happier. I usually load two 2 reel stainless steel tanks with either 35mm or 120 mf, plenty of room without getting all sweaty and it folds down flat for storage when done. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
specpro Posted June 24, 2009 Share #17 Posted June 24, 2009 Thanks for sharing Andy. Will try to keep all temperatures consistent although it is going to be difficult cause the coldest water I can get out of the cold tap is 28 degrees celcius Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andybarton Posted June 24, 2009 Share #18 Posted June 24, 2009 Where do you live? Do you drink warm water all the time, or do you pass it through a refrigerator first? Saves on your bills when making a cup of tea, though, I suppose Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
specpro Posted June 24, 2009 Share #19 Posted June 24, 2009 somewhere near the tropic of cancer Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM Posted June 24, 2009 Share #20 Posted June 24, 2009 68C out of the tap. Ouch. Good for brewing tea, I suppose. A trick I usd to use in my darkroom that got over 80F in the summer was to have a zip-lock bags full of ice cubes (one for each tray to avoid cross-contamination) and dunk the bags in trays to kep the temp down. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.