Correct safelight for Agfa HDR-C Mammography film?

[seezee]

I just discovered that my red bulb is (moderately) fogging the xray film. I bought some red led from a hardware store and is fogging the film big time. The E27 LED Bulb, 8 LED - Red Part Number: E27-R8-GUPC: 847781014778 from superbrightleds.com everybody is happy with works only at 120V.

Can you recommend a good red led available in europe (220V) - ideally easy to buy online from amazon.co.uk or from china shop like banggood, I don't want to spend money and time testing every red bulb available locally. Thank you.

I can't recommend a specific supplier, but the important thing is you find a bulb with the right spectral output. If you look at the chart for the bulb from superbrightleds.com, you can see that their red bulbs have a narrow output that peaks at ~635nm. Find a bulb that matches that and Bob's your uncle. You definitely want to stay away from amber light for pretty much any x-ray film, and if you buy a conventional incandescent light be aware that the filtering dye fades and changes color over time, so a new bulb (or Wratten filter) may be safe, but an old one may not be.

One more thing: I, too, use a worklight with reflector & clamp, so I bought one of these in order to double my light output. Works a treat; there should be something similar in 220v for your part of the world.

[stiganas]

Thank you,

I folowed your advice and bought a led bulb from dx.com

A0029 E27 3W LED Lamp Globe Bulb 700nm Red Light 210lm SMD 2835

Power 3W
Rated Voltage AC 220V
Connector Type E27
Emitter Type 2835 SMD LED
Total Emitters 9
Color BIN Red
Theoretical Lumens 210lumens
Actual Lumens 190~210lumens
Color Temperature No
Dimmable no
Beam Angle 150°
Wavelength Red: 635~700nm

It was one of the few with a wavelength in the description. Now I have to wait a month or more.

[Tin Can]

Great. Notice it is 3 watt and it may be best to bounce the light off a wall. Good idea to test and report as I am sure you are not the only one needing a good LED.

Thank you,

I folowed your advice and bought a led bulb from dx.com

A0029 E27 3W LED Lamp Globe Bulb 700nm Red Light 210lm SMD 2835

Power 3W
Rated Voltage AC 220V
Connector Type E27
Emitter Type 2835 SMD LED
Total Emitters 9
Color BIN Red
Theoretical Lumens 210lumens
Actual Lumens 190~210lumens
Color Temperature No
Dimmable no
Beam Angle 150°
Wavelength Red: 635~700nm

It was one of the few with a wavelength in the description. Now I have to wait a month or more.

[Rick A]

Yep RED, look at the info on it, it has a wavelength perfect for paper and X-Ray, old timers prefer yellow, but I prefer red and consider it 'safer'.

I'm an "old timer" and never preferred yellow, in fact, I have only used dark red safe lights since my first dark room in 1964.

[Jim Noel]

I still have a small supply of "Ruby" bulbs from the 40's or 50's. They are bright and emit only the correct part of the spectrum for ortho films. Wonderful to work with.

[Tin Can]

I still have a small supply of "Ruby" bulbs from the 40's or 50's. They are bright and emit only the correct part of the spectrum for ortho films. Wonderful to work with.

How were they made?

Actual rubies?

Have you checked the diffraction spectrum with prism? These days some check with CD.

Not joking, curious.