Will a GRA-LAB 300 fog film?

[Curtis Nelson]

I have a chance to pick up a GraLab 300 timer to use when processing sheet film in trays. I have a pretty small darkroom, and am worried that the glow-in-the-dark dials might fog my film if it gets too near to the clock. Does anyone have any experience doing this? Is it ok to use?

Thanks

[Leigh]

ANY light visible to the human eye is also visible to most film.

I use a Gralab 900 timer for tray processing, and turn the LED display off before starting.

- Leigh

[vinny]

Yup.

[Darin Boville]

How far away is the timer? Once you spend enough time in the dark and your eyes are fully dar-adapted can you see your hands at all? Not just their silhouette against the timer but your actual hands? How long are your sheets out for?

--Darin

[SeanEsopenko]

I taped some scrap paper on my digital enlarger timers screen like a baffle so it can only be viewed from high above so it doesnt fog cokour paper. It was fogging ra4 paper before I did that.

[DanK]

This is one of the best items to purchase 'very well used' for the darkroom...IMO...not nearly as bright as newer ones...

I use the newer ones for drymounting and toning...and old rusty dirty, barely glowing for the darkroom...

Cheers,
Dan

[Doremus Scudder]

If you're using the timer for timing your development, then rig a baffle so that the film-developing tray cannot "see" it, but you can. Turning off the lights for a while before you begin developing allows the phosphors to use up some of their stored energy and get dimmer. Keep the timer as far away from the film as practical, keep it away from reflective surfaces, etc. and you should be fine.

Best,

Doremus Scudder

[BetterSense]

If you are talking about the big glow in the dark dial ones, I have found them very safe. I once took a sheet of unexposed tmax 100--it had been in the developer for several minutes without developing an image; must have forgot the darkslide--and stuck it emulsion-side first against the gralab for at least a couple seconds thinking it would make a contact print of the glowing dial. It literally developed nothing. I don't worry about my gralab timers anymore.

[Jim Michael]

Feel the force of the inverse square law and locate the timer a few feet away from the sensitive material.

[jayabbas]

This is one of the best items to purchase 'very well used' for the darkroom...IMO...not nearly as bright as newer ones...

I use the newer ones for drymounting and toning...and old rusty dirty, barely glowing for the darkroom...

Cheers,
Dan

This I do also as it is a testament to how much time spent in the dark and film has been processed. My rusty timer always gets compliments by those who see it. Darkroom detritus has dulled the glow of the dial and have never had a problem.