Film Processing Thermometers

[Jmarmck]

I used to have a good laboratory thermometer, glass tube some 18" long. It is long gone.
I have a cheap thermometer I acquired from somewhere. I also have a Kodak small thermometer, the one encased in a glass tube.

I was doing my first E-6 Tetenal using the metal thermometer with the dial face. The images were about 2 to three stops too dark.
After checking all that I could I found that that dial faced POS was about 10 degrees F too cool.....according to the Kodak glass encased thermometer. At room temperature they are now less than 10 degrees apart. So I can assume that the metal is under reading the temperature but not sure how much.

So I am assuming that both thermometers are off. I am in need of a new one, or at least one that works.

Do you all have any suggestions at to type and brands? Advantages/disadvantages?

[Jac@stafford.net]

I have so many chemistry thermometers that it should be embarrassing. Kodak “Color Thermometers” are my favorite. I bought a complete store display of them. I also have some dial types.

None diverge more than one percent. Use what you have and be happy.

[LabRat]

Just go to a hardware or home store and buy a digital thermometer that has a stainless steel wand, has a full temp range, and has sealed controls... Should cost about $15...

But save the receipt until you cross check the reading with another good one, as (rarely) some new ones are off...

Steve K

[Drew Wiley]

Buy a later model Kodak Process Thermometer and be done with it. They typically sell for around $50 used, but were over $200 when new. Worth every cent. Getting anything new of similar certified quality would involve any serious scientific or lab supply house and probably run around $300. You get what you pay for.
Kodak label included silly things too, so don't confuse this with their cheap thermometers. If you want cheap, at least buy a medical one like checking for fever.
The difference will be point of most accuracy. Photographic thermometers are designed to be best at 68F, medical obviously at 96F. The Kodak Process unit has
a strong stainless steel jacket - a lifetime tool if you treat it right.

[Jac@stafford.net]

Buy a later model Kodak Process Thermometer and be done with it. They typically sell for around $50 used, but were over $200 when new.

With respect, Drew, those are insane prices.
.

[Jmarmck]

Thanks Drew. I found one on that auction site for just that amount. :cool:
Thanks to you all. I had a really nice lab thermometer I had when I worked for a soils lab at the university. I am not sure where it ended up.
I have that little 5 inch Kodak glass covered job. But it is really slow. I also had another small one with the markings on the surrounding metal flange but it also has grown legs and walked off.

I am hoping that this will solve the under development problems with the E-6. I have never had these severe issues but that was some 30 years ago.

[Drew Wiley]

That's good. The nice thing about the Process Thermometer versus cheaper darkroom thermometers is that it will also be very accurate at the somewhat higher
temps typical of color processes. And Jac.. with "respect", those are typical prices for anything deemed trustworthy. Within walking distance of here there was a
supply house that sold nothing but thermometers. Why? Within walking or biking distance are also some of the biggest pharmaceutical and biotech r&d and even
production operations in the world. And up the street is one of the most prestigious universities in the world with two major labs where they probably use thermometers that cost tens of millions apiece. Not many of us have to worry about temperatures close to absolute zero or hotter than the surface of the sun.
But I happen to have done quite a bit of color printing where a true lab thermometer has probably saved me thousands of dollars over the year by getting things
right the first time.

[AtlantaTerry]

One thing to remember: don't use a thermometer to stir liquids.

[Peter Collins]

So, AtlantaTerry, will you 'fess up and tell us how you know that? :cool:

[Jmarmck]

LOLOL naw Terry I learned that from the soils labs I worked in, use the right tool for the job.
.....and yes fess up. :p

[domaz]

Personally I wouldn't deal with a Mercury thermometer unless you were sure you really needed the accuracy. I'm not sure you really do with color processes unless you are also developing and analyzing control strips with all your runs.

[Drew Wiley]

A good glass thermometer is fast and reliable. I gave up on electronic ones long ago. And dial-types - you gotta be kidding. Maybe for kitchen fudge. A serious
thermometer will be vastly less expensive in the long haul than wasting color chem, paper, and film trying to figure out why runs are inconsistent. I'm always stunned by how photographers will go out and spend a couple thousand bucks on some lens they rarely use, but pinch pennies in the darkroom. You're only as good
as your weakest link.

[Daniel Stone]

To be honest, I'm nitpicky, but not not as much as Drew(no jabbing here Drew, just saying I'm probably a little more "flexible" on some things, but I'm certainly no slouch ;)!). I've found that the Kodak Process Thermometers(Type 3) are the best option, but since they are glass, and contain mercury, I only use them to test other thermometers against now. I have had good luck with the $25(ish) ones found on ebay, the ones that come with a a 4-5ft immersible probe, and are water/splash proof. Intended for laboratory usage, but not insanely priced. My results have been consistent.

But I completely agree on the "willing to spend thousands on a lens but pinching pennies in the darkroom" sentiment. I contend with the same issue at work, the boss won't buy new drill bits and taps when we request them "oh, don't we have more already?"... When we're building(I work in a fabrication shop) $100k projects, but not purchasing the tooling required to do the job properly(I'm talking $10-25 taps/drill bits here), it's enough to drive you bonkers :D...

[Jmarmck]

Heh, don't get me started on bosses and work related equipment.
I got the Kodak thermometer today. It is nice. The bulb is incased in a wrap around metal plate with holes.
Oddly enough the packages included a Time-O-Lite foot switch. Odd because I did not order it and it weighs abut 10 times the thermometer.