Water temperature control

Hello all,

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I am upgrading my darkroom. I do most of my fiberbase BW printing in a Jobo which gives me great control, but I am expanding my darkroom to have tray capability as well. If I stay with the Jobo, then my main need for temp contol will be for the archival washer and occasional use of trays. If I start doing tray processing of prints then the water temp becomes more important.

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Options thus far are:

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To use a thermometer in whatever liquid I am using (cheap and easy).

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A thermometer that sticks into the water line after the cold and hot lines so that readings can more easily be made. I have noticed that Delta makes one for about $50.

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A fancier control panel for mixing, analog or digital. I understand that these can get pricey fast.

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May I please elicit the forum�s advice on this topic?

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Scott

Rather than waste water on using a continuous flow, I have an

electronic thermometer, and I place the sensor in the developer. I

develop at 70 degrees. If the temperature drifts down a half degree

or so, I raise the temperature of the water bath enough to bring it

drifting back towards 70 degrees. I use a stainless steel tray for

development and raise it up a bit so that there is good response to

changes in water bath temperature. Since the response for these

thermometers is so quick, it's easy to monitor both the temperature of

the bath and the developer at the same time.

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While this is more control than one really needs for black and

white print development, I recommend having one of these thermometers

in any darkroom. They are VERY CONVENIENT.

Scott,

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I recommend the Hass Water Temping unit. There are several models,

and if you call them they can tell you the best one for your

particular use. I have found them to be extremely easy to use - just

set the temperature and when the water reaches the correct

temperature it will flash a red indicator. It used microprocessor

controlled solenoids to continuously control the precise mix of

water.

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MIKE

I know that Jobo makes a vertical four-tray insert for its rotary

machines for $200. It's not difficult to swap the Jobo pieces

around. Of course, it limits your print size to 8x10.

You can find good used water temp controllers on eBay at very

reasonable prices these day~~especially compared to new.

I don't think the temperature control is quite so critical when

printing/washing with the exception of the developing step. I just

use an inexpensive dial thermometer to get that right and set my room

thermostat to 68 degrees to minimize drift. The other chemicals and

wash water should be close to that, but I haven't found that its

critical(unlike with film).

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For film, I use the same thermometer, but would get the fancier

plumbed version if I had the money. However, I would probably still

use the hand thermo to double check everything (!)

Scott, a water panel is a luxury for basic b&w processing...for color

it's a necessity...we use a few where I work, including an

Intellifaucet. I think that's overkilll for b&w though, you can

probably find a used mechanical water panel, but you'll probably have

to rebuild it. New, low-tech ones, run around $350 or so. If you go

this route, you must have hot & cold water filters prior to the

panel. Personally, I feel an Intellifaucet is overkill for b&w. We use

two Regal/Arkay panels for our b&w stuff, and the Intellifaucet on an

E6 processor. Depending on what part of the country you live in, and

what season it is, you'll have to keep an eye on the incoming water

temps....for instance, we run a water chiller for much of the year,

and mix the chilled cold water with untempered cold & hot as

well....our incoming cold is often above 85 degrees....fwiw, I paid

less than 50 bucks for a used Leedal panel in my own darkroom...I had

to rebuild the entire thing practically though....I run my film &

print washer off it, but I don't really need it....