High Temp Developing?

[Spleenrippa]

So yesterday I saw a digital programmable slow cooker on sale and picked it up in the hopes that it would let me set a temp low enough to be useful for chemical warming... It doesn't. Oddly enough, Hamilton Beach doesn't want you cooking your food at 20 C 😛

Before I give up and decide to use it for food (shudder), I'm wondering if it is feasible to develop film at higher temps? Tri/Plus-x are my films of choice.

I have the unit on 'warm' right now, and it seems to be holding the test water at 29/30 C. Is this useful at all? Should I plan for dinner tomorrow instead? 🙄

Edit: oops! I should mention that I'd probably just be developing in D76 as that's what I have on hand (besides Diafine).

 

[MartinP]

Sounds potentially useful for C41 or E6. They both need a temperature of 38 degrees Centigrade, with the E6 being a little more sensitive to changes in the first-developer.

 

[imokruok]

Yup, it's too high for black & white unless you're willing to experiment, and too low for color. But if it's a variable control and you can get it to sit at 38C like MartinP said, you're good for color.

I thought about this at one point as well with sous vide equipment. You take a sous vide temperature controller and plug the rice cooker into it, and the controller turns the cooker on and off so that the water reaches an exact temp, often within .2 degrees. (Note that you need an analog cooker to do this.)

But I came to the conclusion that is was way more control necessary to get good results. Instead, I bought a Thermapen (instant read digital temperature thermometer) and I just do a sink bath and start development a few tenths over the optimal temp, and it finishes a few tenths below.

 

[Spleenrippa]

Aww, man... I was afraid the purchase was a bust. Guess I will just have to use it for making dinner :-\

 

[Stelios]

Having done developing at near 28 degrees in the past (with Xtol I think) it is possible (with the necessary time adjustments). Not sure you'll like the results (more grain), but you can give it a go.
I did it because I was lazy and couldn't wait to make some cold water (the tap was running at 28!), and well that was 3-4 years ago, I didn't mind then. Can't remember if I liked it but it shouldn't be that bad (I'd remember).

 

[atlcruiser]

I use a slow cooker for all my c-41 and E6. Sort of by default i also use it for B+W. The thing is insulated so get water a little below the correct temp then dump it in. Before long the "cooker" will cool to that temp and stay there. Add some more water a bit below your desired temp before you develop to get the temp right where you want it. I do rodinal at 18' and use the above method when my darkroom is about 75'. I can keep rodonal at constant temps for an hour with very little messing with.

if you play around with it a bit you will get a feel for how much cold water you need to add and when to keep temps pretty constant.

Another thing that helps is I get a gallon of water in the freezer just above freezing. I use that instead of ice to regulate temps.

I think you will be pretty happy with it once you mess a bit. I did not expect mine to get double duty 🙂

 

[ChrisN]

I was just googling for "meth lab", but David's already here!

 

[atlcruiser]

The meth lab has really grown 🙂

 

[craygc]

There was a discussion on a local site here in Singapore years ago relating to this. The cold tap water is a consistent 29 degrees Celsius and that was the temperature people were testing development at. The general conclusion was that it didn't cause any noticeable issues. Personally, I cool it to 25 degrees...