Color at home?

[Inphenity]

I have been shooting more and more 120 color film lately (usually C-41). Normally I just take it down to my local photo shop where they process it using a jobo processor.

Doing it myself at home would be much faster as this shop is on the other side of town and the turnaround time can be days depending on how busy they are. I'd love to have a jobo processor, but at this point I cannot afford one, nor do I have the space for one.

While helping my room mate clean the aquarium the other day I had an idea. Has anyone ever tried making a water jacketing system using aquarium heaters? I'm not sure if they would be precise enough, but it seems like a much cheaper alternative to a jobo system. I don't mind manual agitation as I do all of my own b+w.

So, am i crazy or do any of you think this would work?

 

[imokruok]

People have done versions of this in a number of ways. Problem is, aquarium heaters don't get you as hot as you need. They may, however, be of some assistance in maintaining a temperature.

If I ever get around to it, I'm going to try to do electric temperature control in a chafing dish. Until then, I'll use a styrofoam cooler to better retain heat (as opposed to just the sink pan.)

 

[Finder]

I am not sure the temperature limits of aquarium heaters, but you would not be the first person to design a tempering bath for color. Color is really not that hard--I print color. It is just a matter of attention to detail. I think you have a very good chance of making this work.

My biggest problem is getting chemistry--it it considered hazardous material. When I lived in Japan, I could pick it up at Yodobashi Camera. Here it is more complicated.

 

[Tim Gray]

Over on APUG, this comes up periodically, and people recommend a certain brand of aquarium heater. Here's a link.

 

[laoyou]

A food warmer seems a good solution. It is inexpensive, too.
Anyone has comments?

 

[slm]

Here's a video from a fellow RFF member.

Cheers
Steven

 

[Keith]

My darkroom area is fairly small and easily sealed and with a fan forced heater on high I can get the air temperature inside it up to the high thirties quite quickly ... the same heater is also used to heat the chemicals by sitting the beakers directly in front ... it only takes a few minutes.

This techniqe does require that you work in not much more than a pair of boxer shorts though but seeing as the whole process only takes ten or fifteen minutes it's not a real issue! 😀

 

[Inphenity]

Thanks for the replies and the links guys! A food warmer sounds like a great idea!