Need a dedicated timer!

[user237428934]

As a timer for development of the films I use the stopwatch in my mobile phone. Worked great so far. Today while I was waiting and agitating the phone rang so I couldn't see the timer anymore and to make it worse I had to take the call because it was an important work number. I tried to count in my head and talk simultaneously. Failed of course. Film is hanging right now and it doesn't look optimal but still ok.

I definitely need a dedicated timer!

Anyone else with such real life problems?

 

[JayGannon]

I use "Apimac timer" on my laptop, it speaks to me at my inversion intervals very handy while wandering around a room with a dev tank.

 

[Roger Hicks]

For decades I've used mechanical timers, because if they run down, it's a LOT quicker to rewind a clock than to put a battery in, even if the battery is right beside it.

Cheers,

R.

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

I used to use my phone as well but I has this paranoia that I would not only drop it but drop it in the one place that has lots of liquids. I picked up a 60 minute kitchen timer but the extremely loud buzz would scare the hell out of me after I had settled into a calm and relaxed routine. I now use a digital timer.

 

[jmcd]

I love my Gralab with large sweeping hands that glow softly in the dark.

 

[oftheherd]

I love my Gralab with large sweeping hands that glow softly in the dark.

2nd that. They can also be used with an enlarger.

 

[Edward C. Zimmermann]

If I need a timer I'll use one of 1) a phone (Android) 2) A Durst Coltim (mechanical time with little pins to set stops) 3) A large antique mechanical wall timer from Junghans 4) A mechanical egg-timer 5) a wrist watch with seconds hand..

All depending upon what I need the timer for.. For hand inversion processing of B&W since its really only the developer I need to worry about.. its non-critical.. For more complicated processes I've probably used the Coltim, despite its simplicity, more often than any of the other "solutions" I have.. For paper development in a Nova.. Its develop to completion but I still need a timer to tell me when the time has been sufficient so I can move things to the next bath--- all while I'm probably doing something else.. Here I've found the wall timer and an electronic timer--- or its equivalent program--- that I can tap to send a signal after X minutes to be quite useful..

 

[nikon_sam]

Paterson makes a timer with three separate timer displays you can use one at a time or all three...it has a clock and a stopwatch...
I bought this years ago at Calumet...it wasn't cheap but it's very portable and uses only one AAA battery...3.5"x 2.5"x 1"
I use it for film and prints...easy to set and reset...
I also have a Gralab 300 but it needs to be plugged in and I tend to move around when developing film...

 

[robklurfield]

I got a used Gralab on eBay for about $25.

 

[sepiareverb]

Gralab 300. Simple, reliable and easy to both set and read.

 

[user237428934]

Thanks for your input. I looked at the Apimac timer application but I don't feel comfortable to have the mac next to the chemistry. Didn't have those thoughts with the mobile phone because that's more or less a throw away article for me.
The GraLab Timer looks good.

 

[Matus]

I have a mechanical wristwatch with stop watch ability. I did not get for development (it was a semi present 😉 ), but it works great for that. I do not develop sheet film in trays anymore as that would not work (second hand has no luminous material).

Truth to be told - there are cheaper timers than a swiss wrist watch, but it does the job 😀

 

[Arjay]

If you still have an old Palm PDA somewhere, then Foto Timer might be just what you need - a dedicated timer program that considers all processes in film developing including signals for agitation.

There's even a tutorial for setting up chained timers for the various process steps.

I wish something like this were available for my Nokia mobile phone under Symbian OS ...

 

[Bob Michaels]

Tom: I have used a US$5- digital kitchen timer from a big box discount retailer for almost ten years. It has never let me down yet. And, if I do drop it and it breaks, I can replace it for another $5-.

I could get a Gralab 300 for probably free from my friend who owns a used photo equipment store, but why bother? It would just take up space and work no better.

 

[sepiareverb]

I have those timers too Bob, they are great. I most often use them when running sheet film as I can start them and just wait for the beep. Those Gralabs do have a very annoying and extremely loud buzzer when they hit zero.

 

[ItsReallyDarren]

I have those timers too Bob, they are great. I most often use them when running sheet film as I can start them and just wait for the beep. Those Gralabs do have a very annoying and extremely loud buzzer when they hit zero.

The handful of Gralabs I've used before had a switch on top that turned the buzzer off. Too bad there wasn't a halfway switch that lowered the intensity of the buzz.

 

[Freakscene]

I used to develop Fuji Neopan 400 for the length of the Television song "Marquee Moon". But then I came back from Russia with 60 rolls of film and by the 6th listen (working with two five roll tanks) it all started to get a bit weird.

Now I use a timer.

Marty

 

[user237428934]

I used to develop Fuji Neopan 400 for the length of the Television song "Marquee Moon". But then I came back from Russia with 60 rolls of film and by the 6th listen (working with two five roll tanks) it all started to get a bit weird.

Now I use a timer.

Marty

This is a nice story 😀

 

[Bingley]

I've got a Timex Ironman sports watch w/ an interval timer. I program it to cover the amount of time needed for each step of the development process. Works much better (for me) than having a separate timer.

 

[user237428934]

The solution is easy and I already have it. Stupid me ;-) Found out today that my little mp3-player has a built in stopwatch and countdown. It has a clip so that I can attach it to something far away from the chemistry and a touch-display to start and stop. But thanks for your input.