timer recommendations

[dfoo]

I was in my darkroom doing a few prints, when my timer just broke. It was a cheap piece of garbage anyway and I found it very irritating to adjust the time (it had a knob to adjust the time, and then a switch to adjust from 0-10s to 12-60 in various weird increments). Any recommendations out there on what to get? I use f-stop measurements when printing, which is also irritating without a precise timer... I'd really like to get an f-stop timer, but they're a bit pricey!

 

[Tom A]

The "industrial standard" for darkrooms are the Gralab 300 timers. Virtually indestructible - limiting factor is that they are set in 1 sec increments. Great for processing, but a bit limiting for printing.
I use the F-stop meter/timer - brilliant piece of work. Probably paid for itself in reduced paper use too!! Unfortunately, the manual is written by the guy who designed it ( an absolute No-No) and after 10 years, I still haven't figured out how to program the various paper programs. It has been esier to stick to Multigrade IV and use the built in program. I still have about 1000 sheet of that left - but once that is gone, I will try once again to set it up for Oriental or whichever paper becomes my main stock.
Their stuff is a bit pricey - but if you can swing it, I recommend their stuff.

 

[Trius]

I have been very happy with my CPC electronic timer, but it is quite old and I would be shocked if it were still available.

So, were I to replace it I would probably buy the timers for RH Designs.

 

[Rob-F]

I have both the Time-O-Lite M-72, which you set by rotating the dial pointer to the desired number of seconds; and the Gralab 450, an electronic timer with digital display. I've been using the Gralab most of the time lately, but actually I like both. One advantage of the Time-O-Lite is that both the enlarger and the safelight plug into it. When the enlarger comes on, the safelight goes off. My Gralab does not have this feature.

One of these days I'm going to get one of those really big Gralab timers that mount on the wall. No darkroom looks quite right to me without one!

 

[Tom A]

No darkroom looks right without three of them scattered around the walls!
I have one for paper developing and timing film developing, one for fixing and a third one is mounted on an other wall, just because it looks good there!!!!

 

[Trius]

OK, I bow to Tom. Whatever looks good/cool is obviouly the best! 😀

 

[dap]

I tend to favor the Kearsarge digital models. If you want a basic model I would go with either a 201 or 301.

 

[jmcd]

For enlarging I use a wall clock near to my ear such that I can count the seconds ticking away. I start by covering the print with cardboard, turn on the enlarger with a footswitch, listen to ticks, uncover, and count. I cover up the print with cardboard at the end of the exposure. This is very soothing and accurate. Before I used a Beseler audible repeating timer, but I like the wall clock much better. A nice sounding metronome would also be great, I think.

For processing prints and film, the Gralab with the big glowing hands is wonderful.