Light for Darkroom?

For developing paper, what kind of bulb would I use? I have a 25 watt red bulb but I dont know if that would be the right one to use. I need one that I can just get at a hardware store.

You need special darkroom bulbs.
Or low wattage bulbs in darkroom lamp enclosures (which have dark filters).
Which one depends on the kind of paper you're using.

Paul is right, you will need a low wattage bulb. My darkroom light uses a 15w bulb IIRC and the red glass for the light is pretty thick, so the light levels are really low. Only way to know is to do a fog test for your paper. Leave an unexposed sheet of paper out for a good 5 minutes under darkroom light conditions, then develop. If it is fogged, your light is too bright. I'm not sure hwat bulb exactly you are using but with some colored lights I have seen, the coloring doesn't go all the way to the screw mount, leaving some a little uncolored glass. Save yourself the headache and just order a Patterson safelight online. They are acheap and work great for a small darkroom.

That depends on how much power you are pulling from it, if you are using all 1500 watts 3- 500 watt lights it only lasts for 1 hour.

and yes, i agree that this generator is the best deal, its pretty quiet too, especially when used in an open area.

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Originally Posted by Xia_Ke

Save yourself the headache and just order a Patterson safelight online. They are acheap and work great for a small darkroom.

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My friend with a darkroom did the exact same thing.

Also: You cannot get a Darkroom light bulb from a hardware store. In fact if you ask, they may look at you funny. "Darkroom light? wouldn't that defeat the purpose?"