Aluminum Trays for Development?

waffles · Dec 16, 2019

Is there anything wrong with using disposable aluminum trays (i.e. Handi-Foil) for processing black & white paper? Will the aluminum or aluminum oxide cause any problems with the developer, stop, or fixer? I'm just looking for something fast & cheap that I can use to process paper up to 8.5x11 in a temporary darkroom. Thanks!

koraks · Dec 16, 2019

Aluminum will dissolve in strong acids and bases. In fact, I've used aluminum (foil) to precipitate metallic silver out of used fixer. The aluminum neatly dissolves, but it does take a few days. However, in order to prevent any dissolving aluminum to interact with your processing chemistry, I would advise not to use aluminum trays. Plastic trays (storage boxes) can be bought for cheap in many places and are an excellent alternative; in fact, I use them all the time.

halfaman · Dec 16, 2019

Aluminum is very well disolved in akaline solutions like... all developers. And you are trying to use foil trays....

Summary: A big NO

removed account4 · Dec 16, 2019

waffles said:
Is there anything wrong with using disposable aluminum trays (i.e. Handi-Foil) for processing black & white paper? Will the aluminum or aluminum oxide cause any problems with the developer, stop, or fixer? I'm just looking for something fast & cheap that I can use to process paper up to 8.5x11 in a temporary darkroom. Thanks!

hi waffles
If you have a dollar store type place near you might find inexpensive Tupperware type stuff. Totally unreactive totally inexpensive. Years back I got ones that had lids (5/7).

138S · Dec 16, 2019

waffles said:
Is there anything wrong with using disposable aluminum trays (i.e. Handi-Foil) for processing black & white paper? Will the aluminum or aluminum oxide cause any problems with the developer, stop, or fixer? I'm just looking for something fast & cheap that I can use to process paper up to 8.5x11 in a temporary darkroom. Thanks!

For a temporary solution, protect the alluminium trays with kitchen plastic wrap film, it that way chem won't react with alluminium, I did that once.

I you are not in a hurry locate some tupperware bazar cheap imitations, this would be a perfect solution. Or, as mentioned by koraks, storage boxes.

John51 · Dec 16, 2019

Plastic 3 drawer storage units are cheap enough. They can be used as a vertical tray set up.

Have just measured one of mine. It will take paper up to 9.5" x 13.5" and is only 13" high.

138S · Dec 16, 2019

John51 said:
Plastic 3 drawer storage units are cheap enough.

Good point ! Personally I've developed in many kinds of weird pottery, but now I've learned this one, nice idea, it even has a handle to rock the tray !

AgX · Dec 16, 2019

138S said:
For a temporary solution, protect the alluminium trays with kitchen plastic wrap film, it that way chem won't react with alluminium, I did that once.

Or alternatively spray-varnish the trays.
The brand you mention offers coated trays ("non-stick"), though you would have to check if such coating would be sufficient.

tezzasmall · Dec 16, 2019

John51 said:
Plastic 3 drawer storage units are cheap enough. They can be used as a vertical tray set up.

Have just measured one of mine. It will take paper up to 9.5" x 13.5" and is only 13" high.

I was just about to suggest this, having only recently seen the idea on youtube.

An excellent idea!

Terry S

koraks · Dec 16, 2019

AgX said:
The brand you mention offers coated trays ("non-stick"), though you would have to check if such coating would be sufficient.

I've used a non-stick coated oven tray for film development in the past. It worked OK, but the coating is kind of flimsy on these cheaper trays and damages quickly & easily. Once that happens, corrosion becomes an issue.
Whereas the plastic trays I bought a few years ago for something like €1 or €2 a piece and have used nearly daily have all held up, are fairly easy to clean, and once they break (which the first one has yet to do) are cheap to replace, they can be recycled (well, the material is downcycled really) these days, and to top it off they are flat-bottomed so I can use a minimum amount of chemistry. For larger formats, the classic ribbed trays are more dimensionally stable, but up to something like 11x14", a plastic storage box does just fine.

macfred · Dec 16, 2019

jnantz said:
hi waffles
If you have a dollar store type place near you might find inexpensive Tupperware type stuff. Totally unreactive totally inexpensive. Years back I got ones that had lids (5/7).

+1 !

I have dozens of these - they last forever.

waffles · Dec 16, 2019

tezzasmall said:
I was just about to suggest this, having only recently seen the idea on youtube.

Do you have the youtube link? I like this idea because space is at a premium in my temporary darkroom

jim appleyard · Dec 16, 2019

And keep an eye out for darkroom gear on craigslist.

NedL · Dec 16, 2019

waffles said:
Do you have the youtube link? I like this idea because space is at a premium in my temporary darkroom

Photrio member Joe Van Cleave had a video about it. Not sure if that's the same one tezzasmall was referring to.

I usually use single tray processing, which saves even more space. At the extreme, you can take a plastic pitcher and fold an 8x10 paper into it, pour in a little developer and roll it back and forth over the print, pour in stop, etc... I don't do that very often any more and it takes some practice to avoid development streaks or splatters... but that takes almost no space at all ( and there are no fumes ).

voceumana · Dec 16, 2019

When in high school I used plastic dishpans for developing trays--they were relatively deep and would easily accommodate an 8x10 print. They were about 50 cents, but that was a long time ago! Probably a few bucks each now.

Agulliver · Dec 17, 2019

Many years ago in the dim and distant early 80s, I borrowed my mother's roasting trays to make contact prints from glass plates. These were well used non-stick roasting pans. Worked for the photo developing. One of them is *still* in use as a roasting dish.

tezzasmall · Dec 17, 2019

NedL said:
Photrio member Joe Van Cleave had a video about it. Not sure if that's the same one tezzasmall was referring to.

Not sure if that's the video but he does mention what I was talking about in this link.

Terry S

removed account4 · Dec 17, 2019

macfred said:
+1 !

I have dozens of these - they last forever.

View attachment 236409

i wish i saw those years back when i was visiting my inlaws in france ! i ended up with deep rectangular kitty littery trays
not bad if you have a lot of space. probably would be a good soak tray for final wash but you'd have to take a drill to it
to make some drains, they hold a lot of water.

John51 · Dec 17, 2019

My first attempt at single tray printing didn't go well. I had round tupperware to hold the chems. My safelight was positioned so I had my back to it when processing. I couldn't see that well and there was lots of spillage. I suggest doing a water only trial run first.

NedL · Dec 17, 2019

I use inexpensive polypropylene plastic trays that are meant to organize papers and things, I think the brand is sterilite. Sold at office stores and target, etc. They have flat bottoms ( good for toning and for using small amounts of solutions ) and the corners are angled enough that they pour out without dripping. There is a small hole near the "latch end" that needs to be covered with a piece of tape to keep them from dripping ( if you get one and look at it, this will be obvious ). One thing I really like about them is that the plastic is hydrophobic, and after you pour the liquid out or wash them they are nearly dry. I use pyrex glass baking pans for things where you need to be fanatical about cleaning ( salt prints, calotypes ), they have rounded corners and you need to be careful and use a funnel when pouring liquid out....

mgb74 · Dec 18, 2019

voceumana said:
When in high school I used plastic dishpans for developing trays--they were relatively deep and would easily accommodate an 8x10 print. They were about 50 cents, but that was a long time ago! Probably a few bucks each now.

Those plastic dishpans are a buck now at the (you guessed it) dollar store. Also consider cat litter boxes/trays. A bit heavier duty. Of course, you don't want a tray too much larger than your paper size as you'll be wasting chemicals.

jim10219 · Dec 18, 2019

I've never tried aluminum, but I once tried cheap steel baking trays. They rusted almost immediately. Completely useless. I have some stainless steel trays now. They work fine. I also have some porcelain enameled trays that work pretty well. But the plastic Patterson ones are probably my favorite. They're light, easy to clean, well designed, and fairly cheap.

Aluminum Trays for Development?

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