Aluminum Trays for Development?

[waffles]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

And keep an eye out for darkroom gear on craigslist.

 

[NedL]

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]

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]

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]

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]

+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]

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]

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]

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]

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.