Cheapest or Free trays for darkroom workshops

Fintan · Oct 29, 2008

Myself and thefizz run analog only photography workshops in Ireland. We're in bad need of some small trays for our students.

We're fairly/very tight on budget and we're looking for the cheapest available trays in 12x10 size, preferable in Ireland/UK/Europe for cheaper shipping.

If anyone has seen a bargain, or has some to spare, can you please let us know.

Thanks

Fintan

benjiboy · Oct 29, 2008

Have you considered cat litter trays ?

dancqu · Oct 29, 2008

Fintan said:
We're in bad need of some small trays for our students.

No problem. Process single tray using very dilute one-shot chemistry.
A second tray is needed for a hold/rinse and later used for alternate
two tray washing. The method as well saves a lot of space and
water. Similar to rotary with one-shot chemistry save for A
tray rather than A tube. I like to see what's going on. Dan

Steve Smith · Oct 29, 2008

Seed trays (get the type without holes in the bottom!).

I was also thinking that a large version of the plastic containers takeaway food comes in would work: http://www.cater4you.co.uk/acatalog/Take-Away-Tubs-and-Containers.html I can't find a large enough version though.

Another option is to find a vacuum moulding company who could form a simple rectangular tray from flat sheet. The tooling is cheap as it can just be a piece of MDF the right size for something this simple.

http://www.consortcases.ie/vacuum_forming_home.php
http://www.enformplastics.com/

Steve.

Fintan · Oct 29, 2008

The non-darkroom trays I've seen dont look too sturdy and dont have the ridges on the bottom to avoid the print sticking to it (panicking beginners )

I'm more inclined to stick with a darkroom tray but thanks for those suggestions.

We have a big sink, space isnt too limited. We can usually setup 3-4 areas in it for sets of dev/stop/fix or sets of toner/bleach etc etc.

mrtoml · Oct 29, 2008

Actually the seed trays I get in the UK do have ridges in the bottom and are very cheap and pretty sturdy (the only issue I have with them is that they don't have the 'lip' for pouring out the chemistry easily). Cat litter trays are usually a pain because of the ridge issue.

David A. Goldfarb · Oct 29, 2008

Have you tried buying them off eBay? I've gotten quite a few nice stainless steel and enamel trays this way often for less than the cost of new plastic trays, and used plastic trays on eBay are REALLY cheap.

pentaxuser · Oct 29, 2008

Depends on your timescale but if you can acquire them over the next few months then I have seen bargain basement trays on e-bay U.K. It's about the one item that you can rely on being there several times every time you go into the Photography section. Once bought they should last practically forever. At the rate you guys seem to be able and willing to run workshops and all power to you, I'd have thought that you might be able to spread the cost of trays between the participants for a very small extra amount.

If I have an ambition to learn darkroom processing and have saved for a workshop then I won't quibble or cancel over a small increase in the fee and I'm a Jock!

pentaxuser

Cheapest or Free trays for darkroom workshops

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