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How to drain large developing trays?

1kgcoffee

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What are some tricks to draining a developing tray back into the bottle? Seems to me like there is a very high risk of spilling with just a funnel and bottle in one hand and trying to balance the tray in the other. How do you people manage?

-Thanks in Advance, 1kgcoffee
 
If there's just a small amount of liquid in the tray I put the recipient with large funnel on the floor, take the tray in 2 hands and poor the liquid in the funnel. If there's a lot of liquid in the tray I first use a jar to take out liquid and then do the same. This works fine for me for trays up to 20x24". I may sometimes spill some liquid on the floor but then I wipe that off with a cloth that I rinse.
 
I use a 2 litre measuring graduate with a wide mouth, a decent spout, and a good handle.
I pour from the tray into the measuring graduate, and then pour from the graduate into the funnel and storage bottle.
 
I use one tray and 3 buckets for 20x24s. So if I'm keeping the chems, I pour from bucket to storage bottles (using a funnel)
 
This is one of those mad skills you'll develop over time. You'll just be able to pour right from the tray into the bottle soon enough.

But when I have to catch every last drop, I'll funnel into bottles, putting another tray under the bottles and when finishing up, I'll pour those few ounces that fell into the tray... into the last bottle.
 
I use a short piece of clear hose, immerse all of it under the fluid in the tray, then, using thumb, cap one end and lift it out of the fluid and lower it into a bucket, release the thumb so it starts flowing into the bucket. Another words, siphon it into the bucket, bottle, etc.. Always worked great for me. Good luck.
 
Bailing it out until there is just a little left that can be poured easily works well. Use small graduate, measuring cup or whatever.

Another method is to siphon it out, take a length of small diameter tubing sink the entire length into the solution, when the bubbles are mostly out cap one end with your finger and hold or weight the other end under the solution, position the capped end over your bottle or graduate and uncover the end by poking the tube into the container. The bottle must be below the level of the tray (bottle on the floor is probably easiest). You can tip the tray to keep the input end submerged as long as possible.

edit, Fotch beat me to it while I was typing.
 
The siphon solution sounds great to me. I'm definitely gonna try this! It also has the advantage that with the hose all the way to the bottom of the bottle, bucket, jerrycan or whatever the developer gets minimal air so it does not oxidate. Thanks for sharing!
 
If a tray is large enough to warrant it, you could simply fit it with a drain valve near a corner. These can be obtained in chemical-resistant plastic with gaskets for a hole (no cement or caulk needed) from lab supply firms. I never reuse chemicals, but have found drain valves handy for big water-jacket trays and print washers.
 
I pick it up at opposite corners but,I do this inside the sink so spilling is not an issue.
 
  • AgX
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I use a bucket as an intermediate. From the large trays into the bucket and then from the bucket into the storage bottles, using a funnel. The same bucket is used to mix the 5L packages of XTOL.
 
I use the "single tray method" for 20x24" prints. I drain the solutions by simply pouring them from the 20x24" tray through a wide funnel back into the bottles. The correct volume of solution does the trick. Too little and you will have problems with uneven development. Too much, and handling the tray becomes a real PITA. I found that about 2.5 liters of solution is the "sweet spot": Sufficient volume to cover the paper and ensure uniform processing but still comfortable to handle when pouring the solution back into its container (within reasonable time and without spilling). If I had several trays permanently set up with larger volumes of solutions I would probably rather use the syphon method described by others.
 
The main problem with large trays is their tendency to twist. This makes them difficult to handle. It really helps to invest in sturdy trays like those sold by Paterson. Cheap flimsy ones are not worth the aggravation they cause.
 
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