How to Remove Sharpie from Developing Trays?

Existing Light · Jul 3, 2014

So, I've got some plastic developing trays that were labelled with a permanent marker. I'm wondering if there's a way to remove the writing like with a paint thinner or something?

Barry S · Jul 3, 2014

Existing Light said:
So, I've got some plastic developing trays that were labelled with a permanent marker. I'm wondering if there's a way to remove the writing like with a paint thinner or something?

Isopropanol works really well for removing Sharpie ink, and it's available at any supermarket or drug store. Get the 90% solution.

jp498 · Jul 3, 2014

What Barry said.
I'm sure nail polish remover would work like a charm too.

yulia_s_rey · Jul 3, 2014

+1 acetone (nail polish remover) but to a 'corner test,' I believe some plastics react to it.

tkamiya · Jul 3, 2014

Once the permanent ink sets in, it actually stains many plastic. You can remove most of it but it some of it will remain. At least my trays are that way.

As said already, harsher stuff can melt the plastic. I'd be careful.

DREW WILEY · Jul 3, 2014

Ordinary film cleaner like PEC

Ken Nadvornick · Jul 3, 2014

yurisrey said:
+1 acetone (nail polish remover) but to a 'corner test,' I believe some plastics react to it.

A note of caution, acetone will soften and deform ABS plastic. My darkroom sink is ABS plastic...

Ken

Mark_S · Jul 3, 2014

+1 on acetone.

Humorous anecdote: I was in a meeting at work, in a brand new, fancy conference room, and I wrote some notes on the white board and then noticed that I was using a sharpie rather than a dry erase marker. I asked my admin if she had something that I could clean the board with - and she said not to worry, that she would take care of it.

She wrote a work order for facilities to erase the board.

Mark Fisher · Jul 3, 2014

Isopropyl alcohol takes it off nicely.......most plastics are resistant to isopropyl. Do not use acetone unless you are sure the plastic is resistant.

paul ron · Jul 3, 2014

Denatured alcohol!

Acetone will eat the plastic.

Gerald C Koch · Jul 3, 2014

You might true a product called Goo Gone. It is based on orange peel oil and should not damage most plastics. However as mentioned by a previous poster permanent marker ink does penetrate into plastics and cannot be completely removed. But first do a spot test in an inconspicuous place. Aerosol hair spray also works well and will not damage plastic.

Truzi · Jul 3, 2014

Goo Gone is good, but I'm pretty sure it's based on naphtha (I've an old bottle that states "petroleum distillates"). I think the orange is to make it smell better.

Sirius Glass · Jul 3, 2014

Buying new trays will also remove the permanent ink marks.

MattKing · Jul 3, 2014

Tape over the offending writing also works.

Existing Light · Jul 3, 2014

wasnt expecting all these responses. I didnt even think about chemicals damaging the trays

I might give isopropyl alcohol a shot. I'm not too worried about the writing on my trays; I was just more curious than anything. I wrote on them when I first got in to working in the darkroom because I'm just scatterbrained enough to mix them up if I didnt have them labelled

Truzi · Jul 3, 2014

Could try this.

tkamiya · Jul 3, 2014

Existing Light said:
wasnt expecting all these responses. I didnt even think about chemicals damaging the trays

I think many of us wrote on trays with permanent markers.... and experimented with stuff trying to remove it. At least I have.

Nige · Jul 4, 2014

been using the same set of 8x10 trays for 35+ years... didn't write on them, don't have this problem!

Jeff Kubach · Jul 4, 2014

Could you live with it.

Jeff

Gerald C Koch · Jul 4, 2014

Paterson sells some very nice heavy plastic trays that come in several different colors. You can use a different color for developer, stop, and fix and still have 2 colors left over for other baths. So no need to write on them. There are also dimples to hold a thermometer at the correct angle for reading. Considering the time one spends in the darkroom, it pays to get good equipment.

AgX · Jul 4, 2014

tkamiya said:
Once the permanent ink sets in, it actually stains many plastic. You can remove most of it but it some of it will remain.

Exactly. The only solution then is grinding/polishing. But just the most susceptible plastic, PE cannot be polished.

yulia_s_rey · Jul 4, 2014

just a note on using petroleum/oil based cleaners: my brother once used one of my print trays without permission and decided to use it to collect the oil from a motorcycle shock absorber. (How he got the bright idea in the detached garage and walked all the way to the basement without realizing what a stupid idea it was I will never know) It ate through the plastic about a 1/4 thru. Given the prices of trays, I'd follow Gerald's recommendations; I too use a color coded system w/ out the need for writing/putting on labels.

Sirius Glass · Jul 4, 2014

Barkeepers' Friend http://www.barkeepersfriend.com/

Existing Light · Jul 4, 2014

Jeff Kubach said:
Could you live with it.

Jeff

Truzi said:
Could try this.

I think that's the best solution so far

DWThomas · Jul 4, 2014

My go to solvent for permanent marker ink is naphtha (AKA Ronsonol lighter fluid around here). It is a relatively benign solvent, although as a general rule I would not let any non-water-based liquid sit on plastic for more than a matter of minutes; normally I just wipe with a cloth dampened with the solvent. As noted above, marker ink generally stains; the longer it has been on the object the more likely the remaining stain is permanent (well, Sharpies are called "permanent markers!")

How to Remove Sharpie from Developing Trays?

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency