Kitty litter pans for processing trays?

GRHazelton · Jul 5, 2014

Kitty litter pans would make fine processing trays! They are sizable, deep enough for vigorous agitation, and relatively cheap and easily found. The only drawback - no ridges to aid in "grabbing" the print. Any suggestions about making ridges or lumps or some such? Waaaaay back in the day I used plastic dish pans, good for up to 8 x 10 but again no ridges. That was a drawback.

AgX · Jul 5, 2014

You might make ridges from strands of siilicone-rubber paste.

Once immersed they should not be that sticky.

GRHazelton · Jul 5, 2014

AgX said:
You might make ridges from strands of siilicone-rubber paste.

Once immersed they should not be that sticky.

Worth a try. The question is, of course, whether the silicone sealant would stick to a thoroughly cleaned litter tray. The trays seem to be made of polyethylene or polypropylene.

Photo Engineer · Jul 5, 2014

DO NOT USE if they are made of Aluminum! As a sop to those in the UK, OZ and Canada its Aluminium.

GRHazelton · Jul 5, 2014

Photo Engineer said:
DO NOT USE if they are made of Aluminum! As a sop to those in the UK, OZ and Canada its Aluminium.

Absolutely! Aluminum is far to reactive, contrary to popular opinion. Its "rust" adheres so tightly that generally speaking, further corrosion is inhibited.

rsybuchanan · Jul 5, 2014

This is what my girlfriend has done for years for her larger prints. For ridges, we bought some half-round glass beads at a craft store and glued them to the bottom of the pan.

AgX · Jul 5, 2014

GRHazelton said:
The question is, of course, whether the silicone sealant would stick to a thoroughly cleaned litter tray. The trays seem to be made of polyethylene or polypropylene.

I did not think of PE or PP as I have no cats. No, it would not work.

Maybe in a DIY store there are rounded plastic profiles, those could be attached by adhesive tape.
Or, with the post above in mind, half spherical PVC bumber buttons.

GRHazelton · Jul 5, 2014

AgX said:
I did not think of PE or PP as I have no cats. No, it would not work.

Maybe in a DIY store there are rounded plastic profiles, those could be attached by adhesive tape.
Or, with the post above in mind, half spherical PVC bumber buttons.

Could be that the manufacturer would identify the plastic. Some while ago I contacted Sterilite concerning the plastics in their storage boxes. Long story short, the plastic was NOT PVC so it was pretty safe for storing prints, etc. I suppose a glass stirring rod lying on the bottom would ease picking up the print, but that seems so crude.

AgX · Jul 5, 2014

That rod would roll around the tray.

But you could heat bent the glass rod, of course much better a plastic rod, into S shape. Rods are eaysier to find than half rods profiles.
Then of course the plastic must heavier than water. Thus no PE or PP.

Pioneer · Jul 5, 2014

Why not use developing trays? It isn't like they are very expensive and, once bought, mine have never worn out.

GRHazelton · Jul 5, 2014

Pioneer said:
Why not use developing trays? It isn't like they are very expensive and, once bought, mine have never worn out.

I have several. The added depth of the kitty trays would be advantageous since I use a bathroom for a darkroom. The trays are on a folding table some distance from the sink or the bathtub, and emptying a 16x20 conventional tray risks spilling on the floor. Not a pleasant outcome in a second story room.

Many thanks for all the responses. I'll play around and see what "develops."

pdeeh · Jul 5, 2014

"not very expensive" varies depending on local conditions and personal circumstances (especially income)

I can buy a litter tray big enough for 10"x12" prints for about £2.50 (~$4.20), in my local bargain shop.

The equivalently sized Paterson trays are around the £12 mark each (~$21), plus delivery of course.

GRHazelton · Jul 5, 2014

pdeeh said:
"not very expensive" varies depending on local conditions and personal circumstances (especially income)

I can buy a litter tray big enough for 10"x12" prints for about £2.50 (~$4.20), in my local bargain shop.

The equivalently sized Paterson trays are around the £12 mark each (~$21), plus delivery of course.

Even so. Here in the Atlanta GA area we are fortunate in having Wings Camera. The business is over 100 years old (!) and specializes in used gear. There is generally an assortment of developing trays, used of course, and many are stained. The prices are most reasonable, if you don't feel the need for new gear. I don't!

New trays locally? Not a chance!

Bill Burk · Jul 5, 2014

I've done it the other way around. I once had a cat whose kitty litter tray bit the dust... so my second fixer tray served as a temporary stand-in... Still have that tray, nothing will clean out the memory of that adventure...

paul_c5x4 · Jul 5, 2014

A few beads from a hot-melt glue gun should do the job. Just keep kitty away from the trays just in case it decides to try and use it. Fur soaked in developer/stop/fixer is not good for the moggy.

GRHazelton · Jul 5, 2014

Bill Burk said:
I've done it the other way around. I once had a cat whose kitty litter tray bit the dust... so my second fixer tray served as a temporary stand-in... Still have that tray, nothing will clean out the memory of that adventure...

Ooogh! Not a fun tray in the close quarters of the usual darkroom, eh? Certain air about the whole adventure?

Gerald C Koch · Jul 5, 2014

Real photo trays have a lip to aid in emptying them. All the litter pans that I have seen are rather flimsy. Liquids tend to move about making litter pans unstable to handle.

pdeeh · Jul 5, 2014

Oh there's no doubt that the purpose-made item is superior in lots of ways, and I have a very nice set of Paterson trays, but nevertheless if you haven't got the shekels, a litter tray is as good for sloshing some chemicals around a bit of paper as anything else

Xmas · Jul 5, 2014

I got so many for free from people going digital I have troubles storing them and I also use multi dev tanks.

sly · Jul 5, 2014

I've got a number of trays in various sizes. I think I might have bought a set of Paterson 8x10 ones years ago, but most of them have come as part of a larger lot of 2nd hand stuff, or free. I've got a couple of kitty litter trays as well. I use one with the tray siphon for washing prints. The extra depth makes interleaving and shuffling them much easier. I've never had problems with any prints stuck to the bottom. I also use the kitty litter trays when I have to soak paper (ie gum bichromate prints).
Use what you've got, use what works, save your $$ for film, paper, and chemicals.

removed account4 · Jul 5, 2014

i bought some and used themto process film when i was overseas in 2008/
worked great, and i still use them as extra trays when i am in a pinch

Bob Marvin · Jul 5, 2014

My 11 X 14 stainless steel developing trays have no ridges and work fine, so I think kitty litter trays would be OK. OTOH used plastic photographic trays are common and probably cost less than new kitty litter trays. I suppose if you look hard enough you could find used kitty litter trays for even less, but that seems kind of gross.

Steve Smith · Jul 6, 2014

I have some large seed trays which work well. It's important not to get the type with drainage holes!

Steve.

MartinP · Jul 7, 2014

For washing large prints I have used the type of moulded-plastic tray which is meant to sit under a washing machine, having a usable area of 65cm each direction. I would think those might also be a locally-sourceable alternative to huge photo-trays when developing and so on.

The best large (over 55cm) trays I've used have been totally rigid, fibre-glass trays from a Polish manufacturer -- the rigidity made everything easier, but the weight was far more than the moulded-plastic trays. For a smaller tray, the rigidity is a less important consideration.

Kitty litter pans for processing trays?

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