Large prints, small trays

David Brown said:

I'm always amused at folks who want to print large, and are willing to pay for the paper and chemicals, but not willing to buy the necessary tools (trays, etc.). It's a false economy.

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I think the main issue for some people is probably one of available real estate, not the price of trays.

Before I started a photographic business, I made prints up to 40 x 50 in an apartment. Three containers of chemistry, three sponges, and the wall above the bathtub. Wet paper holds itself on the wall. Your wash tray below.

Try going to a restaurant supply store and getting the bins/tubs/bus boxes that restaurants use to haul around dishes. These also come with lids. You can stack them with the lids on (and liquid in them) and use them that way. They're also pretty cheap.

Shmoo said:

Try going to a restaurant supply store and getting the bins/tubs/bus boxes that restaurants use to haul around dishes. These also come with lids. You can stack them with the lids on (and liquid in them) and use them that way. They're also pretty cheap.

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For my 8x10 work I have some lidded Rubbermaid trays that I stack in a box for convenience in setting up and cleaning up print sessions. I'm always amazed at how much time they save in a week's printing. Appropriately sealed and stored, the chemicals last as long as they would stored in brown bottles.

As for the larger trays, I was showing some of my big prints today and someone offered some 11 x 14 trays free of charge. I think I'll be looking into a stacked tray arrangement so I can put them to use without relocating the entire darkroom.

Cheers,

If you have the room for the big trays, you can put 2 up and 2 down. You can get trays big enough for 20X24 at home Depot. Go to the appliance section and ask for the tays that go under washing machines. They are about 28X28. They cost $19.95.