Plastic reels in the Dishwasher?

[BradS]

I have used Paterson plastic reels and tanks for decades. I've always scrubbed them with a toothbrush and baking soda paste followed by wash by hand in warm soapy water.

I was wondering if anybody has washed these plastic reels in the dishwasher. Is it ok? Any ill side effects?

 

[MattKing]

Yes, with no problems.

I do, however, need to wait until the dishwasher's rinse aid dispenser is empty before I use it.

 

[GRHazelton]

I've used the dishwasher without heated drying with no problems. I'd suspect that the rinse aid is very similar to PhotoFlo, although I'm not about to use on my film!

 

[Photo Engineer]

DO NOT USE ANY APPLIANCE OR UTENSIL FOR PHOTOGRAPHY THAT WILL BE USED FOR FOOD!!!!!!!!!!! And vice versa!

I say this over and over.

PE

 

[AgX]

You know, as you I'm always warning against using household bottles, glasses etc. in the lab.

But what harm to the uninitiated would a cleaned, out of the dishwasher paterson reel have?
And more important, what use?

 

[Gerald C Koch]

I would be afraid of the hot water warping the reels. This would depend on the make and model of the dishwasher. A soak overnight in warm water, perhaps with a bit of sodium sulfite added, should keep them clean.

 

[George Nova Scotia]

According to the Super System 4 booklet: the reels are made to withstand temperature up to 100C. The tanks are not. It says not to use very hot water, or stand them close to fires.

I have also used the dishwasher route with no problem. I wouldn't make it daily thing, some dishwasher detergents contain mild abrasives. I just did the once when I picked up a bunch of reels that were of unknown and dirty heritage.

 

[AgX]

I wouldn't make it daily thing, some dishwasher detergents contain mild abrasives.

Never heard of such.
But anyway a interesting subject, to be considered.

 

[mshchem]

I work in the appliance manufacturing industry. Most dishwasher tubs are made of a plastic usually polypropylene . Very inert material. Detergent used in dishwashers is very strong alkaline, water is at or above 120F. Any Styrene, ABS, polycarbonate and blends are at high risk. I think Paterson uses some form of acetal/nylon blend. Pretty tough stuff. Still I wouldn't subject anything I care about to a dishwasher chemicals. It will literally etch glass.

I always dip my reels with film into photo-flo in DI water. If they get gunked up I will throw them away and buy new. I don't want to scratch film by trying to avoid final rinse with color or photo-flo with black and white. I wash them immediately with very hot water. I've been pretty lucky so far.

I have pretty much adopted Jobo since I got a deal on a CPP2. All in all the Paterson reels (IMHO) are so much better in every way. Sad they won't work with Jobo tanks.

It's still hard to beat System 4 tanks for easy no drama in the dark developing.

Best Regards, Mike

 

[George Nova Scotia]

mshchem you are right the brochure says the reels are acetal resin the tanks polystyrene.

AgX I remember reading the contents of a box once I'm pretty sure silica was mentioned I took that to mean really fine sand.. but that was some time ago and the sand might be between my ears now.

 

[Sirius Glass]

DO NOT USE ANY APPLIANCE OR UTENSIL FOR PHOTOGRAPHY THAT WILL BE USED FOR FOOD!!!!!!!!!!! And vice versa!

I say this over and over.

PE

What he said.

 

[Jeff Bradford]

Just scrub in warm water with a toothbrush and a little TSP. If you develop enough film to need a dishwasher to wash your reels, get a dishwasher just for washing your reels. We used to have one just for laboratory glassware when I worked in the adhesives lab.

 

[foc]

+ 1 for the toothbrush. I have used this method on the same set of reels for the last 35 years ( I process film professionally).

 

[swchris]

DO NOT USE ANY APPLIANCE OR UTENSIL FOR PHOTOGRAPHY THAT WILL BE USED FOR FOOD!!!!!!!!!!! And vice versa!

I have a dedicated dishwasher for photo...

 

[Peltigera]

I always rinse my reels in cold (fairly hard) water for a few minutes after use. I have yet to have any sort of problem with them.

 

[ciniframe]

For several years I've been using old Yankee plastic reels that were stained when I got them. I always rinse them in warm water and leave out to dry. What am I missing? The last solution is Photo Flo and then wash in tepid water. My negs look fine.

I bought the Yankee Master tank and reels off e-bay because I started doing 16mm and I didn't have any steel reels for that size. Usually, for 35mm I just use my 45 year old Nikkor SS tanks and reels but a few times I've had both 35 and 16 to do and so tried out the plastic reels on 35, I had never used them before, had learned on SS reels and if you don't drop and distort them they last forever. Now I often have 16mm and 35mm to develop so it is convenient to be able to do one of each in the same tank.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Well, I have tried to duplicate this "Photo Flo" problem and cannot. I gave up years ago without seeing any problem. But then, there are very many water supplies world wide.

PE