Trying to find small developing trays

[Samuel Hotton]

I am trying to find (four), small, little 9cm x 12cm OR 4" x 5" developing trays for processing 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 inch individual sheet films, and then processing the contact prints from same.
Anybody know where I might buy these or might have some used ones for sale?
I am located in Maryland, USA.
With thanks,
Sam H.

 

[Loose Gravel]

Look for glass baking pans. Maybe a small breadpan.

 

[brian steinberger]

Sam, I think 5x7" are the smallest trays you can purchase. I recommend B&H or Freestyle to buy from. A 5x7" tray will work nicer for 4x5 film and paper as it allows a little more room for proper agitation and also allows you room to get your fingers or tongs in to grab.

 

[jeroldharter]

Why not use 5x7 trays or a 4x5 slosher tray?

 

[Samuel Hotton]

YES, a 5x7 or a 4x5 tray is easier. I on occasion enjoy making a small contact prints from a 6x9cm negative. Instead of using twice the chemistry I really need by using a larger tray why not just use a small tray. All I need is a little finger space aroung the 6x9 paper. For trays that small I don't even need to set up a processing line, just put the little trays in one 11x14 stainless steel tray with a water bath. Less chems used, less clean up. Easily packed for travel with a 4x5 wooden contact printing frame and a small light bulb. Less quantity of chemicals to tote as well.
Sam H.

 

[jeroldharter]

I see. Why not get some nesting plastic/Lexan bowls like for backpacking?

 

[Samuel Hotton]

Thats an idea worth looking into Jerold, thanks.
Sam H.

 

[DWThomas]

In the US, stores like Walmart have rectangular trays used to divide up drawer space. Some are long and narrow, but I'm vaguely recalling a few might be around 3 x 6 inches. They're about 1 1/4 inches or so high with a curled lip on one side and one end to allow hooking them together to organize a desk drawer. They are pretty cheap, but you may have to buy a set of assorted sizes.

There are polyethylene sandwich-sized or snack containers that are pretty small too -- and cheap!

DaveT

 

[eddie]

I have an old Tupperware item which would seem to be perfect for your application. It's 4.75 x 5.25 x 1.5 inches. It even has a locking top, so you could seal the chemicals in them when not in use. Mine must be 20-30 years old, but you may want to search for Tupperware.

 

[keithwms]

I was also looking for some trays and concluded that a stainless food-service bain marie tray may be a good option:

http://www.akitchen.com/store/steam.html

http://stores.shop.ebay.com.au/catering-supply-warehouse__W0QQ_nkwZTraysQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_sasiZ1

I just picked up some food-service "bains marie" for c41; we'll see how that goes.

 

[jeroldharter]

Kind of fun to think of a miniature darkroom. You could probably make a dryer out of Pringle's cans or tennis ball cannisters duct taped together.

This might work:

http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=729217

 

[eddie]

The Tupperware I have looks like these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-60s-Tup...|66:4|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:0|293:1|294:200

 

[raucousimages]

My 4X5 trays were made by Cherry Vale. They are over 30 years old but come up on ebay once in a while. I use them for intensifying or reducing 4X5 negs. Sometimes a small tray is very useful.

 

[Steve Smith]

If I was going to do this I would use some of the plastic containers that takeaway food comes in which seem to be filling up my kitchen drawers.


Steve.

 

[bdial]

They show up on ebay, I have some that mostly have come from old Kodak developing sets that I got from yard sales.

 

[Monophoto]

I have a bunch of 4x5 and 5x7 trays that I've picked up at various flea markets.

But the simple answer today is to look at the supermarket - the disposable plastic containers used for lettuce and fresh fruit work this fine as processing trays.

 

[dpurdy]

I wanted little trays as well to develop sheets in a stack that would stay nicely in a stack. I found that you can get covered glass butter dishes and the cover is a perfect sized little glass tray. About 2 inches deep and long enough to easily get your fingers in there to shuffle sheets of film.

For contact printing on paper though I would use something larger.