Very large tray needed to wash fiber prints

gerryyaum · Sep 2, 2008

I wanted to make some larger prints from my 8x10 negs. Foma photographic paper is available in 43" x 33' rolls. I want to try to make large prints approx. 40"x48". I have a large drum/roller set up (given to me by a friend) that I can use for the developer/stop/fix/hypoclear/toning, but I need a large tray to wash the print to archival standards in.

Any suggestions on where I can get a large tray like that? I was thinking of washing 1 print at a time with 2 of those Kodak tray jet washer dealies.

Any recommendations would be appreciated the largest prints I have made before were 20x24 prints in trays, this will be a new venture for me.

Gerry

www.gerryyaum.com

RobertP · Sep 2, 2008

1/4" plexi comes in 48" sheets. A can of Weld-on 3 and you can make any size tray you want.

David A. Goldfarb · Sep 2, 2008

If you have a sink large enough to hold the tray, then you could wash directly in the sink.

frotog · Sep 2, 2008

You're actually better served rolling the print up and scrolling. There have been posts describing this technique in the past.

Fintan · Sep 2, 2008

I read a suggestion before to try pet stores for large plastic litter bins for dogs and cats and bird cages.

I've no idea if thats a real possibility....but worth a try.

Alternatively you could sneek in the back window of Bob Carnies darkroom when he is out

bdial · Sep 2, 2008

The print is roughly 1M x 1.2M I'd hate to encounter a cat that needs a litter pan that large.

Maybe roll the print enough to fit in a bathtub?

Bob Carnie · Sep 2, 2008

Go to a organic grow store , they have very , very large trays and are beautiful for the your purpose. The are quite cheap.
largest one I have is 50 inches by 8 ft.
good luck, I have drain holes in the bottom of mine to take out the water rather than over flow.
At this size the trays with water are really heavy and cumbersome.
I use window screens 5ft by 8ft to dry the prints face down after squeege.

Bob Carnie · Sep 2, 2008

Just remember you are planning to visit Canada next year for the October workshop... I am thinking we will make you pay for that comment.

Fintan said:
I read a suggestion before to try pet stores for large plastic litter bins for dogs and cats and bird cages.

I've no idea if thats a real possibility....but worth a try.

Alternatively you could sneek in the back window of Bob Carnies darkroom when he is out

frotog · Sep 2, 2008

bdial said:
The print is roughly 1M x 1.2M I'd hate to encounter a cat that needs a litter pan that large.

Maybe roll the print enough to fit in a bathtub?

I guess the bathtub would work in a pinch. However, working on your knees and constantly reaching into the bottom of the bathtub would get old real quick.

I was doing this so often that I had some troughs made up out of 316 ss. They're 52" long x 14" wide x 4" deep. The walls are pitched so that the water/chemistry is easily poured out from the corners. I've seen people make similar trays from plexi or marine plywood coated in epoxy.

Fintan · Sep 2, 2008

bdial said:
The print is roughly 1M x 1.2M I'd hate to encounter a cat that needs a litter pan that large.

Fintan · Sep 2, 2008

Bob Carnie said:
Just remember you are planning to visit Canada next year for the October workshop... I am thinking we will make you pay for that comment.

I stand over my suggestion, we'll get the alarm code for you Gerry

(Get me a lovely orange boiler suit when your in)

Steve Smith · Sep 2, 2008

If this is a one off, make a tray the size you want out of plywood and 2x2 screwed together and loosely line it with polythene sheet. When you are finished, take it apart again.

Steve.

Ole · Sep 2, 2008

I haven't tried turning on the bubble bath yet, or the jets..

But I use the bathtub. With occasional changes of water, so I don't have to stand there bent over and agitate it all the time.

jeroldharter · Sep 2, 2008

I always wonder how people do this effectively meaning the details of washing etc. Even if you figure out how to wash it, how will you store it, mount it, frame it, etc. I'm sure it can be done but maybe in a warehouse size darkroom. I suppose the easiest thing is what was just mentioned. Get a 4x8' sheet of plywood (I would get better quality 3/4' for flatness/sturdiness (MDF might work just as well) Screw in some 2x4's along the edges and then use plastic liner/epoxy marine paint, or fiberglass just like making a sink.

I think that plexiglass would flex too much and would be more expensive. Using 2x2 edges would be very shallow but you don't need to rock the tray for washing so might work better. Hard to picture the sink that would hold you 4x8' tray though. Also, it would be quite heavy when full so you would need some provision for draining it.

Paul Howell · Sep 2, 2008

For large prints I use a large child wading pool on my patio. I dont print print larger than 16X20, but I could fit a much larger print into the next size up pool. I think I paid around $12.00 for it 5 or 7 years ago, not sure what they run todayu. I use 2 Kodak sphions running from a outlet with a double valve.

frotog · Sep 2, 2008

No bathtubs, no giant drkrms needed. For proper mural technique as practiced by both Mr. Carnie and myself refer to an earlier thread entitled "large print - uneven development".

jeroldharter · Sep 2, 2008

Paul Howell said:
For large prints I use a large child wading pool on my patio. I dont print print larger than 16X20, but I could fit a much larger print into the next size up pool. I think I paid around $12.00 for it 5 or 7 years ago, not sure what they run todayu. I use 2 Kodak sphions running from a outlet with a double valve.

That is just nuts (in a good way). That is the kind of thing that is lacking in the digital world.

gerryyaum · Sep 3, 2008

frotog said:
You're actually better served rolling the print up and scrolling. There have been posts describing this technique in the past.

scrolling? never heard of that, will check into it thanks.

gerryyaum · Sep 3, 2008

bdial said:
The print is roughly 1M x 1.2M I'd hate to encounter a cat that needs a litter pan that large.

Maybe roll the print enough to fit in a bathtub?

the bath tub is an interesing idea.....thou the wife might put in some bubble bath when I am washing my print thanks.

gerryyaum · Sep 3, 2008

Bob Carnie said:
Go to a organic grow store , they have very , very large trays and are beautiful for the your purpose. The are quite cheap.
largest one I have is 50 inches by 8 ft.
good luck, I have drain holes in the bottom of mine to take out the water rather than over flow.
At this size the trays with water are really heavy and cumbersome.
I use window screens 5ft by 8ft to dry the prints face down after squeege.

Thanks very much, never thought of the drying part! thanks for that suggestion also. Everything has to be SUPER SIZED!

gerryyaum · Sep 3, 2008

Fintan said:

have a cat of smaller dimensions also, but since I am going larger print maybe I should go larger cat!

Philippe-Georges · Sep 3, 2008

Take a board of any kind of material but water proof, screw a few SS paper clamps on the top to hold the paper, put it upright in your tub or shower cabin (or even outside) and use the shower (garden) hose to spray water on it. If you work on RC paper, the washing will take a few minutes, emulsion and back side. For FB parer, at +/-22 °C, this will take about 30 minutes for the emulsion - and 15 min. for the back side, if you use KHCA...
When this set up can be put-up inside the dark room and 'planted' in a long and deep plastic flower barge, you can use this for processing with the sponge technique. Then, you only have to manipulate the paper twice, before processing and after washing the emulsion side (when you wash the back side).
Of course, some (practical) imagination, a large sheet of plastic foil, and a second pair of hands will be of good use...

Good luck,

Philippe

Cattrall · Sep 6, 2008

They make large tubs for mixing concrete, I just past them at the hardware store, Ace. I thought that they looked like oversize black darkroom trays. I think they were call utility trays or tubs.

Bill

Dan Williams · Sep 6, 2008

Just curious -- what did you use to hold the developer, stop, and fixer?

Dan

Claire Senft · Sep 6, 2008

Why do you believe that you can drum process the print but not be able to wash it in the drum?

Very large tray needed to wash fiber prints

gerryyaum

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Very large tray needed to wash fiber prints

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