Does anyone have a recommendation for removing the black deposit that gradually builds up on print developing trays? I do dump the stop bath into the empty developer tray to help wash it out at the end of a session, but the developer stain still builds up gradually on my plastic trays. Is there any reason not to just leave it there? Thanks.

-- Tim Nelson (timothy.nelson@yale.edu), November 29, 2000

Answers

I know of no technical need to remove the silver that collects in your tray. However, I clean up my enamel trays once in awhile by letting some household bleach sit in there overnight. You can dilute it some if you're in no hurry. I've no exact dilution info, but half water will probbably do. I expect plastic or glass-fiber will respond about the same.

-- Keith Nichols (knichols@iopener.net), November 29, 2000.

It is supposed to do that so there isn't any flare off the bright white surface to fog your paper. James

-- james (james_mickelson@hotmail.com), November 29, 2000.

I read (here, in this forum) once that fixer will dissolve the black stain (which is silver, I believe).

I've never had a print spoiled by deposits of the black grunge. I wash the trays with dish soap from time to time and a lot of it comes off, but some doesn't.

I was taught (by a chemist who was an amateur photographer) to keep trays dedicated to one step in the process lest residual chemical from the prior use of the tray spoil the current chemicals. I don't know if this is a practical problem or not. However, old habits die hard and I continue to use my trays in red-white-blue order.

-- Don Karon (kc6d@arrl.net), November 29, 2000.

Normal fixer won't dissolve metallic silver, otherwise you'd have no image left on the film or print, would you?
The bleach-fix, or 'blix' bath from a C41, RA4 or E6 process kit will remove the black deposit. Some colour kits come in two parts, with the bleach-fix sold seperately, so you can buy just the part you need, if you think it's worth it.

-- Pete Andrews (p.l.andrews@bham.ac.uk), November 30, 2000.

Use a little houshold bleach straight or diluted 1:1 or so and swish it around until the stains disappear. Dump, rinse with water and then add some fixer and swish it around for a few minutes. Water rinse for a while, and you should have a clean tray. What you are doing is rehalogenating the silver to make silver chloride, then fixing this to make it soluable in water and washing it like you would a negative or print. Regards, ;^D)

-- Doremus Scudder (ScudderLandreth@compuserve.com), November 30, 2000.

Also Farmer's reducer or the first step of Sepia Toner will work, followed by fixer.

BTW fixer WILL dissolve metallic silver over time. That is why you don't just fixer for several hours to make sure.

Also, not all developers cause the black stain. I have seen that stain on storage containers for stock Dektol. No silver to come out.

-- Terry Carraway (TCarraway@compuserve.com), November 30, 2000.

Edwal makes a chemical called single solution which I believe is made to clean trays. real powerful stuff.-J

-- josh (devil_music@usa.net), December 01, 2000.

Comet and a pot scrubber work great. The silver doesn't stick real well to plastic trays, it comes off fairly easily.

-- E.L. (elperdido65@hotmail.com), December 01, 2000.