Does anyone still make flat bottomed developing trays? I'm after a few 5x7s for wet-plate work and don't want to use mum's tupperware. I check eBay quite regularly, but all I can find are patterson trays. Just thought I'd ask here.

Richard

I was about to order some of these (http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=usplastic&category%5Fname=97&product%5Fid=15224), they look flat bottomed...Kind of pricy as you go up in size, but I think the old cescolites were expensive too, and I cant seem to find them anywhwere except for the dimple-bottom ones.

B&H still carries the flat-bottomed cescolites

I think I've seen some at B&H. You might call them to ask if the pictures on the website aren't clear.

Pyrex lasagne or brownie pans (but I'd bet your mum wouldn't mind sharing her tupperware :-)

You can turn a tray like a paterson into a flat bottom tray by putting a piece of plastic sheet like acrylic on the bottom. Bit of a nuisance and another thing to wash but it works.

I wish I could find trays that AREN'T flat-bottomed. Even the ribs on the bottom of my Yankee trays are insufficient to make getting my tongs under a print less than a crazy-making frustration!

Dear jstraw,

Try Paterson trays. They have deep grooves that allow plenty of room for tongs.

Neal Wydra

I saw flat-bottomed Cesco trays at Glazer's Camera yesterday. They must be readily available.

I got ceramic trays from ikea that were just perfect for this.

at the revere/corning outlets, you can get 9x12 glass photo trays for less than $3 each. ;)



erie

Dear jstraw,

Try Paterson trays. They have deep grooves that allow plenty of room for tongs.

Neal Wydra

Thanks Neal

I saw flat-bottomed Cesco trays at Glazer's Camera yesterday.
They must be readily available.

They are readily available; Freestyle, Central Camera, B&h,
Calumet, and eBay. Those I know of. At eBay search for,
Cesco . From Google search for, Cesco tray . Dan

I was about to order some of these (http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=usplastic&category%5Fname=97&product%5Fid=15224), they look flat bottomed...Kind of pricy as you go up in size, but I think the old cescolites were expensive too, and I cant seem to find them anywhwere except for the dimple-bottom ones.

I have a set of Cesco trays in 11x14 that look remarkably like the ones pointed to in the link above. I'll bet they're the same thing. I like 'em because they allow you to be stingy with the chemistry and I only do a few prints per session. I hate 'em because getting the print out of the tray is much too fiddly.

I hate 'em because getting the print out of the tray is much too fiddly.

Flood the tray with water.

I was about to order some of these (http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=usplastic&category%5Fname=97&product%5Fid=15224), they look flat bottomed...Kind of pricy as you go up in size, but I think the old cescolites were expensive too, and I cant seem to find them anywhere except for the dimple-bottom ones.

Oops, meant to say I cant find them anywhere cheaper except for the dimple-bottom trays.

Flood the tray with water.

Even with liquid in the tray, they are a PITA unless you use your fingers. I'm not overly concerned about sticking my hands into the chemistry for health reasons, but I like to keep my hands clean for handling the next sheet of paper or negative. Tongs are useless with these flat bottomed trays.

Yeah, patterson trays are best for silver printing w/tongs, save the flat trays for plates and alternative processes.

Some very high-end flat-bottom trays can be found at...
any pet shop that sells kitty litter boxes! :D
That's what I use in any case.

Some very high-end flat-bottom trays can be found at...
any pet shop that sells kitty litter boxes! :D
That's what I use in any case.

And/or perhaps at a dollar store? In Japan, we have a chain of smilar stores, and usually they have a lot of A4 sized plastic trays with very flat bottoms.