Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-25
HOW TO MAKE TRAYS

At times, no doubt, you have wished
YOU had more developing trays, or
possibly some larger ones, but did not
feel that the amount of work lor
which they would be used would war
rant buying enameled or rubber ones.
The following description Will not
only show a simple way of making tle
trays, but one that is inexpensive az
well. Yet the trays are of eXcelient
quality, being both strong and aclo-
proof:
The first requirement will be some
pasteboard boxes. The kind dry plates
come in are suitable. Select Il box
that is a size larger than the plate OF
print to be developed; for plates
3hX4A use 4x5-inch boxes, etc. For
very large sizes the plate boxes are
too shallow, as they only hold one-hail
dozen plates, so you can probably nhd
boxes of suitable dimensions at a ury
goods store Boxes in which underwear
is packed are about the best shape.
Some which l have made are 12xloX1Hs
inches.
The second thing necessary is some
asphaltum. 1t comes in solid torIn'
although not extremely hard. IL rs,
however, easily melted. For IL lew
small trays or two or three large ones
about two or three pounds of asphai-
tum will be sufficient The asphaltum
paint which is sold at paint stores Is
too thin to be useful for this work. Inc
asphaltum costs about cents a pouho
in small quantities IT.,
You will also need some turpentlle
with which to mix the asphaltum. a
few ounces of turpentine VIII rhdke
quite a quantity of paint. 1t can De
obtained cheapest at d paint store.
Lastly is required a tin cup or other
metal vessel which will not be used
again. Be careful not to use can
which is soldered, as the bottom Will
melt out-with results. A small orush
is needed with which to apply inc
paint.
Now to work. There are two ways
of nreparinr the paint. You can break
the asphaltum UP into small pieces, put
It into the tin cup and pour some tur-
pentine over 1t. BY stirring 1t at times
II will gradually dissolve, taking PROB
ably a day or two. If you are In no
hurry, this will do perfectly wen. As
It is a little slow, you can make tne
naint bv first melting the asphaltum
over a slow fire. If you heat it too
ranidly. it Is apt to boil over and
smoke badly, or possibly catch on fire:
Should it@take fire a tin pan placed
over 1t will easily eXtinguish It. AFTER
melting the asphaltum allow 1t to cooi
until it begins to thicken, then add a
small quantity of the turpentlne, As
il cools more II will continue to thick
en-. so add from time to time nttle
more turpentine. 1t should be or about
the consistency of thick molasses when
cold. Don't make 1t too thin.
The boxes YOU have selected should
he clean and dry. Any loose bits OF
naner on the edges should be torn on.
In case YOU use plate boxes, only the
two largest ones will be needed. The
inside of the larger box is to be thor
ouqhlv coated with the paint, and then
the outside of the smaller one paint
cd. The small part of the box is now
| p,t inside of the large one with the
! two painted surfaces together. Piace
then, on n fat surface and weigh them
| down with fatirons or some otner
weight They should be left until the
naint gets fairly hard. so the two parts
will adhere firmly. The box can then
! be painted inside and allowed TO ury,
and then the outside painted wnlie the
nov &c supported on the inside by any
convenient means. Any spaces pe-
tween the edges of the two boxes may
he filled with paint. If one coat does
not eeem enough, or If for any reason
the surface should become broken or
worn away, another application may
be put on. .ro.,,
When the turpentine evaporates from
the naint il is left rather hard put
nIiahIe. IT is evident that hot solutions
cannot be poured into the trays.
| Neither should they be left In the not
The trays, if carefully made and well
nointed. are thoroughly acid-proof ana
may he used in any way that rupper
! trays are used. -