Anyone ever damage a lomo tank like this?

[slashmaster]

Can't blame anyone if they don't believe me, this is a problem I didn't think could ever happen to bakelite. Until the other day I had a nice lomo tank that you could get the cover on and off no problem. But either the cover of the tank has shrunk or the tank has soaked up some chemical and expanded so I have a hard time getting the lid on. There was a lot of slop on the lid when I got it, you could put it on and off very easy, now it takes a lot of effort, have a hard time turning it. At first I thought it was either sticky developer or fixer in the covers groove making this happen but I cleaned the groove with a q-tip really good and cleaned the tank really good. Still have the problem. I think I might have left the cover on the heater in the bathroom to dry it off. Will that make it shrink? Now what do I do, should I put the tank on the heater to equally shrink it to the cover? Or shall I put automotive valve grinding compound in the groove of the cover?

[Gabe Agoado]

Bakelite is heat resistant, so using a heater to dry it shouldn't have had an effect on it. It can, however, expand when stored in a damp condition for an extended period of time, so the issue is not the cover, but that the tank was stored in a damp climate or left damp after use. This isn't reversible, so what you could try is leaving the cover damp and seeing if it expands to fit the expanded tank, I can't guarantee that it will work, but versus having to get a new tank, it might be your only option.

[slashmaster]

Bakelite is heat resistant, so using a heater to dry it shouldn't have had an effect on it. It can, however, expand when stored in a damp condition for an extended period of time, so the issue is not the cover, but that the tank was stored in a damp climate or left damp after use. This isn't reversible, so what you could try is leaving the cover damp and seeing if it expands to fit the expanded tank, I can't guarantee that it will work, but versus having to get a new tank, it might be your only option.

Oh ok, thanks!.. Yes, there was a puddle of water in it from my last processing!. So I should actually leave the tank on a heater after every use to dry it before I put it away? Now I know! I'll try leaving the cover in water to expand it. If that doesn't work I'll try sanding the outer edge of the tank thinner, or grinding with valve grinding compound.

[slashmaster]

I've been keeping the tank on a heater and the lid in water. Seems to have worked! There is just a little bit of play now. Going to keep it in longer so it goes back closer to original.