Wetplate Collodion Kit

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Preparing and Maintaining Silver Nitrate Bath The Silver Nitrate bath is arguably the single most important component of the Wetplate process, since a properly maintained Silver Nitrate bath will have a usable life of many years. It is important that the solution be systematically prepared for usage, and then constantly nursed so that it's properties remain constant. From Your Kit You Need: Silver Nitrate 10% Solution Glacial Acetic Acid Plastic Dropper pH Testing Strips Dated bottle containing cleared Salted Collodion Funnel Hydrometer 100ml Graduate You supply: One glass plate For Clean-Up: 70% Isopropyl Alcohol – Available from your local drug or grocery store. Safety gear required: Safety glasses, latex or nitrile gloves, apron. Optional: gas mask respirator Warning! Glacial Acetic Acid fumes are extremely irritating to the eyes and lungs. We recommend using a respirator gas mask when working with this chemical. Adjusting pH Before sensitizing plates in the Silver Nitrate 10% Solution, it is sometimes necessary to lower the pH to a range of 4 – 6. If you plan on printing negatives, a slightly acidic solution of pH 6 is desirable, while positive development works best with a more acidic pH 4-5. Step 1. Open the bottle of Glacial Acetic Acid and draw up a full dropper of solution. Cap the bottle and set aside. Step 2. Open the bottle of Silver Nitrate 10% Solution and insert a pH testing strip or electronic pH testing probe. The pH of the fresh solution should be around pH 5. (If you are using the testing strips that came with your kit, match the strip to the closest matching pH level on the chart provided). Step 3. If the Silver Nitrate solution is pH 6 or above, add 1 drop of Glacial Acetic Acid to the bottle for every 250ml of Silver Nitrate 10%. Cap bottle and shake. Step 4. Measure the pH using a fresh testing strip or electronic probe. The pH will drop considerably, and should be in the pH 4-5 range with just 1 or 2 drops of Glacial Acetic Acid.
Preparing a Plate with Salted Collodion Silver Iodide is a soluble form of Silver that must be present in the Silver Nitrate Bath before a properly sensitized plate can be made. The simplest way to introduce Silver Iodide into the Silver Nitrate Bath is to soak a Salted Collodion-Coated plate in the Silver Nitrate Bath for several hours. This plate will not be exposed after soaking, it is simply used to prepare the bath for the 'real' plates you will expose later. Step 1. Pour the pH adjusted Silver Nitrate Solution into the tray or dunk tank you will be using to sensitize plate. Step 2. Clean a 4x5” glass plate. Many formulas and techniques are prescribed for cleaning a glass plate. Pick your favorite one from the internet, and follow it exactingly. Step 3. Measure out 5ml of cleared Salted Collodion mixture from your dated bottle into a small, clean glass graduated cylinder. Step 4. Place the supplied funnel into the top of dated Salted Collodion bottle to act as a catch container. Step 5. While holding the glass plate in one hand, pour the entire 5ml of Salted Collodion along one edge of the glass plate, then tilt the plate in a circular motion to complete cover the plate in a thin layer of Collodion. If the temperature is below 60F, you may need to warm the glass plate over the Alcohol Lamp. Be careful not to heat the glass too quickly, or you may crack it or ignite the Collodion fumes. Step 6. When the plate is covered, allow the excess Collodion to drain off one corner of the plate into the funnel. Step 7. Place the coated plate into the Silver Nitrate Bath. Since this plate will not be exposed, it is ok to do this step in full light. Step 8. After 5 minutes, pull the plate and inspect. The plate is a cloudy white color. This is the color you should expect to see everytime you pull a plate from the Silver Nitrate Bath, just before you put it in the holder and expose. Step 9. Place the plate back in the Silver Nitrate Bath and allow it to soak for 6-8 hours, or until the plate is nearly translucent again. The Silver Nitrate Bath is now ready to sensitize glass and aluminum plates.
Page 1 and 2: Wetplate Collodion Kit Thank you fo
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Wetplate Collodion Kit

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