I've seen John Coffer's box during a recent workshop. It's about 30inch wide if I recall correctly and he claims to use it up to whole plate. The box was cramped, not a single inch of empty space anywhere. In his videos he shows how he loads the plate holder by placing it onto the trays. I really really really don't like that - for my clumpsy fingers it's a surefire way for a disaster in the wait
Forum: General Discussion

Thanks again for all the suggestions. I've decided to opt for a semi-flexible foldable design - basically the bottom and and backwall being solid plywood connected with a hinge, and the remaining "walls" made of fabric. Should make for a large yet lightweight box that can be folded together like a clamshell. BUT: what do you guys recommend for the fabric? I have a large sheet of canvas that I co
Forum: General Discussion

Thanks for all the suggestions. Doug, I like your idea of a foldable darkbox. How does your box look like (the link in your post appears to be broken). Do some of you use the darkbox as "storage container" during travel? I could see that as being an advantage of the rigid box designs; but the weight savings of a canvas box is appealing too.
Forum: General Discussion

Just wondering what common sizes for darkboxes suitable for 8x10 are? I am contemplating making mine (closed) 36Lx12Wx24H. How thick should the plywood be, to be sturdy yet lightweight? It's a long weekend over here and I feel like firing up the old table saw ;-) . Any suggestions?
Forum: General Discussion

Rene Bolduc speaks english too; he pointed me towards the Quebec liquor stores for 190proof alcohol (freely available there at any liquor store, and Gatineau is only a five minute walk from Ottawa). Not exactly fitting the description of being "cheap" though; BUT on the bright side - the stuff is also good for cooking/baking/cocktail making ... . The BC wetplater goes by the forum name of (Ju
Forum: General Discussion

There's Rob Norton, also in Toronto; relatively well known photographer. A couple of canadian wetplaters sometimes post on the other wetplate forum (two that I know of, a guy in Quebec and a woman in BC). But you're right, the canadian wetplate scene is about as lively as a cemetery. I'm from the Ottawa area ... am about to start, once I get the chemicals together (probably the major roadblock
Forum: General Discussion

Ray Morgenweck Wrote: > what does it all mean? Can you not see it? OK then, here's my totally scientific analysis: There is this nude blonde (hair upper left, body on a diagonal) apparently stepping out of the shower, and getting decapitated with a two-edged Viking broad sword. The misty low contrast in soft focus gives a beautiful serene non-violent happy feel to it. That's classic m
Forum: General Discussion

There are a few cadmium-free formulas floating around. One was posted on another forum by Joe Smieglitz: "Here's the Osterman formula: Pt A 1.5gm KBr dissolved in minimum distilled water (~3ml) 2 gm KI dissolved in minimum distilled water (~3ml) 77ml grain alcohol 190 proof Pt. B 118 ml collodion 77ml ether pt A from above added slowly and mixture shaken after each addition" As fo
Forum: General Discussion

There's a fellow on fleahbay, selling tripod sockets: Don't know how good they are though.
Forum: General Discussion

Ray Morgenweck (starcameracompany) makes adapters, tanks, etc too. I'll probably choose him to built me a back very soon (I prefer the smooth running start of a tried and tested solution over having to reinvent the wheel and getting endlessly frustrated).
Forum: General Discussion