The Wollensak Versar is now $400 chriso
Forum: Collodion Classifieds

The Darlot is SOLD
Forum: Collodion Classifieds

The Wollensak is around 17" at infinity, the Darlot is around 5" and the Zeiss is 5.5" and looks like it is an 8x10, not 4x5. It is easily a 5x7.
Forum: Collodion Classifieds

First up is a Wollensak Versar that covers 14x17. It is an f/6 the Iris/shutter works, and the glass is clear. It has a flange too. I am asking $500 USD Next up is a little Darlot projection petzval. It is marked Darlot Paris, then BF&Co so a US import. It is around f/5.6 and covers 4x5. It focuses smoothly. I like this lens and have taken many photos with it. If you ask nicely I'l
Forum: Collodion Classifieds

I love the stuff, just remember it'll kill ya real fast. I only mix up as much as I'll use. I do 1/4 plate mostly so that is about 300 ml for a light day. Use it in a ventilated place, don't stick your head right over the tray, don't mix it with acid. Pretty much the usual safety stuff. In my opinion treat it the same as you would a tray of ammonia. Avoid getting it in cuts. That'll hurt you as
Forum: General Discussion

Pretty cool. Reading the comments made me weep for photography in general, though.
Forum: General Discussion

Both come in metal bottles from Artcraft. I have had ether on the shelves for a few months with 2 results. The half can I had evaporated, the un opened one did not. The glass boston bottle I filled however was also fine. I have had the collodion thicken in the cans once opened but it took months. Likewise in a glass boston bottle no issues. I don't believe he sells cyanide any more but I don'
Forum: General Discussion

I started with it. It worked fine for me. Pretty easy to use. I did start having no image issues that I never resolved. I attest this to a mistake I made mixing, not the formula. As an aside; I always used everclear, not denatured as you know exactly what is in it. cheers, chriso
Forum: General Discussion

sold pending payment
Forum: Collodion Classifieds

The title saysit all. I bought it a year or two ago. I have had an aluminum flange made for it. I remember it being an f/8. It easily covers 11x14. No stops except for the crude ones I made. I can include them if you want. I would like $275 shipped (lower 48, others may need extra shipping) Pictures here: www.flickr.com/photos/phuphuphnik/sets/72157632197284308/ Cheers! Chriso
Forum: Collodion Classifieds

I found a 14x17 lens today. I'm calculating silver bath size and am coming up with about 4 liters minimum. Does this sound right? golly that is a bunch of very spillable money. cheers, chriso
Forum: General Discussion

Yes I am. My silver stock (virgin, never had a plate through it) is in clear glass, but in a dark cabnet. Going back on days this week, so I'll be shooting some. We'll see what happens.
Forum: General Discussion

> Good that you got out though. Still sorry to hear > about losing the lens I was hoping you would have > gotten it back some how. Thanks, I really appreciate that! I'll be sunning the silver today, then try some shots tomorrow. cheers! chriso
Forum: General Discussion

If I am reading this right, you are getting a really dark image. If that is the case I would say that you should double your exposure, or ever go to 4 seconds. Over exposure will be lighter, that is more white. A little more information would help assess the issue: what f/ are you using, in bright sun at f/32 I'm using 3-4 second exposures. how long are you developing, I average 15-20 sec
Forum: General Discussion

Tried some pictures today at a small event I frequent, but the images were a bit washed out and very contrasty. In addition, during sevelopment there was a black precipitate on the plate that washed right off. I suspect several things; one, I had only 2 hours of sleep, my silver bath is quite in need of care, and my developer was not as fresh as it could of been Plus I think I may have a ligh
Forum: General Discussion

After you stop development with water, you can fix in the light. Ammonia thyo takes just a few seconds, it is almost as fast as cyanide. cheers, chriso
Forum: General Discussion

Took the day off work to do a charity fair at my kid's school. First images ofthe day were great!, then it got too hot and my developer wet to crap, too aggressive. Fixed that. Then the sun was hitting the dark box window, which made it too bright fogging a couple plates. fine, fixed that. Did I mention I had no actual customers? I fought for 4 hours to keep the plates nice for fun I guess. To to
Forum: General Discussion

alex: you mean honour? Sean: that looks great! How big is the tripod base? I tried a pod on my new box, but it is too wobbly. cheers!
Forum: General Discussion

Forum: General Discussion

Richard, Believe me I'm positive that is the issue. I was doing something wrong along the way. I hope I didn't give the impression that it was faulty chemicals, it was User error mixing them. I was giving credit to Artcraft for standing by their product and trying to help me figure out the issues. My point is that I was about to leave the hobby. I tried the B&S kit as a last resort an
Forum: General Discussion

Well, I'll tell ya, you remember about 10 months ago when my chems went all wonky? I tried everything to get it to work right, Ty spent an hour on the phone with me, Artcraft was WONDERFUL help, and even sent me new stuff. Still no good. I ordered the ready made collodion form B&S and have not had a single issue. I agree with you that it is a double edged sword, though. An understanding of the c
Forum: General Discussion

I'll second Artcraft.
Forum: General Discussion

Is this the style that the Eastman 2D uses? cheers, chriso
Forum: Collodion Classifieds

RIGHT ON RAY! That is fantastic! cheers! chriso
Forum: General Discussion

I use a wall tent when I set up at a CW event. I'm using 2x4s for the uprights and ridge pole, but would like to go a bit lighter, how do 2x2s hold up in wind and weather? I'd also like to have the ridge in 2 pieces, can this be safely done with 2x2s? Cheers! chriso
Forum: General Discussion

I posted this on 'the other' forum a while back, but I think it'll help you out. I stumbled across several different kinds of holders recently, and took them apart. After several I found that the LISCO REGAL II has a solid septum. The Fidelity ones I looked at has 2 sheets of thin aluminum separated by a perforated piece of aluminum. The old Graflex were two sheets of thin Aluminum. The Lisco
Forum: General Discussion

Came across this, please search for fulminate:
Forum: General Discussion

wow, glad you're OK. Do you suppose that this was a specific sequence of events leading up to the fulminate, or is this a point of concern for the majority of us? I'd be happy to ask some chemist friends who deal with this sort of chemistry for their opinions, if you wish. I'm not qualified. Home made fulminates are not to be trusted, most of the amateur fireworks books I have state this. c
Forum: General Discussion

I have been using Empress velveteen with a yellow bottomweight liner. Works fine. I wait for the 50% off Joanns coupon before I buy the Velveteen, though, it is $12 a yard regular. chriso
Forum: General Discussion

That's great! Thanks guys. I know where to start now. cheers, chriso
Forum: General Discussion