RE: Cleaning glass for dryplates

["D. Mark Andrews" <mark@dragonbones.com>]

Richard,

 

I can't comment about blue meths, but I've cleaned hundreds of glass plates with the recipe Kerik posted, and it worked for 150 years before I started using it.

 

Also, I've found that some glass manufacturers spray a very light coating of some chemical to keep the glass sheets from sticking to each other. It comes off with a good cleaning, but if you are at all inclined toward doing less work when possible, run the plates through your dishwasher after cutting and taking the edge off. I prefer Cascade with Dawn Pacs since it doesn't leave any spots or residue as do other dishwasher detergents.

 

Mark

-----Original Message-----
From: richard jones [mailto:richard_cynan@yahoo.co.uk]
Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 8:40 AM
To: alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca
Subject: Re: Cleaning glass for dryplates

Thanks for the advice!   Can blue meths be substituted for denatured alcohol (or are they the same thing)?

 

----- Original Message ----
From: D. Mark Andrews <mark@dragonbones.com>
To: alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca
Sent: Friday, 8 December, 2006 3:43:15 PM
Subject: RE: Cleaning glass for dryplates

I use this same formula. You can substitute hardware store grade denatured
alcohol if you can stand the odor. Mix ingredients together in a clear
applicator bottle (clear mustard/ketchup bottle purchased at drug store) and
shake to re-mix each time you use it. After a week or two of sitting it will
separate permanently and you have to start a new batch.

Squeeze a quarter size round on each plate and polish with lint free
cloth--I use old t-shirts. I recently spent time with John Coffer, however,
and he just uses paper towels, whatever brand he is given.

Mark
-----Original Message-----
From: kerik@kerik.com [mailto:kerik@kerik.com]
Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 7:20 AM
To: alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca
Subject: Re: Cleaning glass for dryplates


My understanding is that Rottenstone is mostly calcium carbonate with a few
other fine abrasives mixed in, but not pumice. For cleaning glass for wet
plate collodion I use a mixture of roughly 1/3 (by volume) calcium
carbonate, distilled water and 190 proof alcohol.  I found that I got more
residue with rottenstone than with pure calcium carbonate, so I switched.

Kerik Kouklis
www.kerik.com


Original Message:
-----------------
From: John Cremati johnjohnc@core.com
Date: Fri, 08 Dec 2006 09:40:05 -0500
To: alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca
Subject: Re: Cleaning glass for dryplates



         The guys the clean  lenses use 190 proof grain alcohol and
possibly some distilled water..... Bon Ami is the same as Rottenstone  sold
in grocery stores.... It is a fine  grade pumice that will not scratch the
glass and is actually used as one of the preliminary steps in polishing
glass  prior to  cerium oxide as the final step...........

  John Cremati


  Rottenstone (available in hardware stores) mixed with alcohol to make a
slurry. Wipe really well and then wipe off the sludge with a lint free
cotton cloth such as an old T-shirt.

  On Dec 8, 2006, at 7:47 AM, richard jones wrote:


    I'm searching for glass cleaning concoctions for preparing dry-plates,
any suggestions? Up till now, I've been using Sodium Carbonate 1tbsp in hot
tap water and kitchen towel. This seems to work quite well, 'till the plate
dries and I'm left with very faint marks caused by residual carbonate. No
matter how much I rinse, I still get these marks.

    Richard



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