Dryplate Coating Alternatives?

[richard jones <richard_cynan@yahoo.co.uk>]

Heavy rain and gales in North Wales - great! Now I can justify a few hours spent in a darkroom, coating plates (badly, whilst crying to myself for wasting another 20 quid).  My first attempt at immersion coating was a disaster with too much Ilfotol (bubbles), cool plates, cooling SE1 and an unlevel drying surface, so I hope my second batch will be more of a success. Ha!

 

I don't know whether to stick to the costly process of dipping my plates or to go for something more economical (like digital )

 

I've read Silver Gelatin by Martin Reed and Sarah Jones, which discusses three methods of coating glass: Immersion, glass rod and wire-wrapped draw-bar. I'd like to try using a plastic combe to 'rake' the gelatin into one even surface (the surface being heated and placed on 4 shot glasses) Though, I'm not sure that this method, like the wire-wrapped rod will work with a subbing layer.

 

I'm aware that alternative processes are individual and experimental and sooner or later I will find a method that works well for me. But in the meantime, can anyone give me a few personal tips into economical coating of glass plates? I'd like, if possible, to use one-shot measured quantities.

 

Thanks,

 

Richard

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