ARTHURWG@aol.com
Date: 01/03/03-10:46:14 PM Z
Sorry, it's not "Japanned" paint or lacquer you want, it's something else
entirely. The formula for "Black Japan," used for coating ferrotype plates is
a mixture of 30 grams of Asphaltum (also called Gilsonite), 10 oz mineral
spirits, and 2.5 ml Canadian Balsam. This mixture must be heated almost to a
boil, then allowed to cool for a couple of days. After the plate is coated
with the mixture on one side, it must be heated, then cooled, then coated on
the other side and heated and cooled again.
All this is from John Coffer's workbook. He says nothing else will work,
and he should know. But this is very smelly and makes a mess. Better to
buy ready- made 5x7 plates from Tim Merritte in Pasadena, CA.
Good luck. Arthur
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : 02/21/03-10:44:16 AM Z CST