Making a Ruled Ground Glass

[Dave Mueller]

"I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

Sorry for the misundertanding, but I'll be making a 4x5 gg.

I have a lifetime supply of drafting films (vellum and mylar) that I got from a copy house that went out of business. I'll try to run a piece through the copier at work and see what happens. For the pcbs, I used overhead transparency film from an office supply store before I inherited the boxes of drafting film. I think almost any thin film will work as long as it doesn't melt in the copier or with the iron and it has a surface the toner will stick to but not be absorbed by. Thinking about it, you could probably use an inkjet printer and the paper made for making iron-on tee shirts.

Or, if you want to just email me your address, I'll cut up a few sheets of each into 11x14 pieces and mail them to you.

[jantman]

Dave,

I ordered the glass yesterday. The grit should be here next week. Maybe we can work out a trade - grit for some overlay sheets.

I'll get back to you next week.

[jantman]

Well, the grit arrived today. $25 for two pounds, including shipping, and it gets here in two days! talk about service.

well...the shipping was only from VA to NJ.

Today is Friday. I'll pick up the glass on monday if they're open, and start working on it. If they're not open, it might be until mid-way next week before I get to working on it.

[jantman]

I finished grinding my first two sheets. They're beautiful. I've never seen one so smooth or bright before. They took an hour each, about 30 minutes with 5 micron and 30 minutes with 3 micron. I followed the instructions in Dick Dokas' article in May/June 2003 Photo Techniques.

I used less than 3/4 of a teaspoon of each grit (per sheet), in 1/8 teaspoon amounts. Since I barely made a dent in the pound that I bought, if anyone would like to discuss buying some from me, send me an e-mail.

One tip - my local glass shop, even though I brought in the camera back and asked them to cut the sheets to fit, cut them a bit on the large side - they didn't seat all the way down on one side. I used some fine sandpaper (black aluminum oxide emery fabric, about #500 I think). This made quick work of it - less than a minutes' grind worked.

[Tom Johnston]

Jason,

I realize that this thread is a little old but, like you have already done, I am going to make my own ground glass. I have read the article that you mentioned and when searching for a source of aluminum oxide, I found this thread. You mention that your aluminum oxide from Willmann-Bell. I found them on the internet at http://www.willbell.com but, at least at this webpage, only books on optics are sold. Would you be kind enough to link me to where I can order aluminum oxide?

Thanks

[Carlos]

Tom,

You have to call Willmann-Bell because it is not on their web site. I just received the 5 micron and 3 micron. You have three options ( in respect of the amount). Call them on the phone.

Good luck!

[jantman]

Carlos speaks the truth.

You have to give them a call.

[Tom Johnston]

Thanks. I'll do that.

[Carlos]

By the way ... Do not expect great improvement in brightness. I just did my ground glass and I am thinking of adding a fresnel to the gg. It is cheaper to make your own gg.

[Murray]

I made a few with 400-500 blend (13-17 micron?) SiC, then read the article on aluminum oxide.

I got some 5 micron and am amazed how much slower it is to grind...but I guess that's the price one pays.

If it's not brighter, then hopefully the smaller surface imperfections are an improvement, I am starting to notice how pitted the 400-500 SiC looks under a loupe :O(

I can see how the glass is cut slightly 'wrong'. Our glass cutter calibration has never been right since we installed it, nor can I fix it. It seems the self-adhesive ruler tape was misapplied.

When I measure pre-cut, pre-washed glass right out of the box from the glass manufacturer, I am amazed that is right on. I have never had a piece that is 'off' by even a measureable amount.

Murray

Murray