Tin Can
Garrett--
You left out the price of the 5x7 holder and silver tank. That's pushing $500 right there. Add $300 kit and you're getting pretty close to the figure I quoted.
Kent in SD
In contento ed allegria
Notte e di vogliam passar!
There is something else I'll mention and that's holders. For 5x7 I only found Chamonix. Nice but came with a surprise. I bought one and ordered a ton of 5x7 tins. They didn't fit--too big. Some brands of holders are made to (smaller) sheet fim dimensions, others are full sized. Not a problem if you cut your own or the supplier knows what size to cut. I prefer full size though as that way I can buy pre-cut framing glass. My 4x5 holder is Lund and my 8x10 is Stenopeika. Not happy with the 8x10 one and have ordered a custom made one from Anton, $400. Will mention you can shoot dry plates in wet plate holder one at a time. I have processed dry plates in the field in my portable dark lab. It's not hard.
Kent in SD
Kent in SD
In contento ed allegria
Notte e di vogliam passar!
http://collodionbastards.org/diy/ easy
I can make what I need and prefer to
no miracles here http://www.wetplatewagon.com/
Tin Can
I've had good luck with the Lund traveling tanks, 5x7 and 8x10. They don't leak or corrode.
Kent in SD
In contento ed allegria
Notte e di vogliam passar!
You mean plate holder? I made mine from an old $5 Eastman wooden plate holder. Made a caddie out of plexiglass that fits into the holder as if it's the glass plate, then you put the tin inside that. Kind of like this, I can't find a pic of my actual adapted holder I used for years.
Remember, in 2006 there were no fancy companies making wetplate equipment. It was do it yourself, chemicals, holders, lensboards, tanks, dark boxes. Some people would buy a custom-made walnut dark box from that guy in Texas the first few years. For like $900. I'd make one out of an old ammo packing crate.
Same with a silver tank, I went to Michaels, bought a big square glass vase. It was $15. If you are spending hundreds on this....you're doing it differently than I do. When I saw the commercial companies start to pop up, and the prices they were charging for cameras, tanks, and dark boxes, I about choked. I do it for 1/25th as much cost.
Remember who made the most money during the California Gold rush. Not the miners, the supply stores.
Garrett
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Saw this today, which looks exactly like a cheap ammo box I have from Sams
https://www.lundphotographics.com/in...ing-tanks.html
So this answers 2 questions, yes put exposed plates in water and take them home
and gear can be store bought or made
Lund has a lot of free info, I suggest anyone new like me read it
for the record I did order a custom silver box from France, which looks exactly like a Lund with a different prop stand
But I will convert old dry plate holders to wet and use my cargo trailer as dark room with my very cheap LED safe lamps, I already have
Tin Can
I had considered a glass tank but I only do wet plate when out in the field. Couldn't see how make a glass tank seal tightly and didn't want to bother with pouring solution in & out of the tank in the kind of weather I deal with. Also had concerns about glass breaking, and wanted something completely light proof (although might be able to fix that by wrapping with lightproof material.) All in all just buying a traveling tank with highly positive reviews was more attractive to me. Also know about converting old holders, but didn't want to go that route as I want to make plates that are full dimension. I did make my own insert 8x10--->4x5 so I could make cheap exposure tests. I bought an 8x10 plate storage tank from Lund but am making a smaller one for 4x5 using a plastic ammo box and making a slotted holder to go in it. Have now made two dark boxes. One for 4x5 & 5x7 and a large step inside one for 8x10. Will show photos of that when it gets warmer outside.
Kent in SD
In contento ed allegria
Notte e di vogliam passar!
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