Everclear (grain alcohol) for coating plt/pld

[donbga]

Does anyone currently add Everclear to their plt/pld sensitizer solution?

I've read somewhere online reccomendations of about 3 drops per ml of
sensitizer (metal+ferric).

 

[Kerik]

Yes, I've been doing this for several years. I don't consider it a necessity, but a nice tweak. The exact amount isn't that critical, but I use about the amount you stated. The everclear lowers the viscosity/surface tension of the solution a bit and helps minimize brush marks and other irregularities. I find that it has very little effect on how quickly the solution is absorbed into the paper.

 

[Joe Lipka]

What do you know. There's another use for everclear.

 

[Kerik]

What do you know. There's another use for everclear.

I brought home a gallon of the stuff from Montana last year, which is almost gone. I use quite a bit of it in the collodion process. That's my story and I'm sticking to it...

 

[Michael Mutmansky]

I don't do this, as I have had problems with uneven paper absorbtion with the addition of the alcohol. I think it may be somewhat dependant on humidity and paper choice.

Basically, I haven't found it necessary or beneficial to my working methods, and I don't believe there is any reason to complicate the process with a chemical if it is unnecessary to the process.

---Michael

 

[Robert Hall]

Kerek, what did it cost you in Montana?

 

[Kerik]

Robert - I don't remember exactly. I think it was about $35 per 1/2 gallon bottle.

 

[reggie]

That price is correct.

-R

 

[Robert Hall]

Thanks, I was wondering how much the State was tacking on here in Utah.

 

[John Jarosz]

What do you know. There's another use for everclear.

You mean besides cleaning telescope mirrors?

John