Glass and ten plates ...

[davidseminatorephoto]

Hello, I am new here and just starting collodion. I have just about everything I need to start. I have a brownie I was going to start with but before i got going i found a nice half plate. its in the mail and should be here this week. am going to shoot mostly glass and I have a piece of black aluminum. i have a few questions.

1. best way to get glass plates. i tried cutting my own and I can do it but they are pretty rough and I waste a bit of glass. I am thinking about either ordering a bunch of cut glass, getting a strip cutter, does anyone have a good way to do this.

2 I have a large sheet of black aluminum.. metal cutters will bend the ends how do i cut the metal without bending it.

Lastly anyone in the bay area shoot wet plates it would be cool if I could find someone who would let me watch and get some tips from.

David

 

[Photo Engineer]

Most any US hardware store will cut glass plates to order, and glass is really inexpensive. Some photo supply houses stock precut glass plates as well. I have gotten some from the Formulary.

PE

 

[removed account4]

just to add to what ron said ...
i get my dryplates ( glass ) from a glass place
they were cheaper than the local lowses or home despot.
the black aluminum i am using for dry gelatin tin types
cuts with a guillotine paper cutter ... its ez
god luck !
john

 

[Sirius Glass]

Welcome to APUG David

 

[smieglitz]

The Morton Portable Glass Shop jig has saved me many dollars cutting stained glass for wetplate. If you aren't going to cut much, just be sure to get a pistol grip type cutter that has an oil reservoir. That will increase your success as well.

A heavy-duty guillotine paper cutter will be OK for metal plates but you might find it worthwhile just to have the vendor cut it for you. I once used a metalworking shear and liked it much better than the paper cutter. The paper cutter has a tendency to bend one corner of each plate. Alas, the $hear co$t$.

 

[davidseminatorephoto]

Thank you .. i fount a local glass shop that cut plates for me for a dollar a plate. for now I can afford that. I think when i go to larger plates I will need to learn to cut glass properly.

 

[mark]

I went to a glass shop in college to get some frame glass for a weird sized frame. The frame shop was going to charge an arm and a leg. The glass guy ended up being very busy and short handed that day. He handed me a cork backed metal ruler a glass cutter, a pair of leather gloves and showed me what to do. I cut my glass and helped him out a little with other cuts so I did not have to pay for the glass I was getting. It really was that easy. I left with a glass cutter and some advice- Buy a good quality glass cutter and Don't be afraid to cut the glass.

When you go get your glass cut ask to watch then do it your self from then on. You will save money. Oh yeah get a sanding block too to polish the edges.