Mounting Fluid

[Andrew O'Neill]

Hello everyone! Anyone out there know where I can source mounting fluid in Canada? I just ran out... Thanks!

 

[bfilm]

I think the KAMI fluids are the preference of many people.

KAMI Scanner Resources

I think that Aztek in California handles distribution in North America and could deliver to you in Canada.

KAMI Fluids at Aztek

 

[koraks]

Or, if you're adventurous, you could make your own. There are threads about it both here and on other forums. It's mostly white spirits, apparently.

 

[Alan9940]

You might try finding Gamsol in your area. I used KAMI for many years, but recently switched to Gamsol because it's odorless and works just as well.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

oooh... Gamsol! Why didn't I think of that!? Saw some at my local art store. Thanks!

 

[JWMster]

FWIW, my favorite scanning youtube video on how to source materials for fluid scans inexpensively: Inexpensive Scannning supplies

Suggestion made there works great: Mona Lisa Odorless Paint Thinner but fairly, I'm still using up a bottle of KAMI I have on hand. Never ever going to re-order it though as the price is ridiculous.

I'm also using his suggested Grafix Dura-Lar ( .03mm thick) CLEAR acetate on top. All told, MUCH cheaper stuff than from the scanning folks. Be sure to get the CLEAR because it comes in a number of other types... and my 1st try was a fail. Available by post from BLICK (on the web) art supplies. Like camera stores, Art Stores seem to have suffered from web onslaught and there certainly aren't many in my area that stock enough of what a dude's gonna need. Note that while some folks seem to ask about re-using the acetate stuff to scan the next picture, I'm not sure the juice in that effort is worth the squeeze. YMMV.

Hardest material to source for me was the right size roller. Again.... 1st tries were fails. Not expensive, but unnecessary. The right tool is usually a buck or two different from the wrong one!!! Speedball or Brayer (My "fix the error" purchase was to buy the latter ( Brayer 2.5" and 4" soft rollers ). Also managed to buy a 4-inch soft squeegee which I haven't tried out yet that is meant for applying car window tinting... which sounds like it could do the job well.

I'm now wondering why I ever dry scanned before!!! The first wetscans of a Mamiya RB67 close-up of some metal hardware just popped so three dimensionally.... I am still literally amazed. The sharpness could have been digital... and yet it had the beauty of film. Wetscanning makes the whole film-to-digital worth the bother so now I'm inclined to buy a 2nd wet mount and sell off the old dry mount stuff (if that's even possible). Otherwise, I'd either learn wet darkroom or just shoot digital all the way.

 

[shijan]

TIKKURILA LAKKABENSIINI 1050