Rockland Colloid's Tintype Emulsion

[Jim Chinn]

I was wondering if anyone has used this product and what you thought of it. John Coffer seems to endorse it by having some images made with it in Rockland's gallery section.


http://www.rockaloid.com/products.html#combination

 

[Captain_joe6]

I've used it to coat onto glass plates and make sort of faux-ambrotypes. Its easy stuff to work with, and develops to a brown color rather than the neutral tone of Liquid Light. Speed is pretty good, I rated it at ISO 3 or so, and got nice results.

 

[RobertP]

I'm an alum of John Coffer. I wouldn't exactly say he endorses it. John uses traditional collodion recipes. Rockland may just be taking advantage of John trying their product, that's just my guess. But I've seen John pour many plates and it has always been with traditional collodion.

 

[Jim Chinn]

After further looking I found this reference: http://www.rockaloid.com/oldtime.html

to Coffer using Rockland tintype materials.

I hope to take a wet plate workshop in the future. Coffer is a little far away, but if I can't find anyone within 500 miles of Omaha that I can take a workshop with I just as well take his workshop.

 

[RobertP]

Once you see how John makes his salted collodion you'll laugh at how easy it is to do. Write John a letter ( because that's the only way to contact him). Purchase his wet plate hand book and dvd set. It's the next best thing to taking his workshop at Camp Tintype. With the dvd set (I think its 3 dvds) and manual, you'll be up and making plates in no time on your own.

 

[Kerik]

Jim I've had a few people attend my wet plate workshops that had previously used the Rockaloid materials. I've seen some very nice plate made with it, but I heard the same complaint from several different people that there were serious problems with consistency, especially regarding the developer which I believe is proprietary. In short, all complained of more failures than successes.

 

[SuzanneR]

Jim... Coffer's workshop is well worth the drive, and the time to do. He's a terrific instructor, and if you don't find anything closer, then plan a nice summer weekend for one of his workshops next year.

 

[Allen Friday]

Hi Jim,

I have used the kit, I may even have most of the kit left in my darkroom. (I'm in Florida right now, so I can't go down stairs and check. I'll be back next week.) My experience with the kit was not good. It worked, but was very finicky. Like Kerik said, I ended up tossing more plates than I kept. The aluminum plates from the kit are nice, however, because they are thinner than most trophy aluminum available elsewhere. They work well for wet plates.

Wet plate (at least the basics) is not terribly difficult once you have seen it done and you get the chemistry down. If you want to drive 60 miles east on I-80, I'll be glad to spend an afternoon mixing chems and experimenting with you. You drive by Atlantic on your way to Des Moines for work don't you? I'm just 6 miles south of the interstate. I took a workshop in Chicago a few years ago that got me started on wet plate. I haven't done a lot of it, mainly because I have been busy with other processes. Now might be a good time to get back into it. I could get you started in wet plate and then you could take Coffer's workshop (or one from Kerik--he holds great workshops) next summer. I also have Coffer's book and DVD if you want to peruse them.

Do you still have my phone number? If not, PM me and I'll send it to you.

Allen

 

[Jim Chinn]

Thanks for the replies. I forgot that you had worked with wet plate Allen. I'll send you a PM.