Using Gamblin Cold Wax Medium

[kwmullet]

I just got a can of Gamblin Cold Wax Medium and dug out a pair of prints done on Ilford Multigrade FB glossy and I think I must not be doing something right. After looking through old threads, I decided to apply some uniformly to the print with a cotton cloth, let it firm up for fifteen minutes or so, then polish it like I'm polishing a shoe.

After comparing it to another print that I haven't waxed, there's virtually no difference. It's as if the print doesn't have enough tooth to hold the wax, so all I ended up doing was cleaning the surface of the print. Upon close examination, the surface of the two prints looks almost exactly the same. I would have expected the cold wax medium to fill in all the tiny surface ridges in the perl-like glossy of the paper, but no go. I tried three coats, but it doesn't seem to stay on. Hrm....

I'd hoped that the cold wax medium would be a way to get a high sheen, a glossy similar to a well-ferrotyped print. Any Gamblin Cold Wax Medium users out there have a few words of wisdom?

I haven't received it yet, but I'd hoped to use this wax medium with the POP paper I just ordered, so anyone with Gamblin/POP experience please chime in, too.

Thanks,

-KwM-

 

[donbga]

I just got a can of Gamblin Cold Wax Medium and dug out a pair of prints done on Ilford Multigrade FB glossy and I think I must not be doing something right. After looking through old threads, I decided to apply some uniformly to the print with a cotton cloth, let it firm up for fifteen minutes or so, then polish it like I'm polishing a shoe.

After comparing it to another print that I haven't waxed, there's virtually no difference. It's as if the print doesn't have enough tooth to hold the wax, so all I ended up doing was cleaning the surface of the print. Upon close examination, the surface of the two prints looks almost exactly the same. I would have expected the cold wax medium to fill in all the tiny surface ridges in the perl-like glossy of the paper, but no go. I tried three coats, but it doesn't seem to stay on. Hrm....

I'd hoped that the cold wax medium would be a way to get a high sheen, a glossy similar to a well-ferrotyped print. Any Gamblin Cold Wax Medium users out there have a few words of wisdom?

I haven't received it yet, but I'd hoped to use this wax medium with the POP paper I just ordered, so anyone with Gamblin/POP experience please chime in, too.

Thanks,

-KwM-

Gamblin Cold Wax Medium is most effective with matt surface prints. On the whole the general effect is somewhat subtle and tends to reduce or blunt the look of the matt surface and add a bit of depth to dark and midtones.

 

[kwmullet]

Thanks for posting a reply, Don!

That fills in the gaps on the Gamblin Medium.

In my search for a glossy print, I've run across a description of a procedure where you dry the prints squeegeed to a sheet of acetate after softening the emulsion with Packasol. I've got the acetate, but haven't gotten around to trying the procedure with prints yet.

-KwM-