What's the best way to coat metal plates with Liquid Light emulsion?

Methanol can be used as can isoporopyl (IPA), but the IPA is a bit more oily and evaporates more slowly.

Denaturants added to either of these products, that cause cloudiness in water are reportedly harmful photographically though so take care and test first. Methanol fumes are very toxic. Used in large quantities it can be harmful, and can be absorbed through the skin. IPA can cause some respiratory distress as well.

PE

Where does one buy "Everclear" ?

Back in the early 80's when we used to make punch out of it it was purchased in Connecticut

Everclear is 95% ethyl alcohol. It can be purchased in many states at liquor stores or drug stores. In some states (Dry States) it is banned. There is also a version that is even more concentrated sold under the same name, and there is Absolute Alcohol which is about 100% pure. Absolute is sold mostly by chemical companies.

Don't drink any of them. They are prepared from a benzene water mix with the alcohol and the mixture is "azeotroped" to get the pure alcohol, but there is some contamination by benzene.

Azeotrope = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azeotrope see: Separation of azeotrope constituents

PE