tom_gould

I agree with Wayne that pharmacies are a good source for free amber

glass bottles in various sizes. They have plastic bottles too. Also

ask any friends or neighbors that work in a biology/chemistry/medical

lab for bottles. My lab tosses a few each day. The 1 L and 4 L

solvent bottles are excellent, especially if they are plastic coated

(the coating contains the glass and mess if you drop the bottle).

Solvent bottles are clean when you get them - just allow the last few

drops of solvent to evaporate.

<p>

I only use glass bottles for developers and other potions that

degrade in an air permeable plastic bottle. Everything else goes in

plastic bottles - fixer, stop bath, toners, stabilizers, hypo

clearing agent, etc. Whenever possible, I use plastic measuring

cylinders and containers also. A darkened room full of fragile glass

is not a safe room. For what it is worth, in twenty years as a

chemist, I've suffered one chemical burn and innumerable glassware

cuts.

<p>

Tom Gould

You might try running a search on www.dejanews.com. You should

specifically search in the rec.photo.equipment.large-format forum.

The Goerz Red Dot apo Artar and Gold Rim Dagor are reputed to be

excellent lenses, particularly for their age.

The two minute wash might work with RC paper, but it sounds too short

for fiber based. I rinse my prints after fixing, soak for about 2-3

min in hypo clearing agent (Kodak's version of Perma Wash) and then

wash 30 min in a print washing tray. If I still like the print after

it has dried, I soak it in water again, selenium tone it, hypo clear

again, and wash 40-60 min. I will probably be dead before the prints

are.

<p>

You can test for "adequete" washing. David Vestal discussed this in

detail in his book "The Art of B&W Enlarging". It has been out of

print for awhile. You may be able to get a copy from your library or

inter-library loan. The "Mysteries of the Vortex" articles in Photo

Techniques discuss testing and adequete washing also (two issues,

Jul/Aug of 1996 and Nov/Dec of 1996).

<p>

You can get to rec.photo thru DejaNews (www.dejanews.com). It also

sounds like you need a new photography store. Good luck!

<p>

Tom Gould (jgestar@aol.com)

A cheap cold light for the D-2 is the old Omega head. The lighting

is reasonably even, but a little dim. These are available fairly

inexpensively. You may need to replace the bulb to make it work.

<p>

You may be able to get away with a flat lens board with a 150 mm

lens, but I'm not sure you will have enough bellows draw. If you can

get a 4 1/2" lens board, go ahead and do it. Having more than one

board allows you to switch lens quickly. Do try and get a good lens

like an EL Nikkor or a Schneider. Don't cheap it out with a used

Wollensak.

<p>

If the dry mounting press heats evenly and the thermostat works, you

are set. Other than the thermostat, there is not much to break in a

dry mount press.

<p>

Tom

Definitely contact Harry Taylor. His e-mail is htaylor730@aol.com.

His phone number is (203) 329-9228. Harry lists the bellows you want

for $65. He also stocks quite a few other pieces and parts.

<p>

Tom Gould