Searching for a Carpenter and Price Breakdown

     So the search for a carpenter began today to make a lens board. Honestly I may just ask my dad to do it, but I do not know if he has a drill bit big enough to make a 3.5 inch hole into the board. Anyways I am going back to old faithful... craiglist. I know people may be critical toward the site, but I have literally found all of my favorite things on this site! From 1950s sofas, Victorian stair rail, and my 8x10 wet plate camera. I have written a few people for estimates and we shall see how that goes. Here is a copy of the images I included for the estimate.

    

     In addition, I have begun to take into consideration how much money I have put into wet plate over the last month.... boy does it add up. The camera, tripod, lens, three 8x10 holders, and two lens boards was $575.00. The acrylic for the new silver tank was $28.00. The new brass lens was $38.00. The custom aluminum lens board attachment was $53.00, personally I believe I was ripped off on that one. I am awaiting the final total for the wooden lens board. All in all I am in a total of $694.00 to shoot an 8x10 plate for my 24th birthday. Talk about an expensive experience. Lets hope I can keep the carpenters price under control. Also, this does not include the price of producing a plate with the collodion and silver. By my calculations on plate should cost me, (and this is including every single thing from distilled water to hypo to the varnish), at around $20.80. Now this is a pretty high estimate because I assume in all my calculations shipping, tax, and time. I have done breakdowns for my 4x5 plates and done the calculations for that as well. For me an 8x10 plate would use $2.40 worth of collodion, a whopping $8.40 of silver, $2.00 of varnish, .80 cents of sodium thiosulfate and the glass is $4.64. I know everyone uses different wholesalers to buy their supplies and I personally use Bostick & Sullivan, which I love! I do have to pay for a shipping from New Mexico to Riverside and pay more obviously because they mix everything for me. I do plan to begin to mix my own materials. I do hope that would lower the price of producing a plate. Also, the since I am using glass at $4.64 that price will be lowered because each plate is not a keeper and that will also take into consideration if I use $2.00 worth of varnish. Again, 8x10 plates I think would be for me personally and for something serious. My Sinar P is my everyday rough and rugged camera. Fortunately the smaller plates are not to harmful to my pocket. I am also considering transforming my Pentax 6x7 camera into a wet plate collodion camera via a Polaroid back. 

Custom Lens Board

     Two weeks ago I purchased a vintage projector lens for $38.00 at this awesome antique store at the Orange Circle. The brand is Mc intosh Stereopticon. The lens was tucked away with other knick knacks hiding. When I found it I could not believe it! No mold, everything works, and perfect for my 8x10. So today I went and had a custom lens board made. I went to the metal warehouse near my house and purchased a lightweight piece of aluminum for $3.00. Then across the street I went to the machine shop and explained what I needed.

On the right is the raw piece of aluminum and on the lens if the finished product. We had the machinist drill  hole the diameter of the lens and then add threads. The lens is a fine thread so it was hard to find something already done at home depot or any hardware store. In addition, the four holes in the corner will allow the aluminum board to then be screwed into a piece of wood, which will be made later this week. 

You can see the threads here. The guys shop was amazing! Wish I could photograph them using this lens, but they are so busy I would only get in the way.

When I purchased the Kodak camera, the previous owner gave me an extra lens board. The only flaw is there is a piece of wood that has been chipped off and will not stay on the front standards of the camera. The good thing I can use this board as a template and example for when I take it to the wood shop and show them what I need. The final process of getting this lens board together is having the wooden piece made and then the metal screwed in.

Close up of the lens. She covers my 8x10 easily and should be tested this Friday.

I know weight may be a concern, but this aluminum is lighter than it looks. I am pretty sure my camera will be able to easily support this lens and board without and issues....I will see later this week.

 

This picture shows the uneven side of the wooden lens board.

Close up of the threading on the corner holes.

Before Friday I need to have the wooden lens board completed as well as my larger silver nitrate tank. I have already purchased the quarter inch acrylic and supplies needed. Unfortunately, I do not own a table saw to cut the acrylic. On Wednesday I will be heading over to Pasadena to have my dad help me construct the tank and cut the acrylic. If I have time I can stop by my favorite glass shop in Eagle Rock and purchase 7.5x9.5 inch black glass. In the coming weeks I also plan to begin constructing a brand new mobile dark box that will be more streamline and light weight.

Here is my current box that will be retired by February.