Digital BW, The Print

Stan,

You wrote:

>... screen door parts ... looks like a Mayer Rod ..
>the spring. (#4 D&G Spring, Zinc, about 15.25" in length) $2.42.

I like it.  Now we'll have to see if they have different sizes of springs.

> .0488. This is larger than Paul's #14 Mayer (I think
>.035)

I think the #15 that I started with has .015" wire on it.  I thought that is
where they got those numbers from.

I find myself using the #30 most now, and I think EAM absorbs so much it
could go to a #45 -- so we may be close here.

> A 1/4" dowel fits nicely inside the spring ...

Does it roll when you drag it across the surface?  I was told not to roll
the bar, but I'm not sure what effect that would have (aside from leaving a
lot more of the coating on the rod/spring.

Keep experimenting.

I think the toughest part may be scaling the process up to large prints.
I'm not getting the evenness I'd like to on my 16x20s, and Mark Tucker has
resorted to spraying for larger prints -- which is more work.

I'm not sure the hard glass surface is the best.  As the print and rod
length get larger, I think maintaining a precise flatness becomes much more
difficult.  I have found that a couple pieces of paper under an 8x10 helps.
I think more of a cushion under a larger print may be needed.  In the real
world use of these rods, a flexible web is dragged across the rod.  This is
flexible enough that the surface being coated conforms to the rod.  I notice
that Diversified Enterprises uses 1/2 inch glass on its platform, and they
have a cushion that is also used.

So, I think we may need to experiment with different surfaces.

For cleanup, I also think coated butcher paper makes a lot of sense.

So, my next experiments may include a piece of cloth taped to the glass,
then some butcher paper over that. I've tried some felt, and that was too
thick.  The resulting coating had lines in it.

So, just keep experimenting.  The results look good enough to warrant the
effort.

Paul
http://www.PaulRoark.com