Trailer Upgrades

 Doing more work on the wet plate trailer today. 

Am replacing the stolen propane tanks, lost lots to the thief. 2 30lb tanks ($210 CAD), new tank stand, other one damaged during theft ($85), Propane ($80) and chains and a lick to secure everything from further theft ($60). With the furnace I can make Ambrotypes in winter. I will flow the plates outside, use coolers and a newly built floor exhaust fan to help reduce dangerous fumes.

I will run 4 car batteries in parallel to give me a longer power source when parked in remote areas. Added 2 older batteries from the truck this year. Car batteries are not ideal but they are cheaper and what I have is available for free. I think i need to build a box out of wood for the two new batteries. Last time i bought a plastic one off Ebay (double battery box, see pictures) but these things are too expensive. 

I also fixed up the sink, which needed lots of work. My wet plate trailer darkroom sink really takes a beating when I travel with the trailer. Yesterday I did a bunch of repair work on it. I retightened the faucet nuts as the faucet was jiggling badly. I also put screws on a 2x6 board under one of the sink legs as the tip had broken down causing the sink to lean forward and to the right. Finally I resecured the sink to the wall using straps and wire. Hopefully it will be good now for a year or so.

I need to carry repair supplies and tools for the trailer so I can fix things up on the road, especially when I am up in Northern Canada making Ambrotypes. The roads are rough in parts of Canada, causing havoc inside and outside the trailer.

In the back of the trailer I used a cardboard shipping box to store a backup Silver Tank (20x24 inches). Yesterday I built a wooden box to replace it. I also need to repair the tank box as the bottom has fallen out.

With more shooting time and more dustant travel in the trailer I have refined and upgraded things. I now use either plastic coolers (collodion, silver, vinegar, alcohol) , plastic boxes (supplies and lab tools-jugs-graduates-funnels) or hard sturdy wooden boxes (silver tanks-sometimes holding silver) to carry everything. 

With practice everything is becoming better, safer and more efficient.  Leading to what I hope are better Ambrotypes. In the end fall that really matters is matters is the work created!

Exhaust fans

Trailer storage and work

Sink Work!

My wet plate trailer darkroom sink really takes a beating when I travel with the trailer. Yesterday I did a bunch of repair work on it. I retightened the faucet nuts as the faucet was jiggling badly. I also placed screws in a wood 2x6 under one of the legs as the tip had broken down causing the sink to lean forward and to the right. Finally I resecured the sink to the wall using straps and wire. Hopefully it will be good now for a year or so.

Note* I need to carry repair supplies and tools for the trailer so I can fix things up on the road, especially when I am up in Northern Canada making Ambrotypes. The roads are rough in parts of Canada, causing havoc inside the trailer.

New sink set up

Silver Tank Storage Box

In my wet plate darkroom trailer beside the sink I have a cardboard foam filled shipping box that I store my 20x24 inch silver tank in. The shipping box is the original one the Czech builder used to send me the tank. 

After 2-3 years that box is a  soggy whipped up mess. Today Using my new fancy woodworking shop I whipped up a quick WOODEN box to replace it. Much more solid and sturdy, get easy to do.

Will place the funky green painted box next to the sink in the trailer tomorrow. It should provide many years off good service.

Note*  I also need to fix the silver box itself as the bottom wood piece has fallen out!

 

Original crappy cardboard shipping box              

The wood box I made to replace it

The old plywood was a bit derormed, from dads days

Silver 20x24 tank box a lovely shade of green.

My First Green Ambrotype Plate Box

 Made a new wooden battery box today. I will use it for batteries #3 and 4. They are part of my parallel  battery power set up in the trailer.

Box for batteries 3 and 4 in trailer

21-11x14 inch plates loaded in box

Working on Wet Plate Darkroom Trailer

Cleaning the wet plate trailer. It is super dirty. Also need to replace the propane bottle stand which was damaged last winter when my 2-30lb bottles were stolen. Wll charge batteries and check the electrics as well.

The hope is to do cold weather and winter ambrotypes for the AMBROTOS KANATA project soon. I am retired, time to go into high gear on the project, before I am too old and feeble to do the work needed.

First step, get the trailer up and running!!

Note* The bill for the theft of bottles is $360-380 CAD. 2 bottles, stand plus propane. I also need to buy heavier chains and good locks, one for each bottle, to prevent another theft.

Today's clean up work

Lens Board Maker! Gerry

Gosh, just realized I can now make lens boards, something I never had the ability to do before.  Having a wood working workshop, definitely has positives!. Not sure how many new lens boards I need, but it's good to know I should be able to make them now! Another way to save some money in my retirement.

Found Wood

Not sure how economically sound it is but I found 2 pallets in a Invemere BC dumpster with nicer 2x4 type boards. Will take then back to Edmonton and build some larger Ambrotype frames with them. 

It will be fun to make something outa nothing! Later I will make the ULF Ambrotypes to fit inside the frames.

Carpentry Shop Up and Running!

 The workshop is up and running now. I am making boxes for carrying my completed ambrotypes and unused glass. Am still figuring out the design and my working methods. Still figuring out how to use all the machines as a matter of fact (learned about the router two days ago).

I think this plan should work thou. I can make boxes for all my coming ambrotypes for the AMBROTOS KANATA project. All the way up to 24x24 inches and potentially even 35x35 inch boxes.

The retirement is starting to feel more normal now. I have time for things like my mancave and workshop! Now I need to get the wet plate trailer up and running before winter.

11 Ambrotype Plates in the First Box

 I placed 9-11x14inch 3mm thick Ambros and 2 14x14inch 4mm thick Ambros in the first completed plate box. Seems OK, heavyish but not crazy heavy. I will need to see how the boxes hang together in the trailer and motorhome while traveling Canada. So far so good. 

Will probably make 8 more. Am quite happy to have these now, made from garbage wood in the garage. They are rough but seem functional and relatively strong.

2-14x14 Glass Plate Boxes Completed

Finished my first 2-14x14 inch boxes. 2nd a bit nicer  than the first but both very rough. Will use them and see how they hold up. If they breakdown too easily, will go to the dove tail jig.

Note* Made from scrap wood and cast off paint. I ended up using most of my tools, including jig saw, band saw, table saw, planer and drill press.

2nd 14x14 Box

Working on my second 14x14 inch glass plate box. Very basic and rough but I think they should be functional. I am using scrap and free wood. 1/4 and 3/8 inch plywood found in my dad’s garage and pallet boards I scavenged last winter. Painted with a $15 can of paint, which I picked up at the ReStore (Habitat for Humanity).  

If these boxes are strong enough, I will make 8 more. 

Will move up to 1/2 inch plywood for my 24x24 inch boxes, probably attach wheels to those.

The woodworking shop is starting to pay for itself, plus I enjoy the creating. Making something out of nothing is FUN!!

Homemade Boxes for Ambrotype Plates

Pictures are of the simple rough box I am making for 14x14 inch glass plate Ambrotypes. Still working on the box in my new woodworking workshop behind the garage!

Note* Just had a thought. Dovetailed 1/2 inch plywood cases for 24x24 inch plates but add lovkable wheels to the cases. Then I can roll them in and outa the darkroom trailer or RV.

Trees Diptych

Time to start making Ambrotypes again for the AMBROTOS KANATA project. Will try to do up this Diptych in the next 2 months. I first need to get my darkroom trailer up snd running.

The plan is to later do 24x24 inch sized Diptychs of the oceans around Canada.

Bring Back Ektar Lens and Speed Graphic?

I have a bunch of broken glass from larger failed  plates. I will cut them down to usable (non broke) 4x5 inch size. I should be able to scavenge 10-15 4x5 inch glass plates.

 I was initially thinking I would use the glass for workshop students. I think now thou that bringing my funky Speed Graphic and funky Aero Ektar lens out of retirement, might be a better plan!!

Transit Hotel!?

Lived in the Fort Road area of Edmonton for over 60 years. Today for the first time in my life I visited  the historic Transit Hotel built in 1908. Lots of history here, an Ambrotype possibly?

Note* Love the goat/pig/cattle and horse and carriage historical photos.