Kit23 Sandracca Varnish for Collodium plate

Since this solution is difficult to prepare, we can provide the ready solution in an amount of about

200ml in the new Kit23 Ready

Kit 23 Contents:

Ethyl alcohol 96°                                   207ml

Gum Sandarac                          28,50gr

Lavender oil                              22ml

Bottle PET amber color 250ml     1

Instruction                                1

To ensure the adequate preservation of the Collodion plates it is best to protect them with the gum sandarac varnish. Non-protected plates can be easily scratched and turn foggy over time.

The varnish will also give a warmer tone to the plate.

Procedure:

Mix the alcohol with the lavender oil and dissolve the gum sandarac. The dissolution takes time and it must be filtered to remove the impurities that are naturally contained. You might have to filter twice or three times, or until the liquid is perfectly clear. Once it’s ready, the solution has yellowish color.

Apply pouring a small quantity in the middle of the plate, tilt to each side with a wavy movement until the plate is completely covered.

If the varnish is too much, pour it back into the bottle.

To dry, slowly move the plate over a small alcohol lamp, and be very careful not to let the heat concentrate on one spot otherwise you will damage the Collodion.

It is important that you dry the plate quickly to prevent the alcohol in the varnish to melt the collodion’s film.

The solution can be stored for a long time in a dark bottle tightly closed. If it should thicken for the evaporation of the solvent, add ethyl alcohol (not the red denatured you can find in supermarkets) to restore fluidity.