Waiting and Studying
The news came this morning that the camera body had been shipped. Small frisson of excitement…. Doesn’t do to get worked up too much as it will be several days getting here. And of course it’s not as if I will be able to take a daguerreotype when it arrives, or even a Polaroid for that matter. Still, that little hum of pleasant anticipation is hovering in the air.
In the meantime – study, study, study. Tonight bromine safety, the website of daguerreotypist Mike Robinson, the beautiful equipment page Mike has at Black Shadow Yachts, plus forays into Mouser Electronics for copper clad boards, and Professional Safety for mercury respirators.
There is so much knowledge and equipment required that I get a bit paralyzed at times of what to do next. Really though it is simple enough broken down into small steps. First the camera, then a lens, then a plate holder, etc., etc., etc. Still it is fun to puzzle through all the sources of information in the meantime.
While ….. I ……… wait ……………….. for ………………….. the …………………………….. camera …… :)
Daguerreotype Process | andy | May 23, 2008
Hi, I just want to say that a mercury respirator won’t do! If you decide to use mercury you’ll either need to buy a fume hood vented to the outdoors (try http://www.labx.com for a used one) or do your mercury development outdoors. Mercury is an inodore poison which will accumulate in your body and render you seriously ill if you breathe it. You can always start with Becquerel development which doesn’t require mercury or bromine.
greg
Hi Gregory – Thanks for the feedback. I completely agree with you. I am a registered nurse and health and safety are very important to me. I was looking at mercury respirators as an additional piece of safety equipment to use along with a fume hood. It may be over-kill, but you only get one body per lifetime!
One of the things I am trying to get info on now is fume hoods with trapping filters. I am not much interested in adding mercury vapor to the neighborhood atmosphere – even if the dilution levels mean that it is “safe”. Since mecury exposure is cumulative I don’t really understand what a safe level would be. I haven’t found much info yet however. When I do I will post that too.
All persons who investigate mercury processes need to understand the danger involved. It is my stance that if you don’t have the means or training to keep safe, don’t do it.