Hello Everyone,
We are beyond grateful for the overwhelming support you’ve shown for our Kickstarter campaign for the Zebra Sensitising Tanks! With your enthusiasm and trust, we’ve reached over 340% of our funding goal, and we’re only halfway through the campaign. This incredible milestone wouldn’t have been possible without your backing and invaluable feedback.
Your insights have driven us to make the Zebra Sensitising Tanks more versatile, durable, and effective than ever before for the Wet Plate Collodion process. We’re committed to delivering a product that exceeds expectations, with dispatching slated to begin promptly after the campaign concludes this December.
Here’s a closer look at the exciting improvements and updates we’ve made.
Enhanced Chemical Resistance and Long-Term Durability
From the start, we anticipated concerns about how the 3D-printed tanks would hold up against aggressive chemicals like silver nitrate over time. Rest assured, we’ve addressed this by coating the interior surfaces with a chemical-resistant epoxy layer. This coating ensures a smooth, durable, and resilient surface that won’t scratch easily or become contaminated. Now, you can clean and reuse your tanks without worry, maintaining pristine conditions for every sensitizing session.
Improved Lid Design for Stability and Ease of Use
Originally, the lid opened toward the inclined side of the tank, which impacted stability during use. Based on your feedback, we’ve repositioned the hinges so the lid now opens away from you. This adjustment makes the tank more intuitive to use and centres the weight for improved balance and stability.
Versatile Dippers for All Plate Sizes
We’ve refined the dipper design to accommodate a wider range of plate sizes, from 4×5 to 8×10. Additional tabs have been added to secure plates in position, and the bottom tabs enhance stability when the dipper is hung for plate draining. Tiny distributed dots on the dipper surface prevent plates from sticking due to vacuum effects, ensuring smoother handling during the Wet Plate Collodion process.
Enhanced Stand for Greater Stability
To ensure the tank remains stable during use, we’ve raised the stand axis for better balance. The stand is now secured to the tank with screws on each side, eliminating the risk of slippage. Additionally, we’ve introduced a locking mechanism to keep the stand fully extended, preventing accidental tipping and providing extra peace of mind.
Redesigned Drain Pipe and Funnel
In response to user requests, we’ve enlarged the funnel for easier, cleaner filling of the tanks. The new screw-on design is more user-friendly and hassle-free. We’ve also added a gentle curve to the drain pipe’s tip, directing the liquid downward even when the tank is full. This improvement makes draining silver nitrate or other chemicals much easier and more precise.
Why These Updates Matter
These enhancements may seem small, but they are critical for ensuring the longevity, usability, and overall experience of the Zebra Sensitising Tanks. We’re not just aiming for good—we’re aiming for great. Your continued feedback and support have been instrumental in this journey.
If you haven’t yet pledged your support, we hope these upgrades inspire you to join us in bringing the ultimate Zebra Sensitising Tank to life. For those of you who have already backed us, we can’t wait for you to experience these improvements firsthand.
Thank you once again for being part of this exciting project. We’ll keep you updated on our progress as we approach the campaign’s conclusion. Together, we’re revolutionizing the tools for Wet Plate Collodion photography!
I wasn’t on kickstarter, but when are they available for purchase!? Well done!
Until 1st of December tanks will only be available through our kickstarter campaign: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/zebradryplates/zebra-sensitising-tank-built-for-wet-plate-photographers