DIY collodion material question

[mark]

I am going to start bilding my stuff so I start on the road to collodian bliss. The max I will be shooting (until I win the lottery or sell the business) is 5x7 with my 8x10.

I need the internal measurements for a sensitizing tank. Gathering from what I have found on the net for larger tanks I need 1/2 inch on either side and two inches above the plate. Will this account for liquid displacement(SP)? The local glass shop only has 1/4 inch red plexiglass and IMO that is way too thick. So, I will have to order thinner, but in order to draw the plans I need some measurements.

Anyone willing to help out?

P.S. Anybody intrested in a boat shop?

[smieglitz]

I've made a couple to these dimensions:

http://my.net-link.net/~jsmigiel/images/DIY/acrylic_tank.jpg

http://my.net-link.net/~jsmigiel/images/technical/collodion/red_tank.jpg
This one is actually for 11x14s.

[77seriesiii]

smieglitz, thanks for posting as I'm also interested in this. Where do you order the red plexi from? Also, you wouldnt happen to want to share 8x10 sized measurements would you? :-)

thanks

[smieglitz]

I get the red acrylic sheet from Total Plastics, Inc., which happens to be based in Kalamazoo. I'm sure there are a multitude of sources for the stuff. I buy it in large sheets cut it on a table saw. Or better yet, spend a few extra dollars and have them cut it to size for you. A sign shop should also be able to dimension plastic. You might be able to purchase a large scrap cut-off at substantial savings.

As far as an 8x10 tank, I would probably just extend the height and width dimensions of the full-plate tank to 12" and 8.5" respectively.

7.5" --> 8.5"
7.125" --> 8.125"
10" --> 12"

Sorry, but I don't have a tank that size since I'm not fond of the 8x10 format.