Wet Plate Emporium

How to Make Ground Glass View Plates

Joseph J. McAllister
www.wetplateemporium.com

www.facebook.com/joseph.j.mcallister

(This is a non-profit tutorial that uses a standard silicon carbide grounding method to make glass view plates for vintage
photographic cameras)
 THIS COPY IS

VERSION 1.1

Check for a Newer Update Online

HOW TO TUTORIALS
HOW TO MAKE GLASS CYANOTYPES [PDF]

HOW TO MAKE GLASS VAN DYKE BROWN PRINTS [PDF]

HOW TO MAKE GROUND GLASS VIEW PLATES [PDF]

BELLOWS REPLACEMENT [PDF]

VIDEOS
GLASS CYANOTYPE PROCESS [YOUTUBE]

GLASS CYANOTYPE TEST 1: FERRIC FERROCYANIDE (PRUSSIAN BLUE) + POTASSIUM CYANIDE [YOUTUBE]

VAN DYKE BROWN MICROFORMS (MICROPHOTOGRAPHS) [YOUTUBE]

WET PLATE EMPORIUM PORTFOLIO BOOK [YOUTUBE]

 WHY USE GROUND GLASS

Ground glass view plates are the sharpest and brightest image you can get. Before I started making
ground glass, I tried various methods of frosting glass. The problem with using a frosted plastic sheet is
that the sheet is usually warped, and not flat against the glass, showing uneven and inaccurate focus.
The light is very dim, and it is impossible to actually get a sharp image on sheet plastic. Glass frosting
spray paint creates a horrible mess. Etching cream creates an uneven frosting of various densities and
un-etched areas as well. The problem with ground glass is that it is so expensive to buy, as with
everything associated with photography. I decided to start making the glass myself and was surprised
that it is actually very easy & cheap to make professional quality view plates at home. At this point, I have
made over 500 view plates and never had a complaint about quality. The image quality is far superior to
any rivals.

This method is used for 19th century wooden cameras, and for 40s metal cameras as well.
SUPPLY LINKS
SILICON CARBIDE 400 GRIT

GLASS CUTTER

GLASS RUNNING PLIERS

3M RESPIRATOR MASK

JEWELERS SCREWDRIVER SET

METAL T-SQUARE

METAL YARD STICK

SANDING BLOCK

100 GRIT SAND PAPER

1/8 GLASS PLATES

DUSTPAN & BRUSH

SHARPIE FINE POINT FELT TIP PENS

SPONGE

LIQUID HAND SOAP

DISH TOWELS
MEASURE
Measure the plate holder in 16th inch or millimeter increments. Usually when making view plates for a wooden plate holder
you leave 1/16 off the top and one side. This is called the play, which allows the glass to fit into the plate holder. The
pressure clamps (flanges) will keep the view plate from moving. A more modern metal camera may require an exact fit.

Standard measurements for an 8x10 view plate w/ 3/4 cut corners.

Measuring the view plate holder.

Wooden cameras often have rounded or raised corners. These plate holders can only take view plates with cut corners.
Cut corners allow the air to escape on cameras that move the bellows to focus the camera. This keeps the bellows from
developing pinhole leaks from the bellows pressurizing during focusing. If you camera focuses using a compound lens,
then you dont need cut corners.
Examples of raised and rounded corners in view plate holders.

MEASUREMENT EXAMPLES
Measurement chart for cutting plates with 1/16 play vertical & horizontal

HOLDER PLATE mm CORNER mm

4x5 3 15/16 x 4 15/16 (100 x 125 mm) 1/2 x 1/2 (13 x 13 mm)
5x7 4 15/16 x 6 15/16 (125 x 176 mm) 1/2 x 1/2 (13 x 13 mm)
8x10 7 15/16 x 9 15/16 (202 x 252 mm) 3/4 x 3/4 (19 x 19 mm)
11x14 10 15/16 x 13 15/16 (277 x 354 mm) 1 x 1 (25 x 25 mm)
18x22 17 15/16 x 21 15/16 (455 x 557 mm) 1 x 1 (25 x 25 mm)
20x24 19 15/16 x 23 15/16 (506 x 608 mm) 1 x 1 (25 x 25 mm)

INSPECTION
Check the glass for scratches. Only very light scratches can be worked out of the glass during grounding. If both sides of
the glass have scratches, the glass is not useable. Use a T-square to check that all 4 sides of the glass are cut at a
square angle. The glass should be 1/16 thick, although slightly thicker glass can be used as well. Dollar store frames are
a good source of cheap glass. Buy several frames, they often have imperfections in the glass you dont notice until you
remove the shrink wrap. Always use an oversized piece of glass, so you can cut it to an exact fit. For glass larger then
11x14, a framing store is a good place to look. A good store will sell 24x36 glass for you for $15 each.
CUT
Use a firm surface such as a concrete floor or sturdy shop bench. Wipe the area clean with a dust pan brush. A small
spec of dirt can shatter the glass when you start putting pressure on it. Lay down 3 layers of newspaper to cushion the
glass. Use a T-square & fine point felt tip pen to make your measurements. You only need to make a small dot at each
point. The ruler will act as a guide when you start cutting. The pen marks will come off when you wash the glass with soap
and water. Only do one measurement at a time, or the measurement dots will be cut off the glass and you will have to re-
measure them.

Glass cutting layout and tools.

Now that you have the measurements on the glass, its time to start cutting. Glass cutting takes some practice, especially
when you have to make 6 perfect cuts on one piece of glass. Practice cutting on some scrap glass. Larger and thicker
pieces of glass are much harder to cut. Dont bother buying glass cutting oil; its absolutely useless.
TECHNIQUE
If youre doing your cutting on the floor, use your knee (not over the glass) to hold a metal yard stick in place so it doesnt
slide around. On a work bench, you will have to secure the yard stick with 2 clamps. Check that the glass cutter wheel
lines up exactly with the dots at the top and bottom. Place the glass cutter at the bottom edge of the plate and pull it
downward so it rolls off side of the plate. This insures that you get a sharp corner cut. Place the glass cutter at the bottom
of the plate again. Now slowly and steadily push the cutter up the glass, along the ruler, and roll it over the top edge.
When you are cutting the glass you should hear a scratching noise, and see a deep scratch being formed in the glass. If
not, you are probably not pushing hard enough. Use a little less pressure when you are rolling off the top and bottom
edges. You dont want to create divots on the edge. Dont go over the cut areas more then once. This will cause the glass
to break off in a curve.

Dots marking the angle of the corner cut for 3/4" cut corners.
Checking the alignment of the glass cutting wheel to the metal yard stick.

RUNNING THE GLASS

Wipe the glass clean with a dust pan brush to get the glass dust off. Now line the glass running pliers up at the bottom of
the score line, so that the line on the top of the pliers, lines up with the cut on surface of the glass. Make sure the running
pliers are pushed up, so the edge of the glass is touching the back of the pliers. (i.e. dont just pinch the very edge of the
plate. The pliers should be choked up a 1.5 inches when they clamp down). Break the glass in one firm stroke. It may split
unevenly if you slowly push down until it breaks. The glass has to break from top to bottom instantaneously. Pushing
slowly causes the glass to bend at the bottom, but not enough pressure to break the seam to the top, causing the seam to
split off in a curve.

If youre feeling confident about your glass cutting skills, measure and cut the top and side down one at a time. Use the T-
square to measure all the corners at a 45o angle. Then go back and cut the corners.
Scoring and running glass technique examples.
DEBURR
Block sand the edges with 100 grain sand paper at a 45o angle. Block sand the corner angles flat until the edge is straight,
then at a 45o angle to deburr it. (Block sand the glass at a parallel angle to edge, i.e. along the edge, not from the face to
the back side).

Glass deburring technique using 100 grit sand paper.

Example of how a finished cut corner should look after straightening the edge by block sanding.

GROUND
Use silicon carbide 400 grit to ground the glass. This is usually sold for rock polishing enthusiasts. Wipe the area clean,
then put down a fresh layer of newspaper. You dont want any glass dust to scratch up the back of the glass. Now you will
need to cut a 3x3 piece of glass to use as a sanding tool. (Always make the sanding tool 3x3 for any sized glass you are
working on, and remember to deburr it or it will cut into your fingers). Put a pinch of silicon carbide on the plate, place the
sanding glass over it, press down firmly with your finger tips and start sanding the plate in a circular motion. Start with the
center, and then sand the edges. For hard to sand areas, place your index finger on the top corner of the sanding plate,
and push down firmly on that corner as you sand. This will buff out the spots that dont seem to be taking. Now, hold the
glass up and check it for missed spots and scratches. The plate should have an even frosting throughout. Remember to
only ground one side. You wont see an image if you ground both sides.

Use a 3M painters respirator mask when working with silicon carbide or glass dust.
Example of hand ground glass technique using circular motions.
CLEANING
Wash off both sides of the plate and your fingers under a faucet. Then wash it thoroughly with liquid hand soap and a wet
sponge. Then wash the plate again with tap water.

Standard cleaning technique for view plates and photographic plates.

DRY
Place the plate on a dry towel and use another one to dry both sides. Inspect the plate. If there are any scratches, you
may want to go back and try to ground them out.

Towel drying the view plate.

Finished view plates are easily achieved with flawless and even results.

PLATE HOLDER
Place the plate in the plate holder with the ground side down, so it will be facing the inside of the camera when the plate
holder is attached. Screw in the pressure clamps just tight enough to keep the plate from sliding. If the clamps are too
tight, the plate might crack if it is jarred too hard (although Ive never had one break myself). If you are using a thinner
view plate then the original one, you may have to bend the pressure clamps slightly to add a little more pressure.
Attaching the view plate, to the view plate holder, with the ground side facing inward, towards the inside of the camera.
Outdoor view of an 8x10 view plate, using a Rapid Rectigraphic F/8 barrel lens, on a Burke & James 11x14 View Camera.
In studio view of an 8x10 view plate, using a Rapid Rectigraphic F/8 barrel lens, on a Burke & James 11x14 View
Camera.
TERMINOLOGY
DEBURR
To take dull the sharp edges of a piece of glass so people dont cut their fingers when handling it.

RUNNING
Breaking the glass with running pliers.

SCORE LINE
A cut or scratch made in the glass by a glass cutter.

FROSTING
Ground glass is often referred to as frosted glass as well.

SILICON CARBIDE
400 grit silicon carbide is used to ground the glass. It is a fine grade of dust sold by rock polishing shops.

SANDING PLATE
The sanding plate is a piece of 3x3 inch glass you use with silicon carbide to ground the plate.

PLATE
Plate is a word used in alternative photography to describe a piece of sheet glass.

VIEW PLATE
A piece of ground glass used to focus the camera.

VIEW PLATE HOLDER

Where the view plate attaches to the camera. The holder is a detachable part on a wooden camera.