Here are some links to websites, people, companies, concepts, and other things that interest me. If you are looking for supplies for making Daguerreotypes and cases then these links are a great starting point.
Daguerreotype Information
Newdags.com – An interesting if seldom updated reference on artists currently working in the Daguerreotype medium.
Daguerre.org – The official site of the Daguerrian Society. There is some interesting historical information here along with back issues of now-defunct magazines and periodicals.
Cdags.org – The new home page for the contemporary daguerreotypist. This fantastic resource features tons of information about daguerreotypes, case making, and more. The discussion forum is the best resource a contemporary daguerreotypist has today to learn the basics, tricks, advanced tips, and more.
Casemaking, Bookbinding, and Archival Supplies
Talas – Bookbinding supplies, leather, exciting mastics, and tools a-plenty!
Lee Valley Hardware – Lee Valley Hardware is any woodworker’s heaven.
Metalworking and Jewellery Supplies
Metalliferous of New York – Wicked-cool tools, materials, and accessories for making stuff out of metal. I order fine silver, buffing supplies, and other toys from them with some frequency.
Rembrandt Graphic Arts – Supplier of various graphic arts supplies including “mirror finish copper plates.” Use these and then find a local silver plater.
Tools, Equipment, and Manufacturing
Benchmark – Museum supplies for conservators. I especially dig the butterfly bookmounts which are great for displaying cased Daguerreotypes.
Micro Mark – If you need small weird tools to do what you do, they have them. They also have plenty of tools that you don’t need that you’ll want.
Harbor Freight – The discount tool warehouse. This is a great place to go and buy a table saw or a dust vacuum or sexy new set of files.
eMachine Shop – This is my old secret weapon for manufacturing raw brass mats. Download their CAD software and design anything you want that they will make out of anything you want. It’s like a Star Trek replicator.
TechShop RDU – My new secret weapon for making daguerreotype mats and more. This is a community workshop featuring CNC machines, laser cutters, woodshop, and much more.
Buffing and Finishing
Tar Heel Parts – This is my closest buffing supply shop and they have a lot of specialty stuff that Caswell (see below) and Metalliferous (see above) don’t.
Caswell Plating – These dudes really get it. The website is very well designed and you can buy all kinds of groovy kit from electroplating supplies to buffing compounds.
Nuvite Chemical – Makers of NuShine S polishing compound which I use now instead of rouge on a buffing wheel
Chemistry and Lab Safety Equipment
Fisher Scientific – I ordered a bunch of Iodine from this company… They have lots of other stuff but it’s hard to find in my opinion.
Best Lab Deals – Frankly, it seems scary going to a “Discount” chemistry supply house but they have respectable prices on graduates, beakers, etc. if you can’t find any on eBay.
The Photographer’s Formulary – I buy Sodium Thiosulfate and Gold Chloride from this company. They’re very prompt and friendly.
Friends
Cased Image – Alan Bekhuis’ website full of stunning Daguerrian case reproductions that make me drool in envy of his talent. Alan is without peer in the daguerreotype case construction world and he is always willing to share his knowledge.