[New Alchemy]

I am having some problems with mt gilding solution This is the 2nd time this has happened When combining the gold solution to the hypo, it turns a blood red then into a dark coffee color. I mixed the gold solution about 3 months ago, gilded a few plates no problem with same solution. I have checked and double checked the formulation, exactly the same as been working successfully, all lab ware rinsed with distilled water, new brown bottle with compression cap. Does the gold solution have a shelf life? This is the 1% gold solution, not the mixed solution. again same batch and formulation worked fine when made 3-4 months ago. Has anyone else had this problem? or possible cause? Expensive problem, and the interment nature leaves me baffled.
Thanks, Dan K

[New Alchemy]

Hello, I have my lab up and running for a couple of months now, finally getting my ducks in a row in procuring a good image. However, I have ruined 2 perfectly good dags this week in the gilding process. I have gilded a few images a couple of weeks back with no problems. Now I’m getting a wavy, milky film on the surface when I go to dry the plate. Went back to square one, double checked formulations and procedure. What I am noticing is that the gold solution is nice, gold color but clear. The fixer I mix fresh with distilled, also clear. Its when I mix the gold into the fixer, it starts to become cloudy within a minute or two. filtering does not help. I don’t remember the solution being cloudy before. Ive checked and checked and just reformulated everything with new chemistry….still cloudy within a minute or two. This is getting expensive, but more so I have my best dag yet waiting for gilding but don’t want to ruin another. Any feedback or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks, Dan K

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