Kid,
I know you do not read MA so here's the issue. The article talked to silk, silkspan and Japanese tissue and included the use of nitrate and butyrate dopes. I think the OP’s issue is that the title “secrets of silk” should have read “secrets of silkspan” because silkspan was addressed the most and used as an example. I have used all three of these products in the distant past and they are all three similar in use and I had no problem understanding what the author was talking about. I did not personally agree with all his techniques but they would be a good place for a beginner to start and then develop his own techniques. One thing I don’t recall being mentioned in the article is to always use nitrate and butyrate dopes only in a well ventilated space.

Regards
Frank