Source for hardware for building LF cameras?

[Robert Peterson]

Anyone have a source for the hardware to build a camera? Tripod sockets, lensboard clips, etc.

[Eric Woodbury]

I've made 4 cameras now, and have used t-nuts for tripods holes and made the lensboard 'clips', etc. The only thing I had to find was the springs for the back. For this I found a camera and took the springs off (and used the ground glass frame once, too). This is a good approach, to find an old beater and take the hard to make parts. The other source is to buy parts from a repair department.

[Ernest Purdum]

Very many years ago, maybe from the 1880's to the 1920's, you could buy complete hardware sets, all the metal pieces needed to build a camera. Alas, no more. Some professional as well as amateur camera makers used such sets.



Some websites you might, or might not, find useful are: www.mcmaster.com, www.bostongear.com, www.wmberg.com, www.micromark.com.



If you find something you want at the mcmaster site, there are some companies that claim to sell all the same items at discount. You can find them by searching for carr mcmaster.

[Calamity Jane]

Whal, first off you can talk to Yvon over at Aletta Photo. I believe he says he has A lot of the parts to build cameras. He also has a nice book that I bought and built my 4x5 from his plans. His book also has a list of resources in it. You can contact Yvon at info@alettaphoto.com

I bought brass threaded inserts from Reid Tool (http://www.reidtool.com/store/home.asp) They also have knobs and other fasteners.

The biggest general industrial supplier seems to be MSC Direct. Their Web site is a bit hard to get around in but I think they have everything INCLUDING the kitchen sink http://www.mscdirect.com/

[Nick_3536]

Aren't tripods just normal 1/4" hardware? That's fairly common jig hardware if it is.

[Bruce Wehman]

Robert, Eric,

Try http://www.mcmaster.com This is a truly extraordinary resource.
Search on: "spring-tempered stainless steel," to find material for your back springs.

[Conrad Hoffman]

In another post, Calamity Jane mentioned windshield wipers. Running down the sides of many wiper blades (in the rubber) is a wonderful piece of flat stainless steel. Perfect for making springs, spring hooks, picks, and lots of other stuff. And the price is right.

[Juan V.]

Try www.smallparts.com for racks and pinions, bearings, springs, nuts, bolts, and millions of other things you never knew you needed. They have all sorts of stuff in steel, aluminum, brass, copper, delrin (plastic), etc.

[Paul Metcalf]

Micro Fasteners for very small screws (#0, #1, #2) in standard slot (brass only though). Caswell Plating (caswellplating.com) for small non-electric chemical kits to nickel plate brass screws and other brass parts if you want that old fashioned silver look.