How do I re-blacken the inside of some Riteway sheet film holders?

[AtlantaTerry]

I was cleaning some used 4x5 sheet film holders that I bought from an eBay seller.

To my great surprise when I was cleaning the inside of some of the Riteway holders the black coating of the area behind the film came off. I was using 1x1 inch alcohol swabs from the grocery store which are saturated with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol.

Note: when I used premoistened cleaners that are designed for LCD screens, electronics, etc. the black did not come off. Lesson learned.

So now how do I re-coat the holders? The first idea I have is to mask off most of the sheet film holders then use a fine spray mist of flat black paint to coat the now shiny metal.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Terry Thomas...
the photographer
Atlanta, Georgia USA

[Jim Noel]

Go to a model Railroad shop and get a bottle of "Blacken It". It will blacken any metal, and is not a paint.

[Tin Can]

I use 2 inch wide permanent markers from an Art store for a lot of things I want black. Stuff is easy to use and dries thin. Made in Japan, I got mine from Dick Blick Art supplies. No mess.

I was cleaning some used 4x5 sheet film holders that I bought from an eBay seller.

To my great surprise when I was cleaning the inside of some of the Riteway holders the black coating of the area behind the film came off. I was using 1x1 inch alcohol swabs from the grocery store which are saturated with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol.

Note: when I used premoistened cleaners that are designed for LCD screens, electronics, etc. the black did not come off. Lesson learned.

So now how do I re-coat the holders? The first idea I have is to mask off most of the sheet film holders then use a fine spray mist of flat black paint to coat the now shiny metal.

Any ideas?

Thanks.

Terry Thomas...
the photographer
Atlanta, Georgia USA

[AtlantaTerry]

Randy,

OK. I tried a couple black Sharpie markers but they don't work well. What happens is they start to lay down some black but then start to remove the blacking that is next to the new black from the Sharpie. Dang!

Thanks anyhoo.

[Ian Gordon Bilson]

I share your pain about learning how isopropyl works as a solvent on some paint finishes.
Maybe Riteway used acrylic ?

Lighter fluid (Naptha) is safer,mostly.
Masking and spraying would be the way to go,but I don't see real Matt as the best option -the 50 year old bottle of "Johnsons of Hendon -Dead Black " I have has a real tooth to it ; can't imagine sliding a sheet of film across it.
I think a thin mist of spray in semi-gloss enamel would get you back on track - it looks more like the very slight sheen the OEM used.
Be sure to use very fine abrasion to remove the dust nibs you will find after the paint job.

[N Dhananjay]

Be careful with the paint as it often builds up which means your ground glass-film plane registration could go out - the bare minimum required and use steel wool or some other mild abrasive to sand back to smooth. DJ

[gleaf]

I have a couple of Riteway's, -Bay sourced, in rough shape. Looks like aluminum oxide rearing its grey head through the backing. Does anyone have access to the original Riteway coating name or recipe? Might be mixable and then you could air brush it.

[gleaf]

PS. the telescope fellows say Deep Black optical paint aka black chalkboard paint works well even to blocking IR and near IR wavelengths.

[paulr]

I've used markers called paint markers. They're much more opaque than a sharpie. But that blackening stuff from the hobby store sounds like it would be worth a try.

[Tin Can]

Here is what I actually use, name brand 'Hardcore' 50mm, water based ink, waterproof, right off the applicator. Did a search, looks like it's discontinued, even the website is gone. Made in Japan, really good stuff, now I will save mine for delicates.

I'm sure this would have worked. no isopropyl. I still would try a big art store or a place that sells art paper and/or calligraphy tools.

This website was also on it. http://typeholics.de/

Now that I think of it they must have decided to change the name, as Hardcore is just porn or punk.

Randy,

OK. I tried a couple black Sharpie markers but they don't work well. What happens is they start to lay down some black but then start to remove the blacking that is next to the new black from the Sharpie. Dang!

Thanks anyhoo.