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Thread: What material are non-netallic shutter blades made of?

  1. #1
    RedGreenBlue's Avatar
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    What material are non-netallic shutter blades made of?

    Many older leaf shutters have blades that aren't metallic. I have an Ilex No. 5 Universal shutter like that. I need to replace two blades that are cracked. The material is somewhat brittle. They are approximately 1/64" thick.

    I have a dark slide from a wooden film holder that is the same thickness so I'm going to try making blades from the dark slide. Most of the dark slides I measured are twice as thick - 1/32", so I was happy to find this thinner slide. So far I've found that I can cut the material with a sharp knife - very carefully. I also tried using scissors, but scissors can chip the edge without warning.

    Ideally, I'd like to try laser cutting, so I might give that a shot at a makerspace. A laser should do a clean job of cutting the pivot hole and slot. I figure I can drill the hole, but a perfect slot could be a challenge using a drill bit and sand paper. Mainly the problem is this material is brittle.

    Back to my question. Does anyone know what material was used to make the shutter blades? Ill try burning a small piece to see if it's flammable. Seems I should find that out before trying a laser.

    Has anyone here attempted making these blades and if so - how'd it go?

    Thanks,
    Scott

  2. #2
    Jac@stafford.net's Avatar
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    Re: What material are non-netallic shutter blades made of?

    The shutter blades seem like treated paper, but they are best described as hard rubber today. I have no idea regarding replacement material.

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    RedGreenBlue's Avatar
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    Re: What material are non-netallic shutter blades made of?

    Some years ago I also read they are hard rubber, but... what is that?

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    Re: What material are non-netallic shutter blades made of?

    Quote Originally Posted by RedGreenBlue View Post
    Some years ago I also read they are hard rubber, but... what is that?
    Shutter blades in the Rollei PQS electronic shutters are carbon fiber,
    Last edited by Bob Salomon; 6-May-2018 at 09:54.

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    Jac@stafford.net's Avatar
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    Re: What material are non-netallic shutter blades made of?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Salomon View Post
    Shutter blades in the Rollei electronical shutters are carbon fiber,
    The material for the Ilex No. 5 sure aren't carbon fiber.

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    Re: What material are non-netallic shutter blades made of?

    The Packard Shutter Company might be a source for suitable material for making a replacement shutter blade.

    Keith

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    RedGreenBlue's Avatar
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    Re: What material are non-netallic shutter blades made of?

    Quote Originally Posted by Keith Fleming View Post
    The Packard Shutter Company might be a source for suitable material for making a replacement shutter blade.

    Keith
    That's a great suggestion. I'll give that a shot.

  8. #8
    Gary Beasley's Avatar
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    Re: What material are non-netallic shutter blades made of?

    A scrollsaw with a fine puzzle blade may do the job. You would want to tape the material between two thin pieces of plywooud to protect the edges during cutting. If you dont have access to that you shoult try contacting a local woodworking club, some of these scrollers have extraordinary skills.

  9. #9

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    Re: What material are non-netallic shutter blades made of?

    Some early shutters (around 1915) had the blades made of vulcanite (hard rubber, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebonite ), don't know if that is the case of your Ilex. It was a combustible material.

  10. #10
    RedGreenBlue's Avatar
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    Re: What material are non-netallic shutter blades made of?

    I was able to make a new blade for my Ilex shutter and I'm happy to report that it not only is operating well, but all but the 1/50 second are within 10%!

    I needed 2 blades. I made one and the second one I found in a stripped down shutter.

    I used black polystyrene as the material and purchased it from Evergreen Scale Models. It's .010"/.25mm thick. They say it's UV resistant, it's light, seems to be about as stiff as the original blade material. The slight sheen is easily taken down with fine sandpaper.

    I wanted to laser cut the blade, and I think that's probably a great idea but I don't have access to a laser cutter. So I roughed it out with a knife and smoothed the cuts with 400 grit paper. The pivot hole was drilled with a 5/64" bit. Two 5/64" holes were made for the elliptical cutout and the hole finished with a knife and sandpaper.

    Here's a photo of two damaged blades and my rough cut blade on the right. Also, a photo of the reassembled and WORKING shutter. The new blade is at 6 o'clock.

    Scott

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Click image for larger version. 

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