5x8 Camera Build

[Michael Roberts]

Thanks, Mark J, Mark Sampson, Randy, and drarmament, for the positive comments!

Dr A: I hear you on 8x20. Here is a link to my 12x20/8x20 build from a couple of years ago: https://www.largeformatphotography.i...=1#post1184143
Apparently, I have an MO of starting projects and then letting them percolate for several years before finishing!

Lots of small steps to work on today:
Lining the film holder channel with felt
Installing GG clips
Adding brass hardware to the lens board frame
Installing the leather handle and brackets to the rear frame

If I get ambitious, I will work on the springs and pins/retaining clips for the spring back.

As you can see, I added the brass strip to the rail already.

[Michael Roberts]

Lots of progress yesterday, though at times it seemed like "two steps forward and one step back."

Using tin snips, I cut 1/2" x 0.025 brass feeler gauge into half inch strips, then filed the edges by hand and drilled holes with a 3/32 bit. I made 14 of these--six for the 5x8 build and 8 for the 14x17 GG. I mounted the GG clips on the frame with 1/4" #2 round head, slotted brass screws. The pics below show my "worktable" (top of my chest film freezer) and tools. Nothing fancy here with these clips, just functional. I'll let the shiny brass carry the aesthetic load.

Then I stepped back to fabricate anchors for the springs. I had finished the GG frame, thinking I might use salvaged spring anchors from an old parts camera or else fabricate something new from brass, but in the end decided to resort to my tried and true “screw-mounted-in-a-tiny-piece-of-wood” method. I chopped 1/4 x 1/2" mahogany into 3/8 pieces, clamped them and drilled pilot holes for 1" long round head, slotted #4 brass screws, sanded the edges, then taped and sanded the already finished frame so I could apply wood glue to adhere the anchors to the GG frame. This was a bit of a challenge, as I buggered up three of these tiny 3/8 pieces--split three and overdrilled one. One cracked just sorting out which size drill bit to use; the other two split b/c I didn't drill the pilot hole deep enough.

The mini-chop saw was a holiday gift from my wife this year. It has come in very handy with projects like this. Mine is the JOUNJIP Mini Miter Saw for anyone interested.

[Michael Roberts]

I also installed the leather handle on the rear frame yesterday, mounted hardware on the lens board frame, and glued the lens board frame to the front bellows frame. I had to carve out the sides of the front bellows frame to accommodate the right angle weld nuts, which extend slightly behind the lens board frame. And I had to carve out some material on the top of the light trap of the lens board frame so the three lens boards I've already fabricated would fit.

Tweaking the fit of parts as the camera comes together and redoing pieces like the spring anchors (and the lens board frame brass retainer when I didn't get the holes lined up to my satisfaction the first try) are all part of the process.

It all takes time and patience when you are making one-offs like this, but the payoff is worth it in the end.

[Michael Roberts]

It doesn't seem like I got that much done today, but what I did accomplish was time consuming, I guess.

I started by taping off the spring back film holder surround and painting the bottom with Contact Cement. Then I got out my container of black, adhesive-backed felt and re-measured my new Chamonix film holder, and cut 1/2" strips of felt. After waiting the requisite 15 minutes, I stripped off the tape, then set the felt into place. I tested the holder and it seems to fit perfectly. I needed to trim 1/16th of the felt on one long side; apparently the felt was a little wider than I measured or one side of the holder base was a little narrower. In any event, I did not want the excess felt to vignette the film.

At some point, I checked the rear lock for the rail and discovered I needed to reapply epoxy. Yesterday, I had to pull both of the right angle weld studs from the keeper rail b/c I had inadvertently gotten some epoxy on the threads and the thumb nuts would not screw on. The front stud seemed fine today, but the rear pulled out when I tried to tighten the thumb nut down to lock down the rail. Another step back.

[Michael Roberts]

I then moved on to fabricating pins for the corners of the spring back. I like linoleum brads; they are thicker than other brass nails I've seen. I cut the brads with tin snips, then file the blunt ends.

[Michael Roberts]

Finally, and this took a while, I cut 1/2" .032 brass feeler gauge into strips for the four retainer clips for the spring back, a fifth clip to hold the rear frame to the camera base when the camera is closed, and four 4 1/2" long springs. I filed the cuts, drilled three different sizes of through-holes, cold-worked all the parts, then used pliers to bend the springs and the ends of the retainer clips.

I look forward to getting this hardware mounted tomorrow, though I need to pick up some more screws first, so it might take another day....

[Michael Roberts]

I got the pins and the four corner retaining clips for the spring back installed this morning.

I measured 1/2" in from the corner of the spring back and drilled a 3/8 deep hole with a 3/32 bit for the pins. I installed the top two, then placed the retaining clips over the pins, taped the clips down and drilled pilot holes for two #2, 1/4" screws and one #2, 5/16" screw.

Then I flipped the spring back and drill pilot holes for the last two pins through the opening in the retainer clips. I did this b/c--even though this is a horizontal camera--I want the option of reversing the back to prevent light leaks when the sun is lined up directly with the film holder baffle. I had one moment of panic when I realized one of the top retainer clips must have shifted and the bottom of the spring back was perilously close to one edge where I needed to drill for the pin. I went ahead with the drill b/c I did not want to try to reposition the top clip. I tried to angle the drill bit away from the edge as much as I could and, fortunately, the wood did not split when I inserted the pin. I will have to monitor this when I begin using the camera in the field and insert/remove the spring back with care rather than being careless and stressing the pin and possibly tearing it out.

After getting the bottom pins inserted, I placed the bottom retaining clips over the pins, taped them down, and drilled the pilot holes for the bottom clips.

[Michael Roberts]

Last step, I tested attaching the spring back in both positions, i.e., film holder opening on the right side and on the left side. Success!

Then I had a setback when I placed the GG springs into place and discovered what I thought were 1/2" wide pieces of wood on the top and bottom of my film holder surround are actually about 1/16" too narrow for the 1/2" wide springs.

I've got one piece of 1/4" wide .032 brass and I've been running and calling around to find another one locally, but no luck so far. I may have to order this online, but I've got one more go-to local supplier to try first.

Update: Fortunately, my go-to supplier (McGuckin's Hardware in Boulder) had four K&S #8042 .032 1/4" brass strips. I bought them out! I'm really pleased 'cause I think the 1/4" wide springs will look much better than my first attempt with the 1/2" feeler gauge. I'll tackle the new, 1/4" wide springs tomorrow.

[John Brady]

I love the 5x8 format! I started by having Hiromi build a 5x8 back for my Ebony 8x10. Later, I came up with the idea of commissioning Fotoman in China to build a 5x8 aluminum camera, with ground glass back, rise and fall, and a lens cone for a 72xl and a 90xl, both with helical mounts. I went pretty far down the rabbit hole on this one, but a very fine camera. I have 11 5x8 Chamonix film holders to go with it.

[Michael Roberts]

That is a super cool camera, John! And 11 holders and the lenses you have are an abundance of riches! I hope you are still enjoying the heck out of that kit!

Plus, I assume you still have the Ebony when you want to shoot 5x8 with longer lenses or need more movements!