Looking good. And when you're done with that one, you can do mine
Have you ever considered replating the metal parts yourself? I did a lens of mine a while back with one of those "hobby" nickel plating kits. Turned out great and was stupid simple (no messy baths, no fumes, nothing). It's basically just a little generic wall transformer/charger with a gator clip on one wire and a cottonswap/foam brush on the other wire, and that's it.
You mean like this: http://www.micromark.com/PLUG-N-PLAT...-KIT,8326.html? I'd looked into this years ago and it wasn't nearly as easy (or cheap) at the time. This looks like a great solution! Thanks for the tip.
Yup, looks like my kit. I got it from http://www.caswellplating.com/ . They have an active user forum for advice and help if something goes wrong. The only additional advice I can offer is to get some [diluted] battery acid (auto parts store) to activate the parts prior to plating, otherwise the stuff might not stick. The plating process itself is literally the same as painting it on. I got my lens to look like new this way.
One of these days I am going to tackle my camera; it does need a little more work than yours though. Aside from the schredded bellows, I have to fix the front standard - somebody thought that gluing the front rise panel into a permanent position was a good way to repair a missing knob.
Depending on the glue, it might actually be pretty easy to separate. And a razor knife is your friend.
This really has nothing to do with anything, but I had a PM exchange with a guy on Flickr about workbenches. I added to the blog about mine. Read if you're inclined.
Except that the guy decided to apply the glue also to the inside of the running channels where it can't be reachedOriginally Posted by Scott --
Depending on the glue, it might actually be pretty easy to separate. And a razor knife is your friend.Anyhow, I finally got the pieces seperated as carefully as I could; but a few marks were unavoidable.
Regarding the turntable in the bottom, for years Japanese photographers have had their cake and eaten it too, by using a removable adapter between the turnhtable and a modern tripod. No modification to the camera is required.
Without seeing your camera, it's a little difficult to describe how an adapter which would fit would attach. but usually it involves three hooks which grab the sections between where the old separate tripod legs attached.
The Japanese adapters I have seen are metal, and I'm afraid there is no standardization between brands, but I expect a competent woodworker could make a very satisfactory one.
Hadn't realised that was going to be your approach
That's what I did to fit a Roll film back to by Houghtons Vecto Quarter plate camera. However I use the original focus screen and set the film plane registration with the adaptor in place to match.
I'm going to use the (my) same approach for my Half plate Houghtons Duchess initially.
For some reason I'd assumed you'd make a completely new back. It's just slightly different approaches that'll both work well though.
Ian
You know, Ian, I was going to fab a whole new back, but when I realized that the existing back was easily salvagable, it seemed pretty straight-forward to just build an insert. I did this before on my ill-fated 5x12 project; there's a lot less joinery involved, and a lot less wood. Which was a consideration once I found the piece of cherry I wanted to use.
What I did before for film registration, and will do on this one, is to rout a rebate for the film holder and ground glass holder. I'll install a holder and measure carefully where the film plane lies. Then, I'll install the ground glass holder and mark the film plane, then rout to that mark for the ground glass. Worked perfectly on the 5x12.
The only thing that has always eluded me is an elegant way to make the riblock groove. Last time I did it with a crane-necked chisel. I'd like to find a better way this time, though.
FWIW, here's a shot of the insert installed:
Insert installed... by Scott --, on Flickr
The glue's cured, surfaces planed, and final fitting done. Fits like a glove!
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