I've had the same trouble with my wet plate holders, made from Fidelity film holders. Every shot requires the flaps be opened several times for loading, unloading, and cleaning, and I use the same holder over and over. To make things worse, sometimes chemicals drip down to the flaps...
My best solution is to mix up a little 5-minute epoxy, then smear it on some wax paper or thin plasitic, use that to put a very thin coat on the underside of the tape, and stick it back down. One more option...
"I love my Verito lens, but I always have to sharpen everything in Photoshop..."
I've had good luck replacing with gaffer's tape (because thats what I have on hand) but book binder's tape is supposed to be the cat's meow for the job.
I steal time at 1/125th of a second, so I don't consider my photography to be Fine Art as much as it is petty larceny.
Ask a question here and you get the right answers.
thank you all.
Yes, definitely go with the bookbinder's tape. If you cannot find it in white, a black magical marker will fix you up.Originally Posted by Jim Noel
One man's Mede is another man's Persian.
FWIW I've got quite a few holders I gaffer's taped 7-8 years ago and they've held up just fine. I used 3M Gaffer's Tape. The only drawback I've experienced is that the hinges are very stiff after being retaped and won't open flat---on some holders I had to hold the flap down in order to load the film---but they do loosen up after awhile.
Of course gaffer's tape isn't specifically designed for making hinges, but book binders tape is.
Retaping hinges is easy but the flaps on old wooden holders are thin and easily broken so take your time. You may need an adhesive solvent of some sort to remove the old tape adhesive---be sure to get it clean so your new tape isn't sticking to a deteriorating base of old adhesive leftover from the old tape. Good luck!
I steal time at 1/125th of a second, so I don't consider my photography to be Fine Art as much as it is petty larceny.
I retaped 8 holders in the late '80s, with bookbinder's tape from a local bookstore which still sells such things - even today!!. They're (filmholders) still going strong, and I still have the roll of tape for when/if they will ever need retaping again. I've even used the tape on books......
One man's Mede is another man's Persian.
Bob,
Ok, Lineco products has in their product line a 'Spine Repair' tape 550-1505 2" wide which should work just fine. Now for the hard part, you will need to take all the old tape and dried adhesive off the holder. Things you may need are exacto knife, bone folder or old ceramic tool, some sand paper, and Ever-clear. Clean off all the old tape and dried stuff, sand, scrape all the flaps and ends of the holder. Clean out the dust with a paint brush. Clean parts with Ever-clear, let dry. Take an old sheet of film and put it in the holder. Put the flaps back on 'you should have marked which one went were'. Put holder on flat surface, cut tape longer than needed. and tape the first side. The flap will need room to open and close, you will figure that part out after your 5th or 6th holder. Wrap the tape around the end and on to the other side. If I remember 2" wide tape will be to wide so cut it in the end of the grove/depression. Use the bone folder to press the tape down. Try working the flap to see if works correctly. Cut the ends and on to the next holder. Remember to use only a little bit of Ever-clear for cleaning.
That should do it.
Jan Pietrzak
If you don't have Everclear, try gin or vodka!
I steal time at 1/125th of a second, so I don't consider my photography to be Fine Art as much as it is petty larceny.
thanks Jan
On some holders, gaffers tape is so thick that clearance gets to be a problem with certain cameras like metal Canhams. The thinner choices are better and will last longer.
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