Suggestions: Machine Shop Services

[rguinter]

Greetings:

I have an old lensboard 100 x 100-mm with a 65-mm cutout. Fits my Burke & James 4x5-inch monorail.

I need the hole enlarged to 70-mm and threaded.

Doesn't need to be race-engine precise but requires more precision than I can do in my basement.

Does anyone have a suggestion for a shop that can do this simple machine work for me?

I live in the NYC area and would be preferable (but no essential) to find someone in the East. Although I could UPS it anywhere in the US.

A simple task with the right equipment.

Thanks to anyone with suggestions. Cheers. Bob G.

[Mark Sampson]

Sounds like a job for SK Grimes in Woonsocket, Rhode Island- see their website. Not cheap but very good.

[lenser]

I'm lucky enough to have a very dear local friend who is a brilliant machinist and has done numerous small tasks like this for me. Based on my experience with him, something as simple as your task should be an easy fix for any reasonably competent machinist. Just check the yellow pages or call up any local metal supplier for a good recommendation. One thing though, he or she will need to see the lens in order to measure the thread pitch and count unless you can find that info on line.

[Frank Petronio]

Any of the camera repair people can do it and I wouldn't pay over $30. Grimes will want 2x.

Just send it off to Camera Wiz 800-471-8133 in VA or Essex or PCW or....

[John Kasaian]

A box of Krispy Kremes for your local High School metal shop instructor ought to get 'er done! ;)

[rguinter]

Any of the camera repair people can do it and I wouldn't pay over $30. Grimes will want 2x.

Just send it off to Camera Wiz 800-471-8133 in VA or Essex or PCW or....

Thanks Frank. I'll check them out.

Cheers. Bob G.

[rguinter]

Thanks for all who answered. I found a local machine shop that was able to do the job. A bit costly but I could drop off and pick up without mailing so that made it convenient. The shop was in the same development where TPI is located where I have my film developed. So overall the extra few dollars cost was probably worth it.

I'll keep these others in mind for future work. Cheers. Bob G.

[Ken Lee]

I had a similar experience with local machine shops: they are convenient and willing to accommodate "one-offs", but they clearly recognize that whoever wants some custom work done for a fancy camera, can pay a high hourly rate.

[aduncanson]

I can't find it now, but I recall that somebody recently posted photos illustrating drilling a large hole in a board by:

1) Drawing the desired hole on the board with a compass;
2) Drilling several closely spaced small holes up to the edge of the compass line;
3) Punching out the slug and smoothing the points between the holes with a dremel tool.
4) Finishing the hole smoothly with drum sander chucked in a drill press.

Anyway that is what I thought the poster said, and that process worked pretty well for me. (Actually it gave excellent results.) Except that I don't own a dremel tool and I used a rat tail file instead. The less said about how I did that, the better.

[Jeremy Moore]

I can't find it now, but I recall that somebody recently posted photos illustrating drilling a large hole in a board by:

1) Drawing the desired hole on the board with a compass;
2) Drilling several closely spaced small holes up to the edge of the compass line;
3) Punching out the slug and smoothing the points between the holes with a dremel tool.
4) Finishing the hole smoothly with drum sander chucked in a drill press.

Anyway that is what I thought the poster said, and that process worked pretty well for me. (Actually it gave excellent results.) Except that I don't own a dremel tool and I used a rat tail file instead. The less said about how I did that, the better.

May have been me, I know I've detailed this method here on this forum before, but don't remember if I included pictures or not.

[rguinter]

I've done larger holes with a reciprocating scroll saw or sometimes I've been able to come close with a chassis punch.

But in this case I needed more precision and the hole threaded to match a steel mounting ring with external threads. So machine shop service was necessary. A great job and I was able to mount my recently acquired Petzval directly to the threaded lensboard and take a few shots last weekend.

Experimenting with the unusual is my specialty and I'm hoping for a couple good photos with it. Regards.

Bob G.

[J D Clark]

I needed a Saunders enlarger lensboard with a larger hole, and a thread cut into it, and the guys at Steve Grimes did a great job at a reasonable price. The enlarging lens screwed into the thread like butter!

John Clark
www.johndclark.com