Source for knurled thumb nuts for 8x10 Kodak 2D sliding tripod blocks?

[Jay Decker]

Fabricating parts for a couple sliding tripod blocks and need to source knurled thumb nuts. The thread is 10-32. Brass is preferred. Anyone have a source?

Thanks,

Jay

[John Schneider]

The usual suspects: McMaster-Carr or Reid Tool

[Jim C.]

Or have them custom made

[TheDeardorffGuy]

I can make them. Give me detailed measuements and what kind of detail it has.

[Curt]

http://www.reidsupply.com/GrpResults.aspx?pid=10021792+4294964853&aitm=RSDK-2B&apid=10021792

There are a lot of choices at Reid.

[Jay Decker]

Gentlemen - excellent information. Thank you very much!

[Jim Jones]

Ace Hardware stores may be more convenient. Their 10-32 brass knurled nuts have a less elegant contour, but should at least be functional.

[Leigh]

Lowe's and Home Depot have a small selection of such things. They might have what you need. The advantage is you can buy small quantities, unlike McMaster or Reid Tool or MSC where you have to buy 100 pcs.

You might try the electronic distributors. Knurled thumb nuts are common in that industry, manufactured by Keystone primarily.
Mouser: www.mouser.com
Newark: www.newark.com
Allied: www.alliedelec.com
DigiKey: www.digikey.com

- Leigh

[Robert Brummitt]

Ace Hardware stores may be more convenient. Their 10-32 brass knurled nuts have a less elegant contour, but should at least be functional.

I second the visit to your local Ace hardware store. I have done so for my Wisner Graflok back. It's not pretty but it gets the job done. Besides, I rather be using the camera and let someone else worry about appearances after I'm gone.

[Ari]

Or try Lee Valley tools online.

[Jay Decker]

The nut is about 3/4" in diameter at the top and about 5/8" of an inch tall. Here are some images of the knurled thumb nut...

http://www.monkeytumble.com/tmp/IMG_0248.jpg

http://www.monkeytumble.com/tmp/IMG_0249.jpg

http://www.monkeytumble.com/tmp/IMG_0250.jpg

http://www.monkeytumble.com/tmp/IMG_0254.jpg

[Jay Decker]

And the end objective...

http://www.monkeytumble.com/tmp/IMG_0260.jpg

[Curt]

This was the main reason I was going to buy a metal lathe, those darn beautiful traditional knurled knobs. I did buy a hand knurl-er but without the profile... well there it is again.

Another part that's difficult is the brass winged nut head bolts that fasten the rail to the main block. There is no way to get them so they have to be made by hand.

It's too bad that I don't have an extra one, I've go the 2D 5x7 and the 2D 8x10, probably very similar to your 8x10. The searches I've done reveal only knobs that are stainless steel, steel, aluminum. I guess that brass is now too expensive and other materials are harder. This puts a duplicate of that knob in the realm of finding someone who has one or someone who will make one. Have you gotten any estimates?

I don't have the sliding blocks for either of mine, or my two Seneca cameras. With them they are chrome plated brass, I'd hate to have them duplicated.

With these cameras a person has to be part jeweler, part machinist, part designer, and a major shop worker.

Curt

[RichardRitter]

I have a few in stock with a 10-32 and the Kodak D 2 thread.
Also have the bigger ones and the smaller ones with the D2 thread only.

[Randy]

I can make them. Give me detailed measuements and what kind of detail it has.

Ken, I have a Folmer & Schwing 8X10 that is missing one of the brass knobs for the rear swing. Is that something you could tackle? Any idea of the cost? Can you age it to match the other knobs :)

[RichardRitter]

I can also make then I have drawings and how aged do you want then to look. Only tricky part is which thread was used on your camera.

[Curt]

Getting the thread is certainly tricky, there were a lot of different standardizations in the past. One of the things I'd love to do is to see a film or go back in time and see inside one of the camera manufacturers facilities. Graflex, Seneca, any one of them. I might be surprised how it was done and what machines were used to make the parts and mill the wood. It would be interesting to see them put the finish on a camera.