Where to get a lens board drilled?

[nsurit]

I have a blank lens board into which I need a hole drilled and the flange mounted for my Wollensak Veritar lens. Who is a reliable soarce for this type of work in the USA? Thanks in advance, Bill Barber

[Bob Salomon]

Technically lens boards should never be drilled. They are bored or milled.

[Pere Casals]

I have a blank lens board into which I need a hole drilled and the flange mounted for my Wollensak Veritar lens. Who is a reliable soarce for this type of work in the USA? Thanks in advance, Bill Barber

So, as Bob says, you can bring the board to a "machining workshop" . Search it in Google (or google maps) like this: "machining workshop" New York

[nsurit]

OK, I live out in the sticks and mailing is a more efficient means of conducting business. The lens board is wood and I plan to send the lens with it, so would be looking for a camera place rather than a machine shop to bore, mill or whatever to accurately remove the material to produce an opening (Proper hole) in the lens board. Again, thanks in advance. Bill Barber

[Jonathan Barlow]

Someone with a drill press and a set of large Forstner bits can drill a clean hole for you pretty easily. And yes, you drill a hole with a drill bit. A hole saw will also work.

Look for a cabinetmaker in your area.

[Leigh]

So, as Bob says, you can bring the board to a "machining workshop".

I've been a machinist for 52 years, and never heard of a "machining workshop".

I've heard of a "machine shop", and have owned one for over 20 years.
Many folks I know also own them.

Most machine shops are metal only. They won't touch wood.

You probably need to find a woodworking shop to do that.

- Leigh

[ic-racer]

Making a round hole has to be one of the most basic tasks encountered. Now if one needs an ellipsoid, where x2a2 + y2b2 + z2c2 = 1, that might be more difficult.

[Leigh]

Making a round hole has to be one of the most basic tasks encountered.

Making a hole that's accurately round is not a trivial task.

- Leigh

[MAubrey]

Making a hole that's accurately round is not a trivial task.

- Leigh

Being basic is not at odds with being non-trivial.

Finger joints and dovetail joins are basic and also far from trivial.

[Jim Jones]

A suitable round hole can be cut with a fly cutter in a wood lens board securely mounted on a drill press. Better yet is mounting the board on a lathe faceplate. Any experienced (and willing) machinist or woodworker should be able to do this well if you can communicate to them exactly what you need. Without sharing such knowledge, a camera repairman might be a better choice. IC-racer's technique requires meticulous craftsmanship for a neat job. However, the lens flange would cover some errors.