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  1. #1

    Join Date
    Jan 2007
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    Bend, OR
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    392

    DIY Dark Slides

    I may need to make some dark-slides for some 8x10 holders I bought that arrived damaged. I have searched the forum and online and have found the following as possible materials, both available from McMaster. Material #1 is Deldrin and material #2 is garolite. Garolite comes in two possibilities, one is electrically insulating and the other is electrically conductive (for 3-4x the price of the insulating). Anyone have any experience with any of these as far as ease of cutting and feasibility in use. If Garolite- is the electrically conductive worth 3-4x the price as far as keeping dust issues with the holders to a minimum? Any experience/advice is appreciated-thx

  2. #2
    Eric Woodbury
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    1,637

    Re: DIY Dark Slides

    If it is a problem, spray them with staticide. I wouldn't spend the extra dough.

  3. #3

    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    near Seattle, WA
    Posts
    956

    Re: DIY Dark Slides

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric Woodbury View Post
    If it is a problem, spray them with staticide. I wouldn't spend the extra dough.
    I'd recommend a product called Brillianize to stop static electricity on your finished dark slides. Just spray it on and wipe off with a microfiber cloth. There was not long ago another photographer who was experiencing static when working in cold, dry air in Death Valley. I suggested this product and got a report that it indeed resolved the issue. It's available from several sources:

    https://www.framedestination.com/fra...er-polish.html
    https://www.tapplastics.com/product/...rillianize/112

  4. #4

    Re: DIY Dark Slides

    Quote Originally Posted by eric black View Post
    I may need to make some dark-slides for some 8x10 holders I bought that arrived damaged. I have searched the forum and online and have found the following as possible materials, both available from McMaster. Material #1 is Deldrin and material #2 is garolite. Garolite comes in two possibilities, one is electrically insulating and the other is electrically conductive (for 3-4x the price of the insulating). Anyone have any experience with any of these as far as ease of cutting and feasibility in use. If Garolite- is the electrically conductive worth 3-4x the price as far as keeping dust issues with the holders to a minimum? Any experience/advice is appreciated-thx
    A DYI in dark slide material is a slippery slope. I tried two different materials of necessary thickness that looked suitable for dark slide material and they both exhibited light leaks on testing. I am defaulting to Intrepid Camera company in the UK as they have both the correct material as well as the capability of properly cutting it to the correct dimensions. When they get a break in their schedule, I believe they are going to do a run of 8x10 dark slides. Ping them relative to your interest.

  5. #5
    Nodda Duma's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Batesville, Arkansas
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    1,116

    Re: DIY Dark Slides

    I’ve successfully tested 1mm thick black ABS / styrene
    Newly made large format dry plates available! Look:
    https://www.pictoriographica.com

  6. #6

    Re: DIY Dark Slides

    Quote Originally Posted by Nodda Duma View Post
    I’ve successfully tested 1mm thick black ABS / styrene
    The material I ordered from National Plastics sounded like a similar ABS/Styrene material. I exposed a test sheet and to the eye it looked at least at first pass as acceptable and I was encouraged to order more material and scale up. Then I had to remind myself that it was really not a scientific test at all. I took a step back and loaded one side of a Fidelity holder with the replacement dark slide and kept the original dark slide on the opposing side. I exposed both sheets to the identical scene and processed then identically and trimmed a corner of the test dark slide so I could distinguish it and initially put the two negatives over a light table and then checked them with a densitometer. I could immediately tell that in certain random areas of the negative a subtle amount of light was in fact making its way through the test dark slide material that was confirmed with the density readings. Glad that I did not scale up on that project. Waiting for Intrepid to fill the billing and then I will load up knowing that all is well. Film costs and a desire to minimize risk at least for me drives this decision.
    Last edited by Michael Kadillak; 18-Sep-2018 at 08:49. Reason: typo

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Bend, OR
    Posts
    392

    Re: DIY Dark Slides

    Quote Originally Posted by Michael Kadillak View Post
    The material I ordered from National Plastics sounded like a similar ABS/Styrene material. I exposed a test sheet and to the eye it looked at least at first pass as acceptable and I was encouraged to order more material and scale up. Then I had to remind myself that it was really not a scientific test at all. I took a step back and loaded one side of a Fidelity holder with the replacement dark slide and kept the original dark slide on the opposing side. I exposed both sheets to the identical scene and processed then identically and trimmed a corner of the test dark slide so I could distinguish it and initially put the two negatives over a light table and then checked them with a densitometer. I could immediately tell that in certain random areas of the negative a subtle amount of light was in fact making its way through the test dark slide material that was confirmed with the density readings. Glad that I did not scale up on that project. Waiting for Intrepid to fill the billing and then I will load up knowing that all is well. Film costs and a desire to minimize risk at least for me drives this decision.
    Great info everyone- Michael- do you have a contact at or reference point for the Intrepid possibility?- I have looked at their facebook page and see only camera related references there- an email address or reference would be great to know

  8. #8
    Drew Bedo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Houston Texas
    Posts
    3,225

    Re: DIY Dark Slides

    I have heard of Formica sheets used for a replacement dark slide... . .
    Drew Bedo
    www.quietlightphoto.com
    http://www.artsyhome.com/author/drew-bedo




    There are only three types of mounting flanges; too big, too small and wrong thread!

  9. #9

    Re: DIY Dark Slides

    Click image for larger version. 

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  10. #10

    Re: DIY Dark Slides

    Attached above is a screenshot correspondence that came to me when I contacted Intrepid Camera Company about producing dark slides for Fidelity / Lisco 8x10 film holders from the material they showed on their website. This was from April of 2018 so my feeling is that if more interest was expressed it would help the cause. They have the CNC machines as well as the ability and desire to acquire the proper dark slide materials in bulk. Plus the camera company is in business solely to support large format photography which one can clearly see from their web presence.

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