"Trimming" a Bill Maxwell screen to size

[nicemate1]

Hello!

Suppose your best friend and colleague is willing to give you his spare Ultra Brilliant Hi Lux screen by Bill Maxwell almost for free.

But it's long by 2 mm, because your friend was using an Ebony and you have a Wista 45.

Is there something you can do about it? It would obviously seem easier to cut the screen, rather than trying cutting the graflok back it is sitting in.

But of course, I don't want to ruin it.

I very much appreciate any suggestion.

Thanks

[Pfsor]

But of course, I don't want to ruin it.

I very much appreciate any suggestion.

Thanks

Hmm. Then cut it in the way that doesn't ruin it!

[nicemate1]

Hmm. Then cut it in the way that doesn't ruin it!

Yes, of course! But how ? I've never done anything quite like it. Should I use scissors? A cutter ? Precision Laser? I think it is a plastic based material.

Thanks

[Bob Salomon]

Yes, of course! But how ? I've never done anything quite like it. Should I use scissors? A cutter ? Precision Laser? I think it is a plastic based material.

Thanks

Take it to a plastic supply house and have then take an equal amount off each end, or have them show you how to do it.

[Pfsor]

Have the glass cut by a professional, the plastic by a cutter.

[Pfsor]

Take it to a plastic supply house and have then take an equal amount off each end, or have them show you how to do it.

Provided they know how fragile plastic Fresnel lenses are - I would not bet on it. It's not the cutting that is problem, rather the handling of the grooves.

[nicemate1]

Provided they know how fragile plastic Fresnel lenses are - I would not bet on it. It's not the cutting that is problem, rather the handling of the grooves.

I am sorry but could you elaborate a bit more, so I can understand? What do you mean by "the handling of the grooves" ? Thank you so much

[Peter De Smidt]

Send it to Bill Maxwell.

[Pfsor]

I am sorry but could you elaborate a bit more, so I can understand? What do you mean by "the handling of the grooves" ? Thank you so much

The Fresnel part has grooves that are easily damaged by rougher handling. Best to send it to Maxwell indeed, because you don't know the details enough.

[R.K]

If it is plastic, then its probably soft enough to trim it with woodworking hand plane. Of course you need a sharp plane or better a block plane and some understanding in the woodworking, or at list check some videos on the YouTube about building a shutting board and trimming the edges of the wooden planks. Wrap your screen in something soft, only living the edge exposed, improvise kind of a simple shutting board (this is not difficult) and trim you screen from as many sides as you need. I did approximately the same once, when I was fitting the Graflex Fresnel lens in the Shen Hao. The lens was a bit fick for the Shen Hao so I plane a rabbets on the sides in order to fit it in place.