Mounting a Metal Retaining Ring onto a Metal Lensboard

[David Aimone]

Hopefully an easy question for all you handy types out there: What is the best way to mount a metal retaining ring onto a metal lens board (a Linhof-Tecknica style board)? It has to be mounted on the front for it to fit into camera I want to use it on. The lens is a 210 Heliar mounted in a compound shutter.




Also moderators: I had to rewrite this email because after I wrote it the first time, I clicked the button to add an image, which wiped out my message completely. Is this normal?

[cowanw]

Threaded holes work well for me, with the added security of a nut screwed on from behind if the length of the bolt allows.

[David Aimone]

Your method of creating threaded holes?

Threaded holes work well for me, with the added security of a nut screwed on from behind if the length of the bolt allows.

[Jim Noel]

Drill and tap the hole.

[Havoc]

You cannot tap a hole in a plate that is thinner than the diameter of the thread (not if you want to secure anything with that thread). Just drill a hole and use a star washer and nut at the other side with a dab of loctite. Otherwise, turn both sides down to bare metal and use loctite (the variety for definitive mounting gears) but then you need a close fit on the surfaces. You could also go vintage and use rivets but then you need the blind ones otherwise you can end up with a light leak.

[cowanw]

You cannot tap a hole in a plate that is thinner than the diameter of the thread (not if you want to secure anything with that thread).

Yes drill and tap the hole.
I am sure that's true in theory but in practice it seems to work well enough with flanges of three or four holes. Anyway my professional machinist seemed to think it was the right way to go and several of my classic lenses came on boards that way. A # 4 bolt seems to be the size that fits most flange holes. You certainly cannot go wrong with a nut on the back. Not sure lock tight is necessary; it's not like the usage is going to loosen a nut any more than it will loosen the alternative mounting; a retaining ring on the back.

[Havoc]

It's your lens...

[adelorenzo]

I use hot glue and tape to do this and it works great. Also easily removed in the future.

For something more permanent I would use JB Weld.

[David Aimone]

Bolts, nuts and a little of the less permanent loctite. Thanks everyone!



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[Roger Thoms]

Good job David, glad to see you kept it simple.

Roger