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Thread: Waterhouse Stops: DIY Tips

  1. #1
    Drew Bedo's Avatar
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    Waterhouse Stops: DIY Tips

    Has anyone here ever made their own set of waterhouse stops for a vintage/antique lens?

    I am thinking that a couple layers of heavy card stock could work for cut and try protoyping the outline before going to brass stock. Qfter getting the fit right, getting the hole centered would be a challenge. Sizing the holes to make a workable series of standard stops would be the next part of the project. It should all be doable .

    Any advice based on experience would be helpful.

    Any thoughts?
    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!

  2. #2

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    Re: Waterhouse Stops: DIY Tips/

    Have made several sets cutting and filing the brass sheets clamped together by hand. My biggest mistake in the beginning was using too thin of sheets of brass thinking that it would take a lot less time to cut down and file. Next mistake was to not to 100% thoroughly clean the brass before I painted it black. Paint chipped off with use. Centering the hole doesn't have to be 100% perfectly centered. Drilled mine by eye and they still worked just great.

  3. #3
    Mark Sawyer's Avatar
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    Re: Waterhouse Stops: DIY Tips/

    To center the hole, first finish the outside shape of the stop. Then remove the front lens cell, insert the stop, and draw a circle on the stop around the inside perimeter of the barrel. Use that circle to center the stop.

    Regarding the size of the hole, remember that the aperture must be measured through the front element, which will magnify the size of the opening.
    "I love my Verito lens, but I always have to sharpen everything in Photoshop..."

  4. #4
    Drew Bedo's Avatar
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    Re: Waterhouse Stops: DIY Tips

    Thanks guys .. .good stuff.

    Anyone else?
    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!

  5. #5
    Matt Alexander
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    Re: Waterhouse Stops: DIY Tips

    I found a stepped drill bit works much better than a traditional twist bit on sheet metal such as brass.
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  6. #6
    Mark Sawyer's Avatar
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    Re: Waterhouse Stops: DIY Tips

    Sandwiching the brass between two sheets of wood also helps keep it from deforming during the drilling.
    "I love my Verito lens, but I always have to sharpen everything in Photoshop..."

  7. #7
    Drew Bedo's Avatar
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    Re: Waterhouse Stops: DIY Tips

    thoutghts on figuring out the actual size of the various holes to cut/drill?
    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!

  8. #8
    8x20 8x10 John Jarosz's Avatar
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    Re: Waterhouse Stops: DIY Tips

    I've had good luck using darkslides as the starting material.

  9. #9
    8x20 8x10 John Jarosz's Avatar
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    Re: Waterhouse Stops: DIY Tips

    I was told (but I have no source to cite) that a one stop difference is achieved by halving (or doubling) the area of the aperture. Of course, this means you must have some known aperture to start with.

    I'm interested in hearing how true this is.

  10. #10
    Drew Bedo's Avatar
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    Re: Waterhouse Stops: DIY Tips

    Quote Originally Posted by John Jarosz View Post
    I was told (but I have no source to cite) that a one stop difference is achieved by halving (or doubling) the area of the aperture. Of course, this means you must have some known aperture to start with.

    I'm interested in hearing how true this is.
    Unless I am totally mistaken, that is essentially true.

    I intend to first determine the open aperture of the lens without a stop inserted. Then physically measure the diameter inside and calculate the area. Then calculate the diameter of an opening with half that. This will be the first insurable stop. Tthis will be repeted for the other smaller stops.
    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!

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