Wax to fix old stiff film holders

[Ken Lee]

Inserting and removing old wooden film holders with an old wooden camera (Kodak 2D) can be frustrating: friction. The wood surfaces are no longer smooth. The dark slides can also be stiff to insert and remove, because they too are no longer smooth.

Solution: Apply a thin coating of wax, and polish it. The dark slides now move in and out like new - perhaps better than new. I also waxed the inside of the film back, where the holders slide in and out. The film holders now go in and out like... butter

[Michael Clark]

Ken Lee, are you talking car wax or some other special kind? I was using Pledge spry furniture wax on the dark slides but never thought about the holder itself. They do get hard to insert into the back of the camera.

[rjmeyer314]

I've had the same problem and used silicone spray. I sprayed a paper towel and then used it just on the edges of the dark slide. It solved my problems.

[Ken Lee]

I used Butcher's Boston Polish Amber Paste Wax, but any wax designed for wood refinishing should do fine.

I just used my camera in the field, and it really makes a difference. I will probably end up doing this with all my stiff slides. The film holders go in and out effortlessly.

I also waxed the inside of the camera's film back, where the holders slide in and out. That was the place which needed it the most.

[Milton Tierney]

I’ve used paste furniture wax for years on wooden drawer runners. It works great.

[Randy]

I will probably end up doing this with all my stiff slides. The film holders go in and out effortlessly.

Ken, are you saying you will try it on your dark slides also?
I have had nothing but trouble out of my old 5X7 film holders, both sliding them in and out of the camera, and removing and inserting the dark-slides.
Thanks for the tip.

[Marc B.]

Sort of a related note.
You can also polish out some minor imperfections in wood, (think water rings on a wooden coffee table), with toothpaste.
I have always used plain Pepsodent.
After all, at the heart of it, toothpaste is basically just an ultra-fine polishing compound.
Clean off excess residue with damp cloth, let dry, then lightly wax.

[Robert A. Zeichner]

I simply rub down the dark slides with waxed paper (Cutrite works for me).

[Ken Lee]

Ken, are you saying you will try it on your dark slides also?
I have had nothing but trouble out of my old 5X7 film holders, both sliding them in and out of the camera, and removing and inserting the dark-slides.
Thanks for the tip.

Sorry, I was vague. I have used wax on the holders, the slides, and the camera. They now work better on the Kodak, than new plastic holders do on my Sinar. I wish I had more wooden holders. I waxed them all, and all their slides. I will probably wax the slides in my plastic holders as well, both 5x7 and 4x5.

[Ken Lee]

Sort of a related note.
You can also polish out some minor imperfections in wood, (think water rings on a wooden coffee table), with toothpaste.
I have always used plain Pepsodent.
After all, at the heart of it, toothpaste is basically just an ultra-fine polishing compound.
Clean off excess residue with damp cloth, let dry, then lightly wax.

Excellent - Thanks !