8x10 Wooden film holders: nightmare!

PBrooks · May 27, 2007

Hello all, as some of you know I will be headed to Taiwan in a few days, so I have been acquiring film holders for my trip. Anyways I came accrossed a lot of 5 wooden film holders on e-pay the other night and snagged them for like 40 bucks, I thought was a good deal. They all look fine, no splitting of the wood, only normal wear on the cormers that go into the camera first. So, I checked them to see if they would leak and well you can guess, like a siv, so here is my question. Is it worth even trying to have someone replace the light traps in these or should I just chalk it up to experience and through them away? Your help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Phillip

Curt · May 27, 2007

Can you tell us exactly where the light leaks are?

Curt

Don't throw them away yet, they might be salvageable. Do you have any Lisco, Riteway, or other ones? The newer plastic holders are lighter for you traveling.

User Removed · May 27, 2007

Gaffers tape? Most holders can be repaired, so don't toss them yet.

Alex Hawley · May 27, 2007

Ryan McIntosh said:
Gaffers tape? Most holders can be repaired, so don't toss them yet.

Think that's all you should need Phill unless termites got to them.

I have managed to crack a darkslide in the past, but they can be easily replaced.

epatsellis · May 27, 2007

They're really quite simple, the hardest part to repair is the light baffle, and it's spring steel with felt on it, I keep adhesive backed felt on hand for just these types of occasions, of course if you really want to be rid of them....

erie

PBrooks · May 27, 2007

Well, its definetly in the light baffle on all 5. Oh and yes I do have 12 modern plastic film holders so that I can load a box at a time, then use the same box to unload. This has been the cleanest method in the past. But for the future, I didn't really want ot through them out if I didn't have to
Phillip

Alex Hawley · May 27, 2007

PBrooks said:
Well, its definetly in the light baffle on all 5.

That sucks!

Curt · May 27, 2007

You should be able to unscrew the metal top, take it apart, clean off the felt, bend the metal so it does its job, put new felt back in, and put it back together. Give a it a try on one. Nothing is going to fall out, it's not a watch or shutter. You might be able to get them in order in time to take them with you.
Best of luck and let us know how it is going,
Curt

John Kasaian · May 27, 2007

If they are they marked " Made by Graflex for Eastman Kodak" then They can be unscrewed to get at the light traps. Other brands/models are nailed or riveted together and thats baaad! In that case get your money back if you can, or salvage whatever parts you can off 'em before trashing. Or recycle them as picture frames.

epatsellis · May 28, 2007

Not to contradict John, but it's not that hard to drill and re rivet the holders, if need be. You can get #3 or #4 soft aircraft rivets inexpensively, and they can be set with a small hammer and punch. However if you don't have them on hand, I wouldn't even consider it before you leave.

erie

Curt · May 28, 2007

Now it's combing back, if they are rivets you can drill them out and use small nuts and bolt to fasten them back. Most likely they are screws.

MikeK · May 28, 2007

Curt said:
You should be able to unscrew the metal top, take it apart, clean off the felt, bend the metal so it does its job, put new felt back in, and put it back together. Give a it a try on one. Nothing is going to fall out, it's not a watch or shutter. You might be able to get them in order in time to take them with you.
Best of luck and let us know how it is going,
Curt

Curt - so you know where you can get replacement felt? I know I have a number of holders that are going to need repair.

Mike

PHOTOTONE · May 28, 2007

MikeK said:
Curt - so you know where you can get replacement felt? I know I have a number of holders that are going to need repair.

Mike

I'm not Curt..but you can get self-adhesive black felt at Hobby/Craft stores, such as Hobby Lobby, Michaels, etc. You can also get non-adhesive black felt also. The felt comes in 8.5 x 11" sheets.

epatsellis · May 28, 2007

I might add that it's a good idea to keep a piece of self adhesive felt and self adhesive foamies (2mm black foam, less than $1 at Wally World) kicking around, you'd be amazed at the uses you will find for it

erie

PHOTOTONE · May 28, 2007

epatsellis said:
I might add that it's a good idea to keep a piece of self adhesive felt and self adhesive foamies (2mm black foam, less than $1 at Wally World) kicking around, you'd be amazed at the uses you will find for it

erie

What department do you find the self-adhesive foamies at Wal-Mart? It seems they have discontinued their arts and crafts department in my local super-center.

epatsellis · May 28, 2007

unfortunately, that'd be the one, Hobby Lobby and the like should have it also.

erie

8x10 Wooden film holders: nightmare!

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