Cutting Sheet Film holders dark slide

Marcelo Paniagua · Jan 19, 2022

Hello

I have several 4x5 film holders that I don't use but I have a 2 1/4 x3 1/4 Horseman holder. I have checked the 4x5 dark slide thickness and seems it will work with the Horseman holder.

Have any of you cutted the dark slide? If so, what had you used? Not really afraid to waste one or two dark slide but would rather not waste them.

Thanks

Dan Daniel · Jan 19, 2022

Bandsaw.

Nodda Duma · Jan 19, 2022

Guillotine paper cutter. The heavier duty the better

abruzzi · Jan 19, 2022

I assume they are plastic dark slides, not metal? I have some broken darkslides for Adapt-a-Roll holders I'm going to take to the local machine shop to get them re-made in metal because the plastic gets brittle and breaks. I haven't asked for a price yet though. If I was cutting plastic, I'd start small and build up if the smaller ones fail. I love x-acto knives so I'd probably start with that. It might also be worth seeing if you can score the plastic with the knife, then bend the plastic to break it on the score (not sure it would work on these, but might be worth a try. I like the gillotine idea too, if you have access to one.

250swb · Jan 19, 2022

There is a tool plastic modellers use for cutting plastic card called a scriber, similar to this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333389443758?epid=1717259497&hash=item4d9f8f32ae:g:LjQAAOSwDABdw~ld

This will give a far cleaner cut than even a knife because it cuts deeper and with fewer passes. For the handle of the dark slide use a fine blade hacksaw

markbau · Jan 19, 2022

I used to build plastic models. I would use a brand new box cutter blade and a steel ruler, keep the blade vertical and scribe it several times along a steel ruler so it is cut about halfway. It should then snap very cleanly.
Ignore the advice about using a bandsaw, it will probably melt the plastic and you'll end up with a real mess.

DWThomas · Jan 19, 2022

Never tried it on a dark slide, but there are scoring tools sold for cutting acrylic glazing and plastics
Here's a cheap one.
These are a bit more pricey. I have one similar to that I use to cut acrylic glazing for framing pictures.

juan · Jan 20, 2022

I used a box cutter and a metal T-square to cut an 8x10 slide to be used as 4x10.

Marcelo Paniagua · Jan 20, 2022

Thanks guys. It was a black plastic dark slide. Tried with guillotine but ended up breaking one of the slides. Ended up marking the lines with a cutter and then using a metal ruler I use for carpentry, broke it on the marks. Ended up quite nice and, above all, functional. Now I have an extra 2 1/4 x 3 1/4.

Regards

Joe VanCleave · Jan 20, 2022

I've used a black flexible plastic cover 3-ring binder, cut with a paper trimmer and scissors. Enough black plastic for 4-6 dark slides, depending on format. It's more flexible than the original Riteway darkslide but works fine. You can also cut it to custom lengths for a pull handle. No reason to employ the services of a machine shop when a $2 binder at Staples works fine.

Marcelo Paniagua · Jan 20, 2022

thanks for the tip Joe. Got a Horseman Roll Film holder which seem that wont accept Riteway darkslide because of the tickness. Will try with that.

Marcelo

Cutting Sheet Film holders dark slide

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