Dark slide lock fix ..

peter k. · Jul 27, 2017

My Fidelity Elite 4x5 film holders twisting 'locks' are turning to easily, and not staying in place. There not lose, just 'worn' in its base. Is there any repair ideas that others may have tried on their film holders?

Neal · Jul 28, 2017

I only twist them into position when I'm handling them around the camera.

darkroommike · Jul 28, 2017

A lot of these are just threaded in, you could unscrew the lock add a bit of wood or plastic to the hole and screw the lock pin back in.

peter k. · Jul 28, 2017

darkroommike said:
A lot of these are just threaded in,

Nope, not mine... so for a temp workaround, took a roll of 1.5" masking tape that we had, and cut thin strips, and applied it to the top angle of the 'lock'. Now when turned it creates a friction with the top of the dark slide. Will see how they work out.
If anyone else has some suggestions, would love to hear them. ;-)

Kilgallb · Aug 2, 2017

I have accidentally opened the slide a few times when pulling out a film pack I now tape them shut. Maybe when I get rich I can buy new film packs.

Arklatexian · Aug 2, 2017

Kilgallb said:
I have accidentally opened the slide a few times when pulling out a film pack I now tape them shut. Maybe when I get rich I can buy new film packs.

What do you mean by "film packs"? When they were made, they went into a "film pack adapter", from which you pulled the dark slide before pulling the paper that pulled the first film into position after the FPA was in the camera. If they started making them again, I probably would not spend the money to buy them as they must have been very labor-intensive to manufacture.......Regards!

Patrick Robert James · Aug 3, 2017

All the holders I have (more than 40 Fidelity, Toyo, Lisco, StudioPro, etc.) have screw in twist locks. I screw them in until they just fit over the dark slide when it is in all the way. Usually they are pretty tight at that point, but that is what they are designed for! When they are screwed out they are pretty loose. It usually takes a few turns to get them down far enough. Every holder I ever bought was loose out of the box. If you do it right, there is no chance the dark slide will ever come out on you accidentally.

If indeed the holes are worn, you could try a little superglue on a toothpick. You'd only need a little. That would tighten it up. Don't let the toothpick get stuck in the hole....

Hope that helps.

AgX · Aug 3, 2017

peter k. said:
Nope, not mine... so for a temp workaround, took a roll of 1.5" masking tape that we had, and cut thin strips, and applied it to the top angle of the 'lock'. Now when turned it creates a friction with the top of the dark slide.

My first idea was putting a tube as a shrinking tube onto that leg. Though maybe your adhesive will stick better. Well, there is adhesive shrinking tube too.
A different approach could be to bend that leg so that it gets a concave shape, again bringing fricton onto the slide.

peter k. · Aug 3, 2017

Kilgallb said:
tape them shut

I've tried rubber bands in the past, but didn't like the tension on the dark slide, and also thought of your suggestion of tape, but didn't like the idea of the residue of the tape attracting dirt.

Patrick Robert James said:
All the holders I have (more than 40 Fidelity, Toyo, Lisco, StudioPro, etc.) have screw in twist locks.

Well I've screwed these around with several times, unless its a very fine tread, nothing is happening. Doesn't go in. Might try your super glue, but won't that lock them up?

AgX said:
A different approach could be to bend that leg so that it gets a concave shape, again bringing fricton onto the slide.

Hmm thought of that to, except have fear of busting out the 'lock'
Thanks for your replies, the masking tape wrapped around the angle leg of the 'lock' seems to be working, but not as well as it should. Don't have the fear of opening a dark side when we pull a holder out of its place in its storage container.

Patrick Robert James · Aug 3, 2017

I have to apologize a bit Peter. I just went through all my holders looking for a Fidelity and I don't have any! The ones I thought were Fidelity were Lisco Regal IIs.

Keep screwing the post in until it can't go any more. It takes quite a few turns to get them in. If you can't, see if you can unscrew it and take it out. Maybe the Fidelities are different.

The superglue is only meant to fill some gaps. You don't fill the hole with it. Use only a little on the end of a toothpick, much less than a drop. A good way to do this is put a drop on the toothpick, then touch the toothpick to a paper towel. What is left is all you need. You could also use a pin if the toothpick won't fit. Let the glue dry an hour or two, then reinsert the lock post. I've used superglue to fix holes in plastic many times. Like I said though, only a little bit.

Hope that helps.

Dark slide lock fix ..

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