DIY Wet Plate Holder?

[scyg]

Having brought my Ansco 8x10 back to a reasonably functional state, I'd like to make a wet plate holder or two for it. I have access to a well - equipped wood and metal fabrication shop. Where could I find information on how to make one? I suppose I could design one in a pinch, but I'd prefer to use a tested design of possible.
I know most of you are probably thinking I'm just trying to cheap out of buying a couple of plate holders. The thing is, I don't want to *buy* them - the fun is in the making.

 

[awty]

Are you making one from scratch or adapting an existing one?
I think the easiest method of making one from scratch is to have a rear loading door and make it similar to the old wooden book form plate holders, but only one sided.
That way the front is a simple seal with the dark slide and the rear door can be rebated for light proofing, needs to be able to be clipped closed ( some use magnets) and have a pressure spring to hold against something on the corners to prevent the glass pushing against the dark slide.
Glass plate must be exactly on the focal plain of the ground glass.
Making one from an existing film holder requires some dremiling.

 

[koraks]

@scyg do you have a regular 8x10 film holder you could use as a template to get the measurements from? From there on it's not a terribly difficult challenge to DIY something. As @awty says, the film plane alignment is critical. The horizontal and vertical positioning of the plate is also somewhat critical, but much less so.

Sorry, I have no plans for this; back when I did wet plate, I just abused a film holder. I never moved past 4x5 so I didn't feel too bad destroying one.

 

[awty]

@scyg

Sorry, I have no plans for this; back when I did wet plate, I just abused a film holder. I never moved past 4x5 so I didn't feel too bad destroying one.

I did the same using dry plate holders, resently modified a half plate to take a 5x7 wet plate, but its not very good (crops to half plate) so I opted to buy a new plastic wet plate holder and after waiting 3 weeks it turned up yesterday only to find they sent me a dry plate holder instead....Damn!
Switching from 4x5 to 5x7 is a big step up, much more than Id expect. Dont think I will use 4x5 anymore except for test shots.

 

[koraks]

Switching from 4x5 to 5x7 is a big step up, much more than Id expect.

5x7 is a very nice format indeed. I only shoot 4x5 and 8x10, but 5x7 is actually the perfect middle ground. I've always resisted hauling yet another system into the house, but 5x7 remains a temptation. Especially for wet plate it's nice. 8x10 glass plates are cumbersome to deal with, 4x5 is a bit on the small side and feels finicky, but 5x7 is just, well, perfect!

 

[scyg]

I have 8x10 film holders (both newish Fidelity and creaky old Kodak ones. I suppose I could try converting one of the more-or-less defunct Kodaks, though I'd probably would have to rebuild the light trap/s from scratch.