Easy spin 'L' screws on 4x5 film holders...

Have 6 used Fidelity Elite 4x5 film holders, that are in very good shape, but have been used previously for 20 years+, (purchased them used) and the L screws are very loose. Tried rubber bands.. didn't like that! Was thinking of a light application of Shoe Goo, around its base, on top of the plastic, but fear it would be to restrictive, and not allow it to spin at all.

Has anyone tried this, or has anyone come up with a trick of making these 'tight' again so they don't spin so easily, and will set, and stay, until moved to free the dark slide?
Thanks for any help.

don't know

I don't understand the (low tech) technology behind these gizmos but I appreciate your dilemma. I have Riteway 4x5 holders. In examining them I wonder if you can bend the short "L" section a bit toward the dark slide so they will hold better? I have no idea what makes them freely rotate and in your case too freely.

snapguy said:

... wonder if you can bend the short "L" section a bit toward the dark slide so they will hold better?

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Don't think that will stop the spin, and fearful of cracking the plastic, in doing so, but open to any ideas.

The glue really needs to be down in the hole with the pin, and that will be difficult with most glues, as they are too thick. You can get cyanoacrylates (super glue) that are water-thin, but there would be a big risk of permanently bonding the pin. A drop of wood glue at the top of the pin where it enters the holder will probably work, but it will be temporary since it won't bond well on the plastic.
I don't know if the pins are threaded or just press-fit into the holders. If they are threaded, it should be easy enough to unscrew them then put a drop of glue into the hole with some wax or light oil on the pin so that it doesn't bond. A polyurethane glue like Gorilla glue would probably work well for that method.

I don't really use those pins though, and mostly they just get in the way, IMHO.

I have no practical experience with solving similar problems in plastic but with wooden holders I'd glue tiny wooden plugs in the holes and drill new holes. I imagine filling the holes with epoxy and drilling new holes would work.

bdial said:

I don't really use those pins though, and mostly they just get in the way, IMHO.

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Hmmm... well there must a method to your madness.. could you explain.

I have my holders in the camera bag, or a separate container, and when I first got them, even trying to be careful, they must have slightly opened, as I had gotten several light leaks. So I tried zip lock bags... which worked, but didn't care for doing and undoing the bag. Then tried rubber bands.. but the tension on the slide, if not perfect for both sides may also caused light leaks, so I gave that up.

This afternoon, thought of another idea, on two of them, got out a small soldiering iron, and heated the tip into the plastic around the 'L', on both sides, melting the plastic around the metal. Its working, will see for how long.

But still open up for more ideas.
Doesn't seem to be much of a problem for most of you. These guys must have been used allot, but are light tight, just the annoyance of the 'L' spinning around is the only problem.

peter k. said:

Then tried rubber bands.. but the tension on the slide, if not perfect for both sides may also caused light leaks, so I gave that up.

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I use rubber bands to stop the darkslides getting out when I don't want them too and haven't had any light leaks. I use ones that don't stretch that much but do enough to keep the darkslides in place.

Just put the glue or whatever you use, on the threads. That should be enough glue. Maybe try wood filler instead, like the type you buy to fill nail holes. You can experiment with a piece of soft pine first, before proceeding to use on the holders. Good Luck.

I am careful to grip the holder by it's body rather than the slides to avoid pulling a slide accidentally.The other thing I do is alternate the holders in my bag which makes the stack more compact, and possibly gives you less likely hood of grabbing slides instead of the holder body. It also keeps the light trap ridges from locking with each other.