Foam on Patterson 8x10 Pro-Proofer deteriorating.

[Mike Kennedy]

Is there a place where I could purchase new foam for this unit.A number of darkroom items were given to me for resale.This is one.I wouldn't put it in the classifieds they way it looks now.

Thank You

 

[bdial]

I used a neoprene mouse pad, cut to fit, to replace the foam on mine. Works well.

 

[Michael W]

In Sydney I went to a shop called the Foam Booth & bought some hard cell foam. It was pretty cheap and easy to glue in. Works well. I suppose there are shops like that in most cities.

 

[Mike Wilde]

I think mine is a Paterson. It has an 'adjustable' hinge slot that mates with the pins on the metal part that holds the glass, that accomodates different thicknesses of material in it.
The foam was going flaky after digging it out of storage while my darkroom was mothballed for a number of years I spent working overseas.

I replaced the foam with a piece of black rigid foamcore board cut exactly 8x10". Now I can load negs filed in plastic storage sheets by feel in absolute darkness or by very dim green safelight.
This abiility is a must when proofing c-41 and e-6 contact sheets.

 

[Mike Kennedy]

Great ideas folks,thank you!

 

[paul_c5x4]

Pay a visit to your local independent computer store. Ask if they have any of the soft black foam that motherboards used to be shipped with.

 

[quine666]

I also used black foamcore board. Works well enough.

 

[mjs]

Auto headliner material. Fabric stores such as "JoAnne's" carry it. It comes in a roll about 40" wide; you can buy a piece a foot wide and 40"-odd long for a couple of bucks and it'll do several of these. The material also works very well for lens wraps. My oldest daughter custom-made a wrap for each of my lenses a few years ago.

Mike

 

[George Nova Scotia]

If all else fails, some companies still supply parts.
http://www.patersonphotographic.com...0&categoryID=1257&recordsPerPage=10&textOnly=

 

[GRHazelton]

If all else fails, some companies still supply parts.
http://www.patersonphotographic.com...0&categoryID=1257&recordsPerPage=10&textOnly=

Wow, the prices are incredible! I had the same problem and a local camera shop with a huge collection of used gear furnished me what amounts to a new old stock 35mm proofer. Now I can try some of the above suggestions on the old one with the crumbling foam.

I wish the prices for replacement glass lid with the masks were more reasonable. I could use a second proofer for my 120 negs. Ah, well.

 

[Mike Wilde]

I proof with the negs in thier palstic filing sleves; one proofer does 35mm, 120/220 in 6x6 V or H rows, and other formats, as well as 4-4x5 sheets per page.