For all of you DIYourselfers, what are the parts/components/materials you need ...

sv@diycamerakit.com · Apr 6, 2010

... but can't find or make? What was the part you had the hardest time procuring or manufacturing?

Steve Smith · Apr 6, 2010

I can make just about all I need except a rack and pinion for focusing. I can't find a supplier in the U.K. either.

Whilst I have made bellows myself, your DIY bellows kit looks interesting if you can ship to the U.K.

I think there could be a market for just the brass parts too with the customer making all the wooden parts.

NOTE: When I go to the 'Camera Parts' section of your website I get 'There are no products to list in this category' for all sections.

Steve.

Sully75 · Apr 6, 2010

graflok back kits. But you know I want that!

Steve Smith · Apr 6, 2010

Sully75 said:
graflok back kits. But you know I want that!

Good idea!

Steve.

sv@diycamerakit.com · Apr 6, 2010

Steve, the camera parts section doesn't have any parts listed because there aren't any for sale currently ;-) If you subscribe to the news feed (RSS) on the site or blog, you will get notified when new parts/kits become available. I think I will remove all the folders without items though. And yes, any kits can be shipped anywhere. I was planning on offering a "hardware only" kit as well, as soon as my new CNC plasma cutter is operational. Cutting the brass parts on the CNC mill is too slow.

BradS · Apr 6, 2010

as above, rack and pinion sets, spring backs - these can be made but, the one critical dimension in a camera is in the back...

the little clippie rivet things that are used to hold down leather handle brackets on Deardorff and Kodak 2-D (for example).

Machined brass / stainless / aluminum parts of all sorts - especially rear bellows hosing corners with integral back spring retainer clips.

Ground glass retainers, leaf springs for backs, stainless wood screws with gently rounded heads...yeah, I can find these but, I do not need / want 100 pieces of each size.

Steve Smith · Apr 6, 2010

sv@diycamerakit.com said:
as soon as my new CNC plasma cutter is operational. Cutting the brass parts on the CNC mill is too slow.

And I thought I was lucky having the use of a CNC drill/router!

Steve.

sv@diycamerakit.com · Apr 6, 2010

Steve Smith said:
And I thought I was lucky having the use of a CNC drill/router!

You are, you CAN make the parts, it's just expensive and slow.

Steve Smith · Apr 6, 2010

sv@diycamerakit.com said:
You are, you CAN make the parts, it's just expensive and slow.

Slow - yes.... expensive - no. It's free as I use it at work at lunchtime.

It's a drill router intended for printed circuit board manufacture. I can't cut metal on it. At least, I can't cut aluminium as the spindles rotate too fast. I am going to try brass though.

It does make very nice finger joints in wood though - See the panoramic camera link in my signature line.

Steve.

sv@diycamerakit.com · Apr 7, 2010

By expensive I mean in machine time. If you need to make one part and you can wait an hour for a little bracket, sure, but I can't use it for anything more then prototyping.

Existing Light · Apr 7, 2010

Luckily, I've been able to make everything I need with plywood, pvc pipe, muslin, fabric dye, a table saw, a handsaw, plastic storage containers, and truckloads of duct tape... Damn, that list was longer than I expected.

I may be restoring a beat to hell enlarger this summer. If I need something that I cant find anywhere else, perhaps I'll add something useful to this thread

Edit: I made this coment before looking at your site. I dont think DIY camera kits would help me in restoring an enlarger

vickersdc · Apr 7, 2010

Steve Smith said:
I can make just about all I need except a rack and pinion for focusing. I can't find a supplier in the U.K. either.

You can find racks and spur gears in the UK from Davall: http://www.davall.co.uk/catalogue.php.

Hope it helps.
David.

Steve Smith · Apr 7, 2010

vickersdc said:
You can find racks and spur gears in the UK from Davall: http://www.davall.co.uk/catalogue.php.

Thanks for the link. There's some interesting stuff there.

I like the note on most pages: "All dimensions are in inches". Proper dimensions!

Steve.

paul ron · Apr 7, 2010

Why are rack n pinions so hard to find? Here is a site that has em... Dead Link Removed

I see lots of small parts distributors out there with em.

sv@diycamerakit.com · Apr 7, 2010

Paul, smallparts has (actually most are out of stock) them but paying $30 for a 2 ft length and then $6 per gear makes this DIY thing pointless. It's over $50 without shipping for just the focusing gear.

Steve Smith · Apr 7, 2010

paul ron said:
Why are rack n pinions so hard to find? Here is a site that has em... Dead Link Removed

Wrong side of the Atlantic for me. I expect the postage is more than the parts!

Steve.

vickersdc · Apr 7, 2010

Steve Smith said:
Thanks for the link. There's some interesting stuff there.

I like the note on most pages: "All dimensions are in inches". Proper dimensions!

Steve.

They're quite helpful too - minimum £30 order, but by the time you've got a length of racking, a couple of spur gears to suit, postage and packing, you're just about there!

Give them a call, I did and I'll be buying some stuff from them next month.

Cheers,
David.

L Gebhardt · Apr 7, 2010

Look at McMaster-Carr. http://www.mcmaster.com/#gears/=6k30am

ronlamarsh · Apr 7, 2010

DIY Bellows

Would love to see DIY bellows for 5X7 or larger

sv@diycamerakit.com · Apr 7, 2010

The DIY Bellows Kit is available for any size. I guess my signature line was confusing.

vickersdc · Apr 8, 2010

I've put all those useful links for rack & pinion on the Flickr 'Camera Building' site too!

NormanV · Jul 13, 2010

I need some rack and pinion to complete my latest camera. I tried MacMaster, they have exactly what I need. 1/4" sq. rack, but they will not post outside of america! I tried Smallparts website but they give hardly any information on sizes. Davall gears I used years ago, they were expensive then but I have not checked recently. I have found someone offering 'Delrin' racks. Has anyone any experience with this material. I dont fancy the white colour but if they do the job..... Can anyone advise me please?
Thanks, Norman

Curt · Jul 13, 2010

sv@diycamerakit.com said:
... but can't find or make? What was the part you had the hardest time procuring or manufacturing?

It's an excellent question, I emailed you recently about a kit for 11X14 bellows but you don't have printer large enough for the pattern. If you could get a cheap printer then you're in business for the larger bellows sizes.

I've made them in the past so I'm going to be making them in the future but i would like to see a kit, I'd try one.

Curt · Jul 13, 2010

I almost forgot, camera back springs, all sizes, stainless steel.

Mustafa Umut Sarac · Jul 15, 2010

May be you can order some of your parts from SLA rapid prototyping , there are some cnc people who draws your part to CAD free if you are ordering part from their machines. May be RP guys do also

For all of you DIYourselfers, what are the parts/components/materials you need ...

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