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

[sv@diycamerakit.com]

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

 

[Steve Smith]

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]

graflok back kits. But you know I want that!

 

[Steve Smith]

graflok back kits. But you know I want that!

Good idea!


Steve.

 

[sv@diycamerakit.com]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[ronlamarsh]

DIY Bellows

Would love to see DIY bellows for 5X7 or larger

 

[sv@diycamerakit.com]

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

 

[vickersdc]

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

 

[NormanV]

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]

... 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]

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

 

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

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