Graflex light leak

[pamphoto]

I have a Graflex camera that has a light leak right next to the lens where it meets the board.
I'm thinking a little soldering might help, but I don't want to ruin the lens.
Any suggestions?

Thank you!

 

[BrianShaw]

Soldering seems a bit extreme, although might be a permanent filler. Remove the lens first. But why not fill the gap with a dark epoxy, like JB Weld, or even a piece of electrical tape?

 

[Kino]

+1 for above. Remove the lens if at all possible. If it is stuck on, no harm in putting black colored epoxy or glue into the hole...

 

[pamphoto]

Soldering seems a bit extreme, although might be a permanent filler. Remove the lens first. But why not fill the gap with a dark epoxy, like JB Weld, or even a piece of electrical tape?

I have electrical tape on hand. I'll have to wait until the ice melts to get an epoxy.
Thank you for your help!

 

[koraks]

You can't solder that to begin with, at least not in the regular way. You might be able to silver solder it depending on the material of the lens board. Welding would be a more sensible alternative, although I'd still consider it needlessly drastic. A little tape or what have you is all it takes, really. Maybe fill the gap with some epoxy with a little carbon black mixed in with it.

 

[pamphoto]

You can't solder that to begin with, at least not in the regular way. You might be able to silver solder it depending on the material of the lens board. Welding would be a more sensible alternative, although I'd still consider it needlessly drastic. A little tape or what have you is all it takes, really. Maybe fill the gap with some epoxy with a little carbon black mixed in with it.

Thank you @koraks I'm new to large format and want to fix it right!

 

[Chuck1]

Try wrapping around the shutter with black yarn

 

[Besk]

Soldering seems a bit extreme, although might be a permanent filler. Remove the lens first. But why not fill the gap with a dark epoxy, like JB Weld, or even a piece of electrical tape?

The JB Weld will work. With the lens off, smear the epoxy in the hole and then when almost set clean off any extra epoxy on the each side with a knife. You want hole to be smooth and flat on both sides of course.

I would then paint the repaired area with flat black paint. A small bottle of which can be purchased from the art department of big box stores such as Walmart or Hobby Lobby.

PS: the idea of the black yarn may well work and be easier.

 

[pbromaghin]

Just get a new board they aren’t hard to find. $15-20 on eBay. I bought one from @AnselMortensen last year.

 

[pamphoto]

The JB Weld will work. With the lens off, smear the epoxy in the hole and then when almost set clean off any extra epoxy on the each side with a knife. You want hole to be smooth and flat on both sides of course.

I would then paint the repaired area with flat black paint. A small bottle of which can be purchased from the art department of big box stores such as Walmart or Hobby Lobby.

PS: the idea of the black yarn may well work and be easier.

Thank you for the instructions. When we thaw out here I'll see about getting some epoxy. That seems to be the majority say to fix it.

 

[pamphoto]

Just get a new board they aren’t hard to find. $15-20 on eBay. I bought one from @AnselMortensen last year.

I'll see what I can find. Thank you.

 

[mshchem]

Might be that the board had a notch to accommodate a different shutter. Anything opaque (silly putty ) would work to test the theory.

Body filler, something like JB weld, I would keep in mind that epoxy putty is semi-permanent (not sure that's a thing?) You could try to position a drop of solder, I just wouldn't expect it to stick.

I would go with anything opaque that gets you going.

 

[blee1996]

I use copper tape, which is light tight from outside. I also add black electric tape so it will not reflect light inside.

 

[pamphoto]

Might be that the board had a notch to accommodate a different shutter. Anything opaque (silly putty ) would work to test the theory.

Body filler, something like JB weld, I would keep in mind that epoxy putty is semi-permanent (not sure that's a thing?) You could try to position a drop of solder, I just wouldn't expect it to stick.

I would go with anything opaque that gets you going. h

Thank you. I will see what I can find.

 

[pamphoto]

I use copper tape, which is light tight from outside. I also add black electric tape so it will not reflect light inside.

Thanks! I don't see the hole on the outside, so I would have to take the lens off first. It is easy to see on the inside.

 

[BrianShaw]

If the hole doesn't go all the way through, it is not a problem.

 

[pamphoto]

If the hole doesn't go all the way through, it is not a problem.

It does since light is coming in there. I think it's under the lens unit where it can't be seen directly.

 

[hsandler]

That may be a locating notch for a particular lens that has a locating pin. I would go with black electrical tape, so that you don't permanently alter the board. It's on the inside, so cosmetics is not an issue. It's simple and reversible.

 

[pamphoto]

Thank you everyone! I put some electrical tape there. Now to make a test image!