• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

Lens boards on ebay?

I ordered some 4x4 wood lensboards for my zone vi on ebay that were inexpensive. They looked nice but they were not 'countersinked' (im not sure exactly what to call it.) The hole was the right size, but on originals some of the wood around the hole is cut out in the back to allow for the shutter retaining ring.

In other words, I could not mount a lens on them because the wood was too thick! I think the guys went as oakland camera or something similar, which is interesting cause he was not located anywhere near his namesake. When I inquired about them, his reply was 'you get what you pay for'.

So I was better off just making them myself.

By the way, what size lensboards do you need?
 
I, too, use a board from the Oakland guy. Prior to buying mine I asked about the size of the countersink and he told me it was 1/2" around the drilled hole. The board received, however, did not have the countersink (it was straight bored). In the end it didn't matter... the lens mounted fine without the countersink

He is easy to find by searching eBay for "Graphic" and "lensboard".
 

I have ordered several from oaklandlenscom on eBay, the person Brian refers to. They come pretty quickly. Mine all had the countersunk space around the lens hole, but I found that the recessed edge along the perimeter is not quite deep enough. So 15 minutes with a sanding block and a coat of flat black paint fixed them all and they are now fine. In fact, I need to order several more and this required "adjustment" is not enough to deter me.
 
Its good to see that he may be improving his product. Certainly is a good price.
 
I've ordered a couple a 6x6 from him in the past and they turned up fast and as ordered. Just waiting for two more, one for the Spencer Portland I bought from Jim... ;-)
 
A drill, a large diameter forstner? bit and an adjustable bit, a radial saw and a table router... I started this post to comment on the few tools needed to make my wooden lensboards, but the list is pretty long. I'm lucky to have all the equipment.
 
ragc said:
I'm lucky to have all the equipment.
Click to expand...

Yes you are... but I made mine (a second Graphic C board that I needed) with only handheld equipment: modeling saw (this is probably not its correct name - I mean the kind with a thin blade and metal bow holding the blade taut), pencil, sand paper, and black paint. I thought about using a protractor but ended up using the retaining ring as my hole-size-guide. Is this becoming a "Normie" vs. "Neanderthal" discussion now???
 
Jorge has made lensboards for my Eastman #2 and Ansco Universal. They were inexpensive and delivered quickly. His work is far better than what I can do myself and the price can't be beat. In my opinion you get more than you pay for...

I gave him exact dimensions and the boards were nicely machined to the desired dimensions and did not require any fine-tuning.

Mine arrived a bit warped, probably due to the very dry climate here and the large lens openings I requested. Installing the lens and tightening the ring brought them back into square without any problems.

He finished the face to my requested stain color and painted the rear a flat black. No polyurethane was applied (nor requested.) The boards may not be OEM quality, but they are a great value if you don't have the time or tools to make your own.
 
I have a table saw and a drill press with a forstner bit set. I can make any board i need except for the metal graphic boards.

But I started making lensboards with a utility knife and a dremel. The utility knife was used to cut plywood into squares. The dremel to cut and shape the hole.

Point is, all it really takes is some ingenuity.
 
gbenaim said:
Hi all,

I seem to remember a guy on ebay who made wood lensboards to order, but can't find him. Has anyone ordered lb's on ebay or elsewhere and was satisfied w the result? Thanks.
Click to expand...

What camera do you have?
 
Last year I picked-up a couple of boards from "Oakandlens.com", for my Ansco (6"x6"). They weren't close by a longshot. He agreed to take them back, and with precise sizing information he sent me two new boards that were closer, but still didn't fit properly. For the price,...well, I suppose it's o.k. I just wasn't planning on doing any finishing work to them.
 
Making lens board is not rocket science! I make my own for the Graphic View I purchased on ebay (made out of wood). I'll be making more for the other view camera I'm building.

If you making them out of hardwood then you will need not more tools but more time.
 
freygr said:
Making lens board is not rocket science!
Click to expand...

Absolutely! To make a run of wooden boards it is easiest to use some amount of machinery: a router table (or, better, a spindle moulder) is a particular help. However, for one offs I find it's quicker to make one with hand tools than spend all the time on set-up that is needed to use machines. In other words, a reasonably competent person can make them pretty easily with only a very few quite inexpensive tools.

Minimal toolkit: measuring tools, square, marking knife, saw, forstner bit, pillar-drill, sanding block & paper. If the hole needs a recess around it that can be done by using two sizes of bit, or with a hand-held electric router and a spindle guided bit. If the edge of the board has to be rebated that can be done with a tenon saw and a shoulder plane, or a rebate plane, or a (preferably table mounted) electric router.

I also make aluminium ones for my Arcas. I just cut them out from flat aluminium sheet that is slightly too thin and then make up the thickness by gluing a layer of black card to the back: this is more matt than any paint I've used and the slight spring to it helps the boards seat better than all-metal ones do. A second layer of card cut smaller completes the light trap - I've considered a more sophisticated light trap arrangement but in practice it really isn't needed.

Minimal toolkit: measuring tools, square, scriber, centre punch, hacksaw, files, fly-cutter, pillar-drill, de-burring tool, de-greaser, contact glue. Maybe a radius template if your boards need round corners.

Most of you knew that already - but I hope the shortness of these lists reassures anyone who didn't. Learn how to use sharp and or powered tools safely first!


Peter
 
I've ordered lensboards for my Deardorff once from a dealer on eBay and once from another third-party maker of these knockoff boards. Neither set fit the camera even close so I sent 'em back. The nicest looking, closest fitting (requiring only a little sanding on one edge) boards I've bought for the Deardorff came from Richard Ritter at www.lg4mat.net. Send Richard an e-mail or call...he is a very nice person to deal with and he'll probably be able to help you out.

Good luck.
 
You might check the archives about my experience with this guy (O***************)...I bought and paid for five boards to fit my Wisner. They were never received...when I asked where they were he went postal on me with language that would make a sailer blush.

My recommendations would be to have Richard Ritter make them if you want them in your lifetime.
 
You can always ask me. Making wooden or metal lens boards in not a problem but you have send me the dimensions and placement and size of the hole and all the other stuff including the type of wood or metal. It only took me less than an hour to laminate a lens board for my graphic view camera out of plywood. Using hardwoods would take longer as I have to resaw the wood.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register