Material to use for Technika lensboard?

[Nick Zentena]

These things are pretty thin so wood isn't going to work. Any one have any ideas?

 

[Poco]

I cut mine out of a brass kick-plate for doors I bought at a home improvement store (Home Depot). One kick plate makes an awful lot of lens boards. The gauge of the metal is a little thin, so I glue a piece of a black felt or heavy duty construction paper to the back of each one which both brings up the thickness and helps make a light seal. Every few years I have to replace the felt/paper, but that's not too difficult.

...not the most elegant solution, but it works just fine and costs less than $3.00 a board.

 

[John Koehrer]

Nick,
Hobby shop or some hardware stores have small displays of brass, copper & aluminum tubing & sheet. The sheet is available up to 4" wide & of various thickness. I believe the brand is K&S.

 

[Nick Zentena]

How do you handle the circular light trap on the back?

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

If you don't need original Linhof boards (which you don't really, in your situation, using a lensboard adapter on a larger camera), there are aftermarket Technika lensboards (Toyo, Wista, older Nikor boards, and various generics) that have the proper light trap and work well and aren't too expensive, particularly if you buy them used. Check keh.com and www.mpex.com (you may have to call them, since they don't always list items below $50 on their site).

 

[Jorge]

The Technika boards are made out of aluminum, you can have a machinist make you some for 1/3 of the price of a new technika board. But I think David's suggestion is the best one, you can find the generic boards very cheap and they are just as good, I have a few Nikon which are perfect and only cost something like $20 each...

 

[Poco]

"How do you handle the circular light trap on the back?"

I ignore it. Even if I found aluminum/brass or the perfect thickness, I'd probably opt for thinner material to leave room for my paper/felt layor on the back since it's given me a light seal that's never failed me. But as David points out, clones are available for around $30, and those might give you greater comfort.

 

[Nick Zentena]

My problem is I need one for a Seiko #1 shutter. The thing needs a 47mm hole which is way too big for a normal #1 lensboard and way too small for a #3. So I either need a blank board or to make my own.

Ever since they redid the Mpex website I have trouble finding anything. Can't find the Shen Hao stuff. Can't find the Nikon lensboards they used to have. The Rodenstock lens wrench. The right angle shutter release adapter. I guess I should just make up a list and email them.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Get a #1 or #0 lensboard and drill it out, if you can't find one of the right size. That's easier than making a new Technika board from scratch. I know I've seen boards that are 49mm, and KEH lists them by the size of the hole.

 

[Nick Zentena]

I think I'll pick up some brass stock tomorrow. That'll let me make up a temporary board to test the lens out. Then I can see about ordering a real one.