Repairing 4x5 Film Holders

thefizz

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Where would one find the black material to stick onto the bottom of the holders as I need to repair some that are worn away.
 

John Koehrer

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For the hinges, Bookbinders tape seems to be the closest replacement.

The adhesive used on Gaffer or duct tape will turn real ugly when it gets warm/hot.
 

AgX

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In textile shops you'll probably find woven strips of black textile that will fit in width. Glue them with contact cement. That will yield the possibility to take it off again (by using gasoline-like solvent) in case it won't work.
The contact cement will add strength to the textile.

The critical part with some glues used on adhesive tape is that it may creep at the edges and finally and up at the camera-back.
 

Jim Noel

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Bookbinder's Tape is by far the best answer.
 

DannL.

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Old books make for good door-stops. But, how many door-stops does one really need? So, for those books that could be more useful, simply cut around the front and back cover with a razor-blade and peel off the cloth cover. You may have to scrape off the excess cardboard from the book cover cloth. Cut to approximate size, and glue in place. Trim with a razor blade. I use both rubberized wood flooring glue, or double-sided tape as used in sewing. Bingo, a cloth hinge has been born.

PS . . . I fergot to note that I always paint the hinge, once it has dried, with black acrylic paint. It helps to seal the cloth, preventing threads from coming loose.
 
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gleaf

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Main positive issue is Bookbinders' tape has a permanent set glue face.
 
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1 inch wide gaffers tape is the perfect fit, but gaffers tape is not light tight. Works well enough though in a pinch. Well any thin tight woven fabric about one inch wide will work if your glueing it on as well.
 
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thefizz

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Thanks everyone, I'll check out the book binding tape.

Peter
 

Ian Grant

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I use off-cuts of shutter cloth, not the thin rubberised type used in 35mm cameras rather the thicker type used for Graflex, Thornton Pickard & other cameras with large focal plane or roller blind shutters.

Ian
 
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thefizz

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I finally got around to buying bookbinders pre-glued tape yesterday and it works great. €11 for a roll which will last me, well, years.
 

John Koehrer

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I finally got around to buying bookbinders pre-glued tape yesterday and it works great. €11 for a roll which will last me, well, years.

If not centuries.
 
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