To trim or not to trim (lensboard)?

[jonw]

I have what appears to be a pre-1939 6x6 square deardorff (Kodak?) lensboard. It appears as if it should fit my post-1939 V8, if the corners are rounded. Has anyone tried doing this with their lensboard only to find out they ruined a perfectly good lensboard which did not fit a newer V8 model? Any recommendations before I get the sander out? Thanks.

 

[glennfromwy]

The only way to find out is carefully measure every aspect of each and if it looks like it will work, go for it.

 

[John Kasaian]

I'd square it up with a board that you know does fit your camera and if the inset portion jives, scribe an arc on the square board's corners and cut off on the conservative side of the scribe, then sand down the radius to fit. I'd suggest a coping saw to make the cut. Go slow and careful. Sand with a medium garnet or wet and dry on a block. I'd shy from using a dremel tool----I've ruined more lensboards with my dremel than I care to admit!

 

[jonw]

Thank you for your sage advise. Well, it only took about 30 minutes of actual time to trim the lensboard. I did mark the board with another deardorff lensboard to note areas which needed trimming/rounding. Then, I used a drill with a sanding wheel and a finishing plane to carefully shave the sides. periodically trying to see if it would fit the old V-8. Now I have another functional board and I'm smilin'.