What do you use for light seals?

Brian Schmidt · Apr 30, 2016

Hello.

This is a question related mostly to the smaller plate cameras but since many of you build your own equipment you might know a source for this.

In many plate holders and on many camera bodies there is a velvet-type material that looks like black rabbit fur. It is also green or red sometimes. It has a pile depth of about 1/8 inch to 3/16 inch and is 1/2 inch wide.

Have any of you had any luck finding or purchasing this? I know there is plush velvet but the pile isn't nearly as deep and it wears out quickly.

Thanks

Brian

Sirius Glass · Apr 30, 2016

See John Goodman for light seals ==> (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

John Koehrer · Apr 30, 2016

Wooden cameras, velvet ribbon from JoAnn fabrics or other fabric joint.

bdial · Apr 30, 2016

John Koehrer said:
Wooden cameras, velvet ribbon from JoAnn fabrics or other fabric joint.

+1
That has worked well for me. I also recently found a narrow velvet ribbon at a Michael's craft supply.

sagai · May 1, 2016

Black textile shoe strings.
Seeeriously! Works! and Available, and only natural compounds.
I should remove the inner string and works like a charm.

canvassy · May 1, 2016

For 35mm cameras I use self-adhesive felt sheets and self-adhesive foam sheets from the craft store. Cut to size with an x-acto knife.

Brian Schmidt · May 1, 2016

This is for where the darkslide slides in and out. I have heard of using black yarn/strings or foam for some things but I think that would be best for where something simply closes. The darkslide pushing through and sliding past these things seems like it would crumble them, tear them off or otherwise damage them. I feel like we are thinking of different things, maybe this would clarify.

I know Graflex-style holders had a felt or cloth strip with a thin sheet of spring steel inside of it. That looks like it would be difficult to make for such a small plate holder. Mine are 6.5X9 cm (2.5X3.5 in). The ones already in there are very brushlike.

Sorry if I wasn't clear, I should have mentioned that above.

Brian

LAB BLACK · May 9, 2016

For view cameras, I have had success using a flocked light trap material that is available from protostar.
http://www.fpi-protostar.com/flock.htm.

StoneNYC · May 9, 2016

Brian Schmidt said:
This is for where the darkslide slides in and out. I have heard of using black yarn/strings or foam for some things but I think that would be best for where something simply closes. The darkslide pushing through and sliding past these things seems like it would crumble them, tear them off or otherwise damage them. I feel like we are thinking of different things, maybe this would clarify.

I know Graflex-style holders had a felt or cloth strip with a thin sheet of spring steel inside of it. That looks like it would be difficult to make for such a small plate holder. Mine are 6.5X9 cm (2.5X3.5 in). The ones already in there are very brushlike.

Sorry if I wasn't clear, I should have mentioned that above.

Brian

For such a small plate holder, I would simply skip all the work and buy a new/another one. Save yourself all the time and testing and worrying that the new one you installed will hold up/last. Etc.

Ai Print · May 9, 2016

LAB BLACK said:
For view cameras, I have had success using a flocked light trap material that is available from protostar.
http://www.fpi-protostar.com/flock.htm.

Love that stuff, I used it inside my 4x5 in suspect spots.

dsefcik · May 14, 2016

Here in So Calif I have found the craft store adhesive stuff sometimes problematic in that it becomes "un-adhesived" in applications where there is constant insert/removal types of action. For camera door light seals it usually works but with heat I have had it come loose and get gooey. That Flocking material looks interesting, expensive but interesting. I also use felt from Jon Goodman and it is the best I have used so far. I would be interested in knowing if the flocking material has been used with success in applications that have constant rubbing against it, the website seems to promote it more as a "covering" then as a permanent light trap seal for insert/remove types of applications.

Smudger · Jun 26, 2016

Reprising an old thread.. you will not get far using fabric to support the wear caused by a darkslide sliding back and forth over the surface. I have replaced several Hasselblad light light seals over time, and their concept is a foam strip which provides positive force on a folded strip of Melinex ,or similar foil. The foil slides over the friction surface (darkslide) with minimum wear, as compared to rubbing over it (fabric). And rubbing creates dust - who wants that near their film?

Brian Schmidt · Aug 31, 2016

Smudger said:
I have replaced several Hasselblad light light seals over time, and their concept is a foam strip which provides positive force on a folded strip of Melinex ,or similar foil. The foil slides over the friction surface (darkslide) with minimum wear, as compared to rubbing over it (fabric). And rubbing creates dust - who wants that near their film?

After a good bit of goofing around I found that a setup like this could be created for the roll film holder. I used a piece of foam rubber and plain old Kodak backing paper. I started with a strip about 3 inches long and glued it to the surface and then the rubber to the backing paper. Then I folded the backing paper back over the foam. Effectively It wraps around the foam and points down toward the film. The dark slide goes in and out quite easily and I have found it to be light tight. Also I usually leave the dark slide out as it isn't really necessary to use it unless you take the back off. I cover the hole with something so dust/lint doesn't fall down in there.

If there are any developments (aka it quits working) I will post information.

Thanks for the advice everybody,
Brian

What do you use for light seals?

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