Wood Lens Brd 4 Crown Graphite?

[peter k.]

Got a 2x3 Crown Graphite that normally takes metal lens boards.
But would like to make a wood one for it, for use with another lens.
Have others made them out of wood, making sure to have the outside wood edge, extend over the interior edge, that the regular metal lens board, usually inserts into.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Haven't done it m'self, the worst I've done is make temporary boards for my 2x3 Pacemakers from black foamcore. Its better than cardboard.

Others here (Jim Jones?) have said many times that they've done it. Go ahead and do it. What do you have to lose?

 

[shutterfinger]

I never heard tell of a Crown Graphite, is it similar to a Crown Graphic?

Now go to the hobby store and get a piece of Baltic Birch Plywood, 1/4 inch thick.
Cut a blank that fits the outside opening then round the corners so that it just sits into the board opening.
Remove the focus panel or back.
With the board blank in the front standard mark the bellows throat outer edges on the back side of the blank.
Cut the area outside of the bellows throat marking down to 1/8 to 3/32 inch thick.
You will know you have it correct when it just sits into the front standard and the board locks just slide over it with no gaps.
Cut the hole for the shutter then recess the mount ring as needed to reach the shutter and tighten at least 3 turns.
Stain or paint flat black on the back side and finish to taste for the front. Stain works better as paint adds thickness and can change a close fit to a no fit.
Been there, done that on 4x5 Pacemaker Speed/Super Graphic.

 

[BrianShaw]

I don't quite know why someone wouldn't just buy a metal board, but if building one in wood consider using 1/8 Baltic birch ply, cutting the inner and outer parts separately, and gluing into a sandwich. Much easier than trying to cleanly cut a dado..

I have never had significant dimensional growth due to paint on any Anniversary boards I've built. But maybe I've just never experienced that problem before.

 

[darkroommike]

I've made two part lensboards for the Pacemaker style cameras. You don't need the lip. Make a board out of sheet aluminum and cut a hole for whatever size shutter your lens uses. Then make a smaller board out of foamcore or whatever that fits just inside the throat of the lensmount. Make sure that the inside of the board is painted flat black and you could use some black peel and stick felt for flocking on the inner surface of the board. I've also used laminate samples for sheet goods for the outer board, the woodgrain looks very nice. And yes I cut it crooked, I was having bandsaw issues that day.

 

[peter k.]

Funny never got notified that there were replies.. so its been done, evidently many times and successfully, but ended up ordering a metal one, quiet affordable, from
https://www.etsy.com/listing/456854..._search_query=2x3 lens board&ref=sr_gallery_1
But if I need another one.. will make one.. thanks everyone for responses...