help making some lensboards

[kaiyen]

Hi all,
I could have sworn I started a thread on this topic...months ago but...I'm going to admit I'm not the kind of guy that can make lensboards. I know, they aren't hard. But I have to know my limits.

Anyone in the SF Bay area willing to help me out? Anyone point me in a direction?

thanks

[Mark Fisher]

What lensboards are you making? If you want really easy, you could make them out of black matboard or Sintra and cut it out with an Xacto knife. Use multiple layers if you need to build up a lip (smaller square glued onto a larger square). Black Sintra is both durable and easy to work with. Most sign shops should have it. Here is a good reference for working with Sintra:

[kaiyen]

that'll work. thanks. it's a B&J 5x7. it came with one so I can use it as a template.

[mjs]

If you're looking for something a little more substantial, find a hobby shop and buy the lightweight plywood model airplane builders use. For most of my cameras the 1/8" thick stuff works very well: I get the 4" wide for 4x5 lensboards and the 6" wide for 5x7 and 8x10. With patience it can be cut with a hobby knife (X-Acto, etc.)

[kaiyen]

oh - how do you go about cutting the whole for the retaining ring? still the hobby knife and just get it close enough so that the ring can be screwed in?

[Steve Smith]

If you can find a printed circuit board manufacturer near you, you may be able to talk them into making you some on their CNC router. That's what I use at work for making lots of camera bits.

FR4 fibreglass PCB material is available in 1.6 and 3.2mm (1/16" and 1/8") thicknesses and if etched, can be sprayed matt black.


Steve.