In article , Chase Martin
wrote:

I've been looking at an old Kodak 2D 8x10 camera as a project - The
bellows have many holes (looks like it is falling apart from age) and
the ground glass is 1/2 broken out. Would it be feasible to refinish
the wood (that is in decent condition) and add a new bellows and
ground glass? The price is cheap for the wood frame. How expensive
would it be to get a new bellows and ground glass, AND how hard would
it be to install them (are there any alignment problems with the
ground glass on the 2D?)

Ground glass is cheap and easy. Two for $20. A cut on the corners with a
household glass cutter and you are set. Alignment of the GG is not
difficult providing the seating area isn't eaten up. Even then, a little
wood and glue and a good micro-ruler will suffice to fix it.

A new bellows is spendy. IMHO, a wood-worn 2d is not such a great camera
that it's worth a new bellows when you can find another for the price of a
bellows alone. A bellows that's not cracked except at the corners and has
only a dozen (gasp) or fewer light leaks can be patched.

A whole lot of those 8x10 wooden cameras are missing the rear rail, which
limits you to lenses that will focus with the remaining front rail. The
rails are matched (same stamped numbers) so it's handy to have the
original. Making one is a positive pain in the butt - finding the brass
riders, matching the fit, making it easily removable.

One other thing - many old wood cameras' lens board is darned small; too
small to use a modernn lens - if modern lenses concern you then your
selection is somewhat limited. If old lenses are fine (and many really are
good, IMHO) then shutters should concern you. A lot of the original
shutters were crap new, long of tooth or junk now, and there's more money
to spend.

Discouraged yet?

I'd rather you were not disappointed, strung out, spending important
time, remanufacturing a camera using the same money you would spend on a
better camera. Unless you enjoy it.