home-made 11 x 14 film holder?

Anyone have an idea how to make an 11 x 14 film holder? I want to build an
11 x 14 pinhole camera so I don't want to drop a couple of hundred bucks on
a film holder?
Thanks,
Matt Ashbrook

"Matt Ashbrook" wrote

Anyone have an idea how to make an 11 x 14 film holder? I want to build an
11 x 14 pinhole camera so I don't want to drop a couple of hundred bucks on
a film holder?

Expensive little buggers, aren't they?

The job is simplified if:

o The holder only needs to fit your camera

o It only works with a pinhole and film flatness better than .05" is not an issue

I would suggest single-sided.

For those without a router/mill/precision table saw I would, if it were me:

For the sides, top and bottom I would use narrow shims (aluminum, veneer,
cardboard...) to define the slots, and thicker wider shims to define the spaces
between the slots. The sequence might go:

Back: 1/8-1/4 masonite
Film slot: 1/32"(?) x 1/4 x 14 thin cardboard
Space between film and slide: 1/8(thick)" x 3/8" x 14"veneer
Dark slide slot: cardboard ?thick x 1/4 x 14
Top: 1/8(thick)" x 3/8" x 14"veneer

Sort of get the idea, vary as needed for the bottom and top. Keep the darkslide
thin - a sheet of 3030 aluminum would be a good idea. Add light trap, hinge the
bottom, paint black ....

If you have a router table or some such the whole thing becomes much easier
as you can mill slots in a 1/4 square cherry strip.

Do not underestimate the value of cardboard (the sort that comes on the
back of legal pads) when it has been well coated with lacquer, in the
construction of home projects.



--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Consulting Engineer: Electronics; Informatics; Photonics.
psst.. want to buy an f-stop timer? nolindan.com/da/fstop/

"Nicholas O. Lindan" wrote in message
nk.net...
Sort of get the idea, vary as needed for the bottom and top. Keep the
darkslide
thin - a sheet of 3030 aluminum would be a good idea. Add light trap,
hinge the
bottom, paint black ....

Very nice job of simplifying to meet the requirements.

How are light traps made?

"MikeWhy" wrote

Very nice job of simplifying to meet the requirements.

Thank you.

How are light traps made?

Thick plush velvet. The pile on the velvet is about as
thick as the slot and glued to both sides of the slot. To
prevent it from getting pealed off by the darkslide I would
extended out of the slot and glue the extended bit to the
holder on both sides of the slot.

There used to be a really thick and plush velvet used in
some of the old reloadable film cassettes, I haven't
seen any of it in stores, though. Googling may turn up
a source.

I have never done it, by you might try taking apart a 4x5
holder and see how the light trap is done there.

When defining the dark slide slot be sure to make the outside
strip of wood very stiff: as wide and thick as you can make
it. Otherwise the slot may bow open out of general cussidness.

--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Consulting Engineer: Electronics; Informatics; Photonics.
psst.. want to buy an f-stop timer? nolindan.com/da/fstop/