Easy DIY Film Holder Repair and Refurbishing | Ultra Large Format Photography (tips and tricks)

[@ericholmquist8966]

Buy new hoolders... b'shaw.... I've got holders of all ages. Wood, metal and plastic. If you you cant make the effort to keep them clean, functional and light tight, WADA ya doing in large format anyway. The only time I had to replace, discard or bastardized a holder is when the dark slide was cracked or broken. The rest can be fixed. Great tip on the fabric softener. Love learning something new every day. Alas, I'm too old, financially challenges and handicapped to go larger than 8x10. But , relegated to a wheelchair and good days a Walker, I still shoot and develop and print. I call it physical therapy. And if I shamed some of you, blame it on my stubbornness..... or stupidity. I dont care. I do it for my own pleasure. Good job, Adam. Keep it up. You never know when you cant anymore........ except for the fine tobacco and booze..... and constantly learning!

[@AdamWelch]

Wise and respectable words here, Eric! I'm glad I could show you a little something you might have not known about before. It's odd because I meant to include in this video about how I truly can't remember where I heard about the fabric softener sheet thing for the dark slides. I seriously doubt I actually came up with it, but I still can't find anything else online about it. At any rate, glad you enjoyed the episode and if you do try the fabric sheet thing let me know how it goes.

[@Festgriff]

Absolutely loved the „any questions?“

[@AdamWelch]

Ha indeed my friends. Side note...where does time go??? I got your email yesterday and now it's five days later overnight.... And don't say it's no rush! I've got to get back on top of my email response time.

[@jamesmerecki3128]

Great tip Adam. I recently purchased a Universal 5x7 wood camera circa 1890 which came with 5 wood film holders. Of course, the film holders slides were a bit tough to insert and take out. But your tips on using fine grit sand paper and fabric softener sheet, after the normal cleaning with rag and air can…and with a bit of patience worked perfectly.

[@AdamWelch]

James I can't tell you how absolutely THRILLED I am to hear this report haha The reason being after I posted the episode, I conversation with a friend of mine that made me realize I don't actually remember where I first learned of the fabric softener sheet remedy. I know I didn't come up with it on my own...or at least I don't think I did...but I can't find it mentioned anywhere else thus far. So that got me worrying and hoping that somehow this fix was only working for me and my particular holders, even though these were the fourth different set of holders I've used it on with the same great results. All that rambling to say I'm so glad it worked for you!

[@darrelletter8016]

A great tip Adam! I have 100 4x5 film holders, 5 8x10 film holders, and two 11x14 film holders. The cost is crazy for anything above 4x5 for new film holders. Used is the only reasonable way. You have to be a craftsperson with older cameras anyway, so anything we can learn to hack or improve the equipment is great! ULF is not for the fainthearted!

[@AdamWelch]

Darrell! I've been meaning to email you but of course my mind keeps failing me. I completely agree, even smaller format holders have skyrocketed in recent years. Like you said, with these older/larger cameras most people using them are of the more "esoteric" minded types anyway, tinkering is just part of the love. A good friend of mine who does leather/woodwork watched this episode and text me how he may try his hand at making a holder...got him right where I want him. Haha incidentally he's the same guy who made the "Bad Motherfucker" strap for my Hasselblad. Speaking of, prepare for me to name names and embarrass the hell out of you once I finish up the Packard install :D

[@darrelletter8016]

I am getting my 11x14 studio camera ready, so I will need one or two more film holders. The hunt will begin soon for some used ones. Keep those hacks coming!

[@Papou_Pete]

The tape is vulcanized linen. Beeswax just along the edge the slides is what was used on factory fresh 8x10

[@AdamWelch]

Very interesting. Do you mean the linen tape on these particular holders or just in general? This coating (on these particular holders) wasn't vulcanized as far as I could tell. Very much an extremely soft, surface coating. Or at least that's what it felt to be at the time.

[@Papou_Pete]

@@AdamWelch hi Adam. I had been given a roll of that tape in the 70’s by the owner of a camera shop. I bought a used graphlex from him for 20.00. He gave me the roll of tap to repair the bellows and the film holders I lost that roll somewhere in the move from NY to New Orleans. It was Amos like he cloth tape that electricians used Very tacky. .

[@bernardkelly235]

Good tip. Thanks.

[@AdamWelch]

Hope it works out for you if you give it a try, Bernard.

[@bernardkelly235]

@@AdamWelch Thanks, Adam. I've tried furniture polish (not good). The Welsh buffing rag sounds like a much better option.

[@AdamWelch]

@@bernardkelly235 Haha exactly. Olde World custom....

[@thomasboone1356]

Adam good information. I have used regular adhesive tape. Usually one inch wide on a wooden holder. I gave it a coat of white glue? And then scrape in it black and have had no problem so far and I haven't 11 / 14 holder. I did that with and it was fine for the next year and a 1/2 I have it. Just another possibility like your site and your in Northeast Tennessee.What part of tennessee are you in

[@AdamWelch]

Very cool info, Thomas. I hadn't thought of the glue, definitely something to consider. And I'm originally from west Tennessee but live on the road full time now. I grew up roughly an hour and half due east of Memphis.