[LargeFormat] Ground glass or etched

[Philip J. McCourt]

Philip,
Why not just make your own? I have made a few of them now and they have 
turned out very nice. The powder that I use is simply 600 grit.  Making 
a ground glass should take about 20 minutes of your time. I simply buy a 
cheap picture frame for  the glass.  The quality of the finished product 
will amaze you, the image is bright enough to see in daylight without a 
dark cloth.

The powder can be found at lapidary supply stores. (rock polishing 
compound)  I have talked to people that have used fine rubbing compound 
used for rubbing out auto finishes.  The stuff I use is a 600 grit 
aluminum oxide. Just put a little bit of powder and a tiny bit of water 
between 2 pieces of glass and start moving the glass in a circular 
motion for about ten minutes. Wash it off and then check to see if the 
glass is done yet. This method will give a very fine surface for the 
image and is a joy to use and focus the camera. Also it is cheap enough 
to carry a spare with you in your kit.

I have used acid etched glass and sandblasted glass and this homemade 
glass is by far the best yet.

If there is enough interest I will put together a "how to" page on my 
web site for making ground glass.
http://www.philsan.com

Philip McCourt

philip.lambert wrote:

>I am having difficulty getting a replacement focussing screen in the UK for
>a Speed Graphic and a Century Graphic. Mr Cad has kindly offered to sell me
>an old screen to cut down but old glass is brittle and tricky to cut, even
>though it involves only straight line cuts here.  The alternative is to
>import a Boss screen which would work nicely when eventually received but
>glass is cheaper, when you can get it. The only possibility I have heard of
>is 2mm sandblasted, an example of which looked very white and I can imagine
>how dim an image would result.
> Does anybody know a source of new glass in the UK?   Thanks a lot.  Philip
>
>
>
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