How was the Lenscap Made?

G

gdi

Veteran
Local time
11:51 AM
Joined
Nov 26, 2006
Messages
2,632
Location
West-Central Connecticut
View My Gallery
I received this lens cap with a lens I bought and would like to know how it was made. It seems to be made from a "plasticized" (wow, that got through the spell checker?) tape of some kind. It is very firm and holds its shape well but it is somewhat flexible.

Any help on how this was done would be appreciated, I can think of a few applications for this type of process!

lenscap-1.jpg


lenscap-2.jpg
 
Last edited:
I made something similar to go over my 300/2.8 lens. It was easy.
1.Trace the lens on a piece of cardboard or plastic
2.Cut the circle an inch wider for 300/2.8 or smaller for rf lenses
3. Make a series of cuts going from the outer circle to the inner circle. You will have to cut wedge shapes out of the cardboard
4.Fold up the edges to make the edge of the cap, and decorate/secure as you see fit with your favorite color of duct tape!

Works for me.
 
Thanks everyone, good ideas.

The cap seems to be cardboard or something that has been wrapped in tape and a hard paint or epoxy then applied. The paint is a tough, pebbled finish.

I guess there is nothing special - but it really works well - I can see other caps and hoods being done this way. Next time I am at the hardware store I'll check the epoxy paints out...
 
If it is from the 40s or earlier, it is probably made from epoxy-resin-impregnated laminated paper. They were formed around a waxed mold and then another waxed mold, with a thin layer of epoxy and paper pulp, was placed on top of this. When it hardens, the mold is heated enough to melt the wax and the two mold halves are seperated. During WWII, in Germany, epoxy impregnated paper was used for all sorts of things, ranging from lens caps to rifle stocks.
 
FallisPhoto said:
If it is from the 40s or earlier, it is probably made from epoxy-resin-impregnated laminated paper. They were formed around a waxed mold and then another waxed mold, with a thin layer of epoxy and paper pulp, was placed on top of this. When it hardens, the mold is heated enough to melt the wax and the two mold halves are seperated. During WWII, in Germany, epoxy impregnated paper was used for all sorts of things, ranging from lens caps to rifle stocks.
Click to expand...

Wow! I didn't know epoxies went back that far! Thanks for prompting me to learn otherwise. Apparently they were in commercial use after about 1936.

Cheers,

Roger
 
Something to try for making your own lens caps and hoods are the polymer 'clays', such as Fimo or Sculpey. They are easy to use and about the only downside is if you do not use a sealer of some sort, like a polyurethane, the plasticizer in the clay can leach out into other plastics it comes into long term contact with. This however is a minor issue once your aware of it as it is easily preventable.

I need some caps and a hood or two for a few lenses so if I can find the time this week, I'll post the results here for any whom are interested.

Cheers
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom