Hi there

I recently purchased a Pre-Anniversary Speed Graphic from a dealer on eBay which is in quite good condition except for one major problem.

At some point in the past the camera was modded to take a Graflok back but whoever did the job didn't do it very well. They seem to have drilled holes that were too small for the screws they used, and as a result the wood has split at two of the hole areas in the top board.

I guess this probably wouldn't be an issue normally, as the camera came with a Graphic back, however I want to use a Graflok back with a 6x12 roll film adapter I recently purchased.

My current solutions are:

1) Fill the splits with epoxy, dry and re-drill. I'm very inexperienced with woodwork and am not entirely confident in this solution.

2) Find some way to attach the Graflok back without requiring those screw holes to be used - tape? Ugly solution.

3) Take to a guitar repairer or some other wood instrument repairer and get his / her opinion.

I am wondering if anyone here has had a similar problem and if so, what approach they took to it?

Any help would be appreciated!

IMO the best bonding agent for wood is carpenter's glue, the yellow stuff, which is sold under the Elmer's brand name (but NOT the white stuff---that's water soluble and weak), also Titebond II and others. If the cracks are flexing, you might be able to tease enough glue into them with a flat toothpick or a thin knife blade; if the wood is split clean through, I'd break it out, apply carpenter's glue to both surfaces, and clamp together for several hours (overnight should do). Clamping is essential in any case. Voids (holes, etc.) can be filled with a mixture of carpenter's glue and a powdered wood putty like Durham's (don't mix it with water in this application, just with the glue). It will dry rock-hard and is not water soluble. Then you can redrill the holes to the correct size for the Graflok back.

Avoid Gorilla glue as if it were an actual gorilla! This stuff has a devilish tendency to expand unpredictably into the work, no matter how carefully applied. And the bond is not nearly as good as carpenter's glue. HTH.

Excellent Henry - thanks a lot for the tips! I'll let you know how I go.