I'm wondering if anyone knows of a current location/ place/website where i can purchase a new or well used shutter curtain for the Graflex RB Series B 4x5 camera? Mine is completely dried and would like to replace it, or even, perhaps, as a trial or experiment, to try to 'cure' it if there's such a thing.

thanks.

I recently had mine replaced by John Minnicks in Fla.

Wanted to share a new thing I tried. Hope it’s not heresy or old news but I stumbled on this while trying to do the acrylic resurfacing technique but wasn’t sure how to soak the curtain in paint thinner in order to scrape it clean first. Turns out you can kind of reliquify the rubberized coating in place and it’ll redeposit in the cracks and be light tight. Here’s a unprofessional little video:[url] https://youtu.be/I8Cz3pnuKRk [/url][/url]

rmdorman wrote:

Wanted to share a new thing I tried. Hope it’s not heresy or old news but I stumbled on this while trying to do the acrylic resurfacing technique but wasn’t sure how to soak the curtain in paint thinner in order to scrape it clean first. Turns out you can kind of reliquify the rubberized coating in place and it’ll redeposit in the cracks and be light tight. Here’s a unprofessional little video:[url] https://youtu.be/I8Cz3pnuKRk [/url][/url]

unfortunately, it will not last long, ive tried it on mine a few months ago.
here is a pic of the first tests.
1 bristle brush
2 towel / rub in
3 using a scraper for screen printing

the only one that would work sufficiently was the screen printing scraper....the buggers are not cheep ! but it did do a nice job !

https://ibb.co/VHq1tD9


I went to harbor freight for an inexpensive / CHEEP ! sprayer
after two coats, im VERY happy with this ! the sprayer cost $30 and was easy to do. keep note, ive been using sprayers since the 80's . you may need to practice some depending on your skills but this is NOT rocket science.

the tests were done very quickly, i did not strain the liquid once i mixed it 50/50 so there is tiny pin tip size bumps...not a big deal. but after i clean off the tests and start over for the complete job, i will be using a filter either bought from an auto paint store or hand made using panty hose.... these work great for straining.

https://ibb.co/5GbdPbs

ive re coated several curtains with great success.

atlmoksha wrote:

I'm wondering if anyone knows of a current location/ place/website where i can purchase a new or well used shutter curtain for the Graflex RB Series B 4x5 camera? Mine is completely dried and would like to replace it, or even, perhaps, as a trial or experiment, to try to 'cure' it if there's such a thing. thanks.

Jeff at 20th Century Camera had a post on Instagram a couple of weeks ago that was a picture of a laser cutter he recently purchased. The text accompanying the photo said "I see laser cut replacement focal plane shutters curtains for Graflex cameras in 2021! $240 most models." Would be worth keeping an eye on.

Graflex Parts https://www.graflexparts.com/service-department offers a shutter replacement and general service. He fabricates new shutters.