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Author Topic: Aperture plate filing System Notices Forum Watchdog / Soup Nazi Posts: 215 Registered: Apr 2004 posted 04-17-2005 01:46 PM                 It has been 1381 days since the last post.  |  IP: Logged Dan Lyons Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 698 From: Seal Beach, CA Registered: Sep 2002 posted 04-17-2005 01:46 PM                     BUMP!! Can anyone recommend a specific brand and MODEL NUMBER of files to buy? I've searched all over, and cannot find any files that don't have teeth on all 4 sides. I've also noticed there are varying degrees of coarseness for files, what coarseness is needed for working on a brass plate? I see that Nicholson hand files have one safe edge, however they come in different cuts. Which cut would i need?  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 04-17-2005 02:26 PM                     Ise the 00258 auger bit file the most and a set of needle files  |  IP: Logged Will Kutler Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1506 From: Tucson, AZ, USA Registered: Feb 2001 posted 04-17-2005 04:29 PM                     OK Dan Please read my next to previous entry into this thread! I specifically answered all your questions! It does pay to read!  |  IP: Logged Dan Lyons Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 698 From: Seal Beach, CA Registered: Sep 2002 posted 04-17-2005 04:52 PM                     yeah, i read it before i posted. It doesn't tell me what coarseness or "pattern" of teeth i need...  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 04-17-2005 06:06 PM                     This is what I use Grobet files  |  IP: Logged Will Kutler Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1506 From: Tucson, AZ, USA Registered: Feb 2001 posted 04-17-2005 06:09 PM                     Dan Go to WWW.GROBETUSA.COM. What you need is under Pillar files. Pillar files are non-tapered and square, so that there will be no corner radius as you are filing. Furthermore, they have what are referred to as "safe files" meaning one or more sides are without teeth. Tooth pattern is not relevant in this case, what is important is tooth coarsness, and Grobet explains this on their web-site. The best solution for you is to go into a local lapidary supply store. Any decent lapidary supply store should stock a large assortment of Grobet files. Sears Craftsman has a little life-time warranty Swiss Pattern file set. The tooth coarseness of these files is what you need. Cheers K.  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 04-17-2005 06:15 PM                  Brad's link works, Will's doesn't. But which specific ones do yous recommend? There seems to be a lot of choices for sizes and Pillar types and cuts. Also, do you "flat-cut" the aperature or file with a slight angle towards the the lamp or the film so as to get a "sharp" edge?  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 04-17-2005 06:34 PM                     I am currently trying to find an online vendor for the set I purchased, but all I seem to be able to find are files sold in singles. For beginners I recommend filing flat and don't try to get too fancy (unless you have a nice stack of aperture plates to trash). Once you have cut a few hundred plates, you can get crafty by filing at an angle towards the film to make for a sharper plate to produce less projected aperture shadow. (Again that is NOT for someone to do unless they know what the *&$#^%$@! they are doing...because if done incorrectly you could end up putting aperture scratches on every film you run! It also forces you to have more skill because with an angled cut one light pressure slice can take off WAY TOO MUCH and then the plate is useless, because essentially you are working with a newly created thickness that is now maybe 1/4 the normal thickness of the plate.) There are other tricks as well including angling the file a certain way to get perfectly 90 degree corners, how to hold the aperture to produce a curved side to compensate for keystoning and a couple of things that need to be done to smooth out the finished cuts so they do not attract dust that would otherwise cling in the aperture during a show, but again those aren't anything for the beginner to try and tackle. Don't forget to purchase a nibbler too. It's extra required if you are going to be dealing with Strong equipment since those boneheads can't make a properly undersized plate anymore and you will often have to start from a pinhole. Kinoton has got the right idea with apertures. They have pre-scribed maximum lines already etched into the plate that serve as a wonderful guide to assist you when using a nibbler! Their only problem is that the auto-changer hole is too damn low on the operator's edge of the plate and when removing the aperture the arm likes to jump into one of the actual aperture holes, at which point it falls to the floor. Grrrrrrrrr.  |  IP: Logged Gordon McLeod Film God Posts: 9532 From: Toronto Ontario Canada Registered: Jun 99 posted 04-17-2005 06:45 PM                     I always start from a pinhole and a dremmel tool is a bonus  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 04-17-2005 06:53 PM                  Brad, perhaps the correct way to cut/file plates would make a great "how-to" for the TIPS section...ummm with pics!  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 04-17-2005 06:54 PM                     Pictures would be useless. The only way to teach is one-on-one or *maybe* with a video.  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 04-17-2005 06:57 PM                  You're right...a video would be cool! (Where the hell is Joe when ya need him, huh?)  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 04-17-2005 07:03 PM                     While I don't doubt Joe's expertise, I don't think even he could make for an entertaining video on how to cut an aperture. It may be educational, but would definitely be quite boring.  |  IP: Logged Scott Norwood Film God Posts: 8146 From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas) Registered: Jun 99 posted 04-17-2005 07:46 PM                        I would _pay_ for a video on cutting plates. This is one of my weak points. I always seem to be able to get either straight edges and sharp corners _or_ correct dimensions, but not both. At least Century plates are cheap.  |  IP: Logged

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