How to make Ground Glass for View Cameras and Slide Carriers
If you have ever worried about ground glass for a vintage camera or in my case, for making a scan mount for negatives. Then this is for you.
It doesn’t take long to make a ground glass and it is a very painless process..
DIY Ground Glass for Film Scanning
To start, you need some picture glass or similar cut to size, a block of wood, some double-sided tape and some 600 grit Silicon Carbide powder (this is the stuff you use to make sandpaper).
Making the Ground Glass Grinding or Polishing Tool.
I used two pieces of glass, one at 23cm x 10cm for my negative holder (the bit that needed to be ground) and another 8cm x 8cm that would do the polishing work.
Stick this polishing glass to the block of wood using the double-sided tape
Place the glass to be ground on a flat slightly forgiving surface (I used a cardboard carton)
Place a teaspoon of Silicon Carbide powder on the glass.
Mix this with a litte dishwashing soap and water
Start to polish the glass using your block mounted polishing glass. Use a circular motion and don’t push too hard.
After about 10 minutes, carefully wash and clean the ground glass (remember which side you are grinding it can be difficult to tell!)
Dry the glass to see if you need to polish any areas you missed.
Finished Ground Glass Polishing or Grinding Tool
Silicon Carbide 600 Grit on glass to be ground
Gentle grinding/polishing in a circular motion
Ground glass before and after
Making the hinged slide carrier - this holds the negatives flat and prevents Newton rings
Ready to scan!
Slide carrier on Epson v750 flatbed
Detail before/after crop of scan (iphone off desktop screen)
