So this year I have decided that I would like to try making some 4” x 10” negatives. Glass plates require a box to protect them as I am working and transporting them. There are a few beautifully crafted options you may choose from online, but being the starving artist that I am, I am going to cobble something together from the least expensive materials I can find.
last year I made a box to store my finished glass 8” x 10” negatives and used 1/2” foam board from the craft store and it made an acceptable storage box, but not strong enough to be of any use in the field, I am too rough on my stuff for that.
So, today, I made a run out to the craft store and picked up the materials to try a new design. I was very fortunate to find these nice wooden boxes that were cut almost perfectly to my required dimensions of 4” x 10”.
These nice wooden boxes also came with the frame for a marking tab so I can keep track of them.
Because these were almost made to order, all I had to do was make the slots that will hold my plates. I used some 1/4” square dowels cut to 3” lengths.
Using a sample plate, I lined the dowels up and glued them to a double thick layer of corrugated plastic sheet that was cut to fit the 4” ends of the box to fill the gap and fit my glass.
I know it’s janky. But you know what. No one is looking at my plate box but me, as long as it is sturdy and keeps my plates intact it serves my purpose.
I purchased two of them so I will make another one later. I am living in an apartment currently, with no access to a wood shop or even very many tools, I sold all that when we moved last year. This project just worked out so I could get it done even with my limitations. Now I have to make some for my 8” x 8” plates. I found a plastic box at Staples that looks promising, but that’s for another day.