building a matte box...

[Zakaree Sandberg]

Hey guys. ive posted this on dvxuser but i have the capabilities to build one. i have built one before but it is made out of fiberglass and thus heavy. and its only a 2 stage filterbox..
i have a full machine shop.. cnc, drill, lathe, so on.. does anyone have numbers for a nice 4X5 mattebox.. such as the
MB4169
4X5" Rotating Matte Box for 16:9?

if so please let me know.. essentially i would like to plug in the numbers, place my block of aluminum and let it rip

[Justin Anderson]

if you have any success let me know and I may buy one from you. :D

[Justin Anderson]

do you have access to a real mattebox as a reference point?

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Why would you choose fiberglass???

[tj williams]

If you can make a matt box for the price of Bob Petroff's that is just as light and full of adjustable features I will be amazed. I've done a bunch of fab. and these things have a lot of parts! You need to go to a rental house or friend and really look over a Chrozeil or Petroff.

[Zakaree Sandberg]

If you can make a matt box for the price of Bob Petroff's that is just as light and full of adjustable features I will be amazed. I've done a bunch of fab. and these things have a lot of parts! You need to go to a rental house or friend and really look over a Chrozeil or Petroff.

i have access to a chrozeil.. but how would making one come any where close to the cost of a petroff? a block of alumiunum blank = 20 bucks? maybe...
free access to a cnc and operator = free
total cost = 20 bucks for the box
filter holder 4 stage = 50 bucks..
total cost 70 bucks



my fiberglass one is actually a resine matte box:) but it looks really good and works really well.. i was on a whole diy thing for a long time

[Jeff Kilgroe]

I was questioning the fiberglass because of weight... Although a fiber/resin mattebox would be fairly easy to make. I made my own mattebox a couple years ago for my DVX - it was all out of stainless steel sheet and then I powder coated the pieces after all were cut, edges rolled and pressed, etc.. turned out pretty nice, but was a little heavy and clunky. Had a light leak in one spot that I always had to tape. When I upgraded to the HVX200, I bought the Century/Vocas mattebox as it was fairly inexpensive by comparison to the Petroff/Chrozeil options and I was really pleased with it and would probably consider the Vocas for use with RED. I unloaded the Vocas mattebox just recently along with my FF and M2 35mm adapter to a freind who really wanted/needed them. I suppose I could buy the FF and mattebox back if I really wanted to. Heh, I might have to beg him to sell those back cheap since I'm now planning to buy the RED zoom lens too.

[Zakaree Sandberg]

I was questioning the fiberglass because of weight... Although a fiber/resin mattebox would be fairly easy to make. I made my own mattebox a couple years ago for my DVX - it was all out of stainless steel sheet and then I powder coated the pieces after all were cut, edges rolled and pressed, etc.. turned out pretty nice, but was a little heavy and clunky. Had a light leak in one spot that I always had to tape. When I upgraded to the HVX200, I bought the Century/Vocas mattebox as it was fairly inexpensive by comparison to the Petroff/Chrozeil options and I was really pleased with it and would probably consider the Vocas for use with RED. I unloaded the Vocas mattebox just recently along with my FF and M2 35mm adapter to a freind who really wanted/needed them. I suppose I could buy the FF and mattebox back if I really wanted to. Heh, I might have to beg him to sell those back cheap since I'm now planning to buy the RED zoom lens too.

it is heavy:( not unmanageable.. it sits on rods.

[tj williams]

Wow 70 for machining stock FREE LABOR couple of other expenses
Also a Chrozeil would be cheaper if I got FREE Dealer, FREE Shipping etc.
Should value your labor as you could sell your time for somthing and buy a box.
here are some other things: probably this list also misses some things....
nuts n bolts:(some below)
the little turned things for pulling out the filter holders.
The locks for the filter holders.
The locking bolts nuts that hold the whole thing together.
the adjustable mount for the rods
The screws for the adjustable mount for the rods
The lens end adapter
The hood itself.
The eyebrow and pivoting holder (which wont slip because of the tightener)
getting it all polished
getting it anodized

Looking fwd to seeing a finished picture and accounting of your hours!

[ladru]

The hoods of Vocas matteboxes are all made of a carbon fibre reinforced material.
All other brands use vacuum formed pvc sheet material.
Quality counts...