GRINDING YOUR OWN GG IN 15 MINUTES

When I first heard that I assumed it was too complicated but its really easy and it makes also fun. Therefore I want to show you today how to grind your own ground glass in 15 minutes (also called gg) that will be used in a vibrating dof adapter. Why? Because they are cheaper than commercial plastic focusing screens and you can achieve different looks. Also GGs made from real glass are more durable and can be easily washed with soap and water. There is one disadvantage though. If you use a homemade gg you must use a condenser lens to avoid or compensate the hot-spot effect. (Please read my other tutorial condenser lenses demystified on www.jetsetmodels.info). As an alternative you can also grind the flat side of a planoconvex lens. They are found in the old Nikon F series focusing screens.

In that case you don't need a condenser lens anymore. Heres a close-up from that Nikon F series PCX lens if you don't know how it looks like.

only the VH-57X Ver. 2.0 can handle them because they are oversized. Just ask me for the 24x36 GEPE ggholder plate. Furthermore you will need grinding grit (i.e. from ebay or www.gotgrit.com). You can choose between Aluminium Oxide or Silicium / Silicon Carbide. There are also different micron or grit sizes and its important to know which one to use. Available grit sizes: Silicium / Silicon Carbide F1000 = approx. 5 Micron F500= approx. 16 Micron F400 = approx. 17 Micron F320 = approx. 32 Micron Aluminium Oxide 5 Micron 9 Micron 15 Micron 25 Micron If you use coarser grit sizes like 25 micron you will see the grain later in your image (not good). If you use smaller grit sizes like 5 micron then you will increase the hot-spot effect and highlights will shine through your gg (not-good). Therefore you should choose a grit size between 10 and 20 micron to avoid these problems. Myself I had only Silicium Carbide

PCX LENS FROM NIKON F FOCUSING SCREEN

You don't have a PCX lens from a Nikon F series focusing screen? No problem then you can use cheap microscopic slides or just go with GEPE glass slide mounts.

GEPE 24X36 GLASS SLIDE MOUNTS

DISASSEMBLED NIKON F FOCUSING SCREEN

You can find them cheap on www.gepe.com or ebay. They are available in different sizes from medium format to 24x36. The real size of the glass slides is 26.65mm x 38.65mm so if you plan to use them with one of my gg-holders then

Daniel Schweinert - http://www.jetsetmodels.info/news.htm - email: ilm1@gmx.de

F400 that has approx. 17 Micron but I heard from different people that Aluminium Oxide with 15 Micron gives the best results with vibrating dof adapters.
EXAGGERATED PICTURE OF THE SPIRAL EFFECT

Use a large and thick sheet of glass i.e. from an old picture frame to grind on. You will also need a small glass of water and a teaspoon.

You can also use a small suction cup from a toy gun to move the GEPE glass slide instead of pushing with your fingers. This way you will add a homogenous pressure to the glass slide and you will not get dirty. After 15 minutes of grinding with Silicium Carbide F400 (approx. 17 Micron) my homemade ground glass is finished and it looks really good and bright. If you use a finer grit size it will of course take longer to grind it.

When the GEPE glass slide becomes harder to move just add a little more water and grinding grit.

MY HOMEMADE GROUND GLASS IN 15 MIN.

Sources: Put a teaspoon of grit in the center of this glass sheet and mix it with a similar amount of water. Now be so kind and place your GEPE glass slide with the textured ANTINEWTON side down on the grit. Start grinding in a continuous figure 8 pattern for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes take the GEPE glass slide into the kitchen or bathroom and wash it with with water and soap. You can rub with your finger with soap on it to remove the grinding grit. Grinding grit www.gotgrit.com or ask your local car paintshop! GEPE glass slides www.gepe.com or ebay Nikon F3, 4 or 5 series focusing screen incl. PCX lens www.ebay.com You can use any type of the Nikon F series screen. The PCX lens is always the same on type A, B, C, D, E, G, H, J, M, R... only the plastic focusing screen is different. I hope you guys have fun with this quickguide. Be sure to checkout my website www.jetsetmodels.info Bye, Bye.

WASH THE SLIDE WITH WATER AND SOAP

GRIND IN A CONTINUOUS FIGURE 8 PATTERN

Its very important to do a figure 8 pattern to avoid the ugly spiral effect seen on most homemade dof adapters.

Let it dry or dab with a paper towel on its surface. When its dry it will become diffuse and you see the result. Usually the corners are not completely diffuse but don't worry after more 10 minutes of grinding it will be just fine.

Daniel Schweinert - http://www.jetsetmodels.info/news.htm - email: ilm1@gmx.de