DIY mattebox

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DavidD

Well-known member
Here is the prototype DIY mattebox I am working on - only for the HC1 hood for now. I am going to slot it as well so I can put in a filter if I want to. So far it works pretty good!
mattebox.jpg
 
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Worked on a new version for the last few days. This one is bigger, holds a 3X3 Konkin Warm filter. A little top heavy because of the hinge - I am trying to find a solution to the hinge - something different, plastic preferably. This thing is made of foam so it is durable and 'light' as can be. The hinge alone is heavier than the entire piece!
mattbox1.jpg

mattbox2.jpg

mattbox3.jpg

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The actual 'box' is a little lop-sided. I was working too quick on it. Next time it will be perfectly square. The wings are great and I added the flaps going up with softer foam to cover the entire piece. The flap foam is flexible so it will bend if you put the French Flag down. I haven't had a chance to smooth out the edges yet - and considering it is only a test, I might not waste my time. All in all, I am pleased with this prototype.

Comments always welcome.
 
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You never said what you used for hinges and its hard to see it in the pictures. Why can't you just drive some kind of plastic rod down the middle through all the foam to use as a hinge?
 
I have tried that in my other prototype - steel piece down the middle. Problem is that in time, it starts to wear down the foam inside and it no longer holds like a hinge. The hinge is a basic steel. I will have to think of something...
 
Ok, new design. I really like the foam matt box, but I can't seem to find plastic/nylon hinges that will give me some resistance, so it is getting a bit top heavy. It works fine, but this time I used an old Ambico Lens Shade (I can't seem to find them anymore on Ebay...) and made a foam frame for it and then put a french flag on the top. This is just a quick fix tonight with a better flag tomorror. It looks the bullocks and it has a slot for filters built in. All for under $10.00 (I got the Lens Shade used a few years ago).

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I am going to be hard pressed to do better at this price. I might try and find some plastic to make the frame and use a flat steel or aluminum for the French flag in the future, but for now, it works, it is light and easy and will not break on dropping.
 
In answer to a question, I used Foam from the $ store that is interlocking - it is used to pad floor where kids would be playing. I had to cut slots in the foam and drill a screw through both pieces to get it to stay and hinge. The side flaps I used craft foam that was really thin and a socket head screw to rotate on.
 
yes, the foam was already black. Comes in a bunch of nice colours if you wanted to get funky - pink, yellow, red, blue, white etc. Let me know if you need any help.
 
$dollar store, it is really cheap. I have seen it other places, like kids stores - Toy R Us maybE?
 
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