P3D Double your fun with RBT slide mounts - part 2

[Paul Talbot <ptww@xxxxxxxxx>]

Quick-start guide:
Buy 100 black-half only RBT mounts.*  Also buy 100 blue cardboard
foldovers (from Reel-3D).  Place your slide chips in 1/2 of an RBT
mount, set the window, top with 1/2 of a cardboard foldover, and tape
shut.  Repeat 199 times.  Woila!  200 precision mounted slides for
about $10 more than the usual cost of precision mounting 100 slides.

Additional discussion:
Issue: the end result is bulky.
Cause: the RBT mount pins prevent the cardboard foldover from
fitting snugly against the plastic mount.
Solution: Either a) trim the pins from the RBT mount; or b) cut
the blue foldovers so they fit inside the pins.

Issue: the end result does not seem to sit level horizontally.
Cause: 1/2 of a cardboard foldover is taller than an RBT mount.
Solution: Either a) offset the cardboard foldover so the top (or
bottom--depends on whether the slide is intended for projection
or for hand viewing) edge does not extend past the corresponding
edge of the plastic mount; b) cut the cardboard foldover so it is a
bit smaller (vertically) than the RBT; or c) cut the cardboard
foldover so it fits inside the pins of the RBT, as mentioned above.

Issue: the slide chips appear to curl at the edges.
Cause: with this technique the slide will only be held in place only
at the top and bottom, not at the sides.
Solution: Be sure the film is flat.  ;)  This technique may be less
tolerant of film that is not flat enough before cutting and mounting.
(I am *not* having a curling problem on my test slide, just wanted
to put the possibility in play.)

Note that I don't have a projector to test for heat-induced popping
problems using this mounting technique.  

Perhaps I've overlooked something, but the above seems like a
reasonable approach to expanding your 3D hobby if the cost of RBT
mounts has been holding you back.  Other thoughts?

Note:  there is a "free bonus" benefit to this technique also.  See
my next post!

Paul Talbot
*  You will need at least 200 pin bars instead of 100.  I hope
that's not a problem, Jon!


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