P3D Slide Mounting Rigs?

[Michael Georgoff <Michael_Georgoff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Okay, fellow slide-shooters and mounters, I have a regular question that
makes no reference to presence or absence of marbles (or the taking of same
and going home), filters, flames, wise-cracks, unwise-cracks, lack of
civility among us, etc, etc...  Let's get back to stereo photography, okey
dokey?

Of those out there who shoot slide film, and then cut and mount in paper
(heat seal, Spicer, etc, not RBT or slip-in), how do you mount?  I've built
a rig which basically resembles a small light table, florescent light
mounted below, which has a way to secure a mount (so that it doesn't move).
I tape down the left film chip, estimating best placement and then work with
the right chip on rotation, horizontal and vertical alignment and placement.
I do have a mounting gauge (compliments of a Joel Alpers PDF doc, laser
printed on transparency film), which definitely helps.

I have trouble getting the kind of precision I think I need, and I've used
various methods, none with terribly good success.  

Two key issues here:

1. Holding the chip then securing it.  My latest approach involves putting a
piece of tape on the right chip and getting it into position with a pair of
hemostats (as opposed to my way-too-big finger & thumb) then press into
place.  I'm also trying a method involving tape-held left chip, and right
chip free-moving, both under a piece of glass that allows me to position the
right "under glass" (access to movement via top perfs, glass is just below
perf line), and once aligned under the glass, I tape top, remove glass, tape
bottom.  Any other suggestions on placement?  

2. And, since alignment is critical, I tried using a sawed off Viewmaster
(98 cents, local thrift store) as my "precision mounting optical assist
device".  My latest optical assist try involved an attempt at mounting some
lenses (from a Taylor Merchant (?) black plastic folding card viewer) about
4 or 5 inches away from the slide plane.  Viewmaster focal length is about
the same as a the cheap Radex viewer, but it's a bit too close to allow
"working room", and the 4 or 5 inch focal length from the Talyor Merchant is
too far (images too small).  Any one else out there use "optical assists" in
the mounting process?


3. Any other comments, guidance, suggestions, idea on slide mounting rigs,
equipment, gizmos, tools, etc?

Replies welcome on-list or off.

Michael Georgoff
San Jose, CA
georgoff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx


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