S.K. Grimes

Directions Website Contact the business

Creators of custom photographic equipment and accessories. Contact us through our website skgrimes.com as we regular experience issues with Facebook messenger.

10/13/2026

Got a fl**ge, but need another fl**ge? We can duplicate the original—or redesign it to better suit your setup.

Mounting matching fl**ges on multiple lens boards lets you move the same lens between different cameras quickly and without tools. Because each fl**ge is custom-made, we can adjust the size, profile, and mounting details to fit the application.

**ge

10/08/2026

Arca Swiss 171 Replica Lens Boards.

You need them. We make them.

The best part? Because we machine every board in-house, we can customize each one to fit your specific lens and project. Need a different bore? A recessed mount? Extra extension? A unique mounting pattern? No problem.

One size rarely fits all—and that's exactly why we make them ourselves.

Available in standard configurations or built specifically for your next project.

10/06/2026

All aboard!

Next stop: 20mm more extension.

This Cambo Helicoid 180 made a quick stop at SK Grimes for a custom extension that bolts directly to the existing mounting holes on the underside. No detours, no unnecessary transfers—just a clean, direct connection that keeps the whole assembly on track.

Sometimes all your optical train needs is one more car or 20mm.

10/01/2026

Welcome to the Old West of camera repair.

When it comes to vintage Studio shutters, replacement parts are about as rare as hen's teeth. You can't just ride into the general store and pick up a new mounting fl**ge anymore.

So when this Studio shutter came into town needing a replacement fl**ge, we tipped our hats, fired up the machines, and made one from scratch. That's just how we do things around these parts.

09/29/2026

🛠️ It's tool time!

We're not exactly sure what this retaining ring came from, but we do know one thing—it has the smallest spanner grooves we've ever seen.

That called for a custom fixed-tip spanner wrench. Machined from steel and purpose-built to fit this exact ring, it makes installation and removal safe, repeatable, and drama-free.

Sometimes the right tool isn't sitting in the toolbox... it's the one you have to make first.

09/24/2026

Oh là là...

It's always a treat when a Dagor strolls into the shop—especially one with an odometer this low. This lens bears serial number 000000, leading us to believe it may be a prototype.

Projects like these are always a pleasure. This remount included custom front and rear adapters along with a new aperture scale, giving this remarkable piece of optical history a new lease on life while preserving its unique character.

Some lenses are rare. Others tell a story before you even look through them.

09/22/2026

The Schneider Apo-Symmar 360mm f/6.8 in a Copal #3 deserved a little better than a plywood lens board.

So we upgraded it to aluminum.

Here's one of those little details that often gets overlooked. On thicker lens boards (3/8" and up), it's common to simply bore the board to 65mm and skip the spacer ring that originally comes with the Copal #3 retaining ring. It works... until you decide to move the lens to a thinner board and suddenly realize the spacer is missing.

At SK Grimes, we always counterbore the back side of our Copal #3 lens boards so the original spacer ring can be installed and retained with the lens. It takes a little more time, but it means your lens is ready for whatever project comes next.

Small details. Years of experience. Better solutions.

(And if you do happen to be missing your spacer ring, we stock replacements on our website.)

09/17/2026

It's Aero Ektar time!

Every couple of months, one of these legendary lenses finds its way onto the bench. This one was headed for a Speed Graphic lens board.

Our preferred mounting method uses a custom retaining ring to position the lens at the correct distance from the board. As a bonus, the retaining ring can be reused on another camera, and—most importantly—it doesn't damage the lens threads.

We've seen designs that use a set screw directly against the mounting threads to secure the lens. While that may seem convenient, it's not a method we recommend. Set screws can deform the threads, making future removal difficult and potentially jamming the lens in place.

Sometimes the best engineering decision is choosing the method that protects the lens for the next hundred years.

09/15/2026

OUCH!

Sometimes parts are so thoroughly seized together that the only way to separate them is... surgery.

For this Ektar lens project, the front adapter had become permanently stuck in an Ilex #5 shutter. Rather than risk damaging the shutter or lens with brute force, we took a surgical approach—carefully cutting and removing only the offending adapter using the proper tooling.

Once the patient was stable, we fabricated a duplicate adapter to the original specifications, restoring the assembly without compromising the surrounding components.

Sometimes the safest repair starts with a precision cut.

09/10/2026

Think outside the ring.

The Cokin filter system officially tops out at 112mm mounting threads... but what if you could push it just a little farther?

In this case, we stretched it all the way to 127mm. With a custom-designed adapter, our client was able to use their existing Cokin filter platform without modifying a single part of it.

Sometimes expanding your system doesn't mean replacing it—it just means thinking a little bigger.

Address

Woonsocket, RI

Website

http://www.skgrimes.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when S.K. Grimes posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to S.K. Grimes:

Name:

Email:

Message:

Want your business to be the top-listed photography service in Woonsocket?