How to stop lenses rolling around in a cabinet?

mo · Expire: 2016-07-30

Ok you DIY Boys and Girls,After my recent accident with one of my favorite lenses,what solutions do you have that will stop a lens rolling in a cabinet situation?
I use on the odd occasion lens caps,rear caps or filters rings....obviously this time I did not use any of my usual solutions,I am just asking is there a better way?

calvin83 · Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 7554 Location: Hong Kong

PVC non slip mats like those in the link below will do. You can cut them easily to the size you need.

http://www.sperling.com.au/htmlpages/non_slip_mats.htm

mo · Expire: 2016-07-30

Ah,Thank you an easy solution. Cool

kansalliskala · Expire: 2016-12-30

Stop playing them waltz was my first reaction.

mo · Expire: 2016-07-30

kds315* · Expire: 2021-03-09

Put them upside down or just upside and they won't roll - easy. Wink

David · Expire: 2013-01-25

Get some boards the length of the cabinet and use a flush-mount screw to screw some el-cheapo center pinch lens caps on. Then then the lenses are affixed to a lens cap and board. I would put a small spacer (tube) over the screw between the lens cap and board so your fingers can reach the lens cap.

Alternately, get some el-cheapo PLASTIC filters and screw those on to the board. You can then simply screw your lenses into those filters. Again, using a flush-mount screw because that way there's no chance of the screw head hitting your from element.

You'd have to probably take each board out to access a lens, so having them hold three or five would be manageable. This approach falls apart, I imagine, when you get into heavy telephotos. But for standard and short teles, this ought to be a workable solution.

mo · Expire: 2016-07-30

Thanks for the tips,I always like my lenses facing outwards towards the light. Besides I do like looking at them. Embarassed

as well as using them.Thankfully I mainly have all short lenses, no long lenses so there are no issues there. I might try the non slip idea first....my long term goal is to have a proper dehumidifier cabinet for my lenses.

duckrider · Joined: 11 Dec 2013 Posts: 437 Location: Germany

Use ALPA. or EXAKTA lenses with build in switch for f-stop closure and the problem is no more!
Laughing

duckrider · Joined: 11 Dec 2013 Posts: 437 Location: Germany

Use ALPA. or EXAKTA lenses with build in switch for f-stop closure and the problem is no more!
Laughing

dan_ · Expire: 2016-12-19

Just fill the cabinet up to its limit and they'll have no space to roll Smile

mo · Expire: 2016-07-30

philslizzy · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 4748 Location: Cheshire, England

Blu-tak is perfect!!!!

David · Expire: 2013-01-25

OH! Sugru. Make choks for the lenses out of sugru. You can put it directly on the cabinet and after it sets it will hold the lenses in place.

Farside · Expire: 2013-12-27

Dimpled rubber sheet on the shelves. Nothing can roll, then.

visualopsins · Expire: 2025-04-11

Stores in earthquake country and boats have shelves with lips to prevent contents from spilling.

philslizzy · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 4748 Location: Cheshire, England

Complicated and expensive answers.

Have you actually tried Blu-Tak yet? it woks just fine for me. Infinitely adaptable and enough in a �2 packet to do 50 lenses or more.

56 DIN · Expire: 2021-11-18

take raw lenses, only the boiled ones roll

bychance · Joined: 24 Apr 2013 Posts: 345 Location: Kent, England

Hot melt glue gun their asses down.

mo · Expire: 2016-07-30

The "mat" solution seems easiest,I could always borrow a nail gun and permanently fix them to the cabinet, but wheres the fun in that? Wink

visualopsins · Expire: 2025-04-11

Now I wonder if there are better solutions. First step is to understand the problem, which, I don't. Embarassed

How in the world does a lens begin rolling around in a cabinet? and What 'accident' does a lens rolling around inside a cabinet have?

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

How about the foam stuff used to fill the gaps when using corrugated sheets for a roof or wall ?

http://onlinepolycarbonate.co.uk/epages/950000286.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/950000286/Products/AC40

I noticed some today on a neighbours shed roof and thought "that might be useful" Question

mo · Expire: 2016-07-30

Hi Vis,
The issue is, when I open the cabinet door it creates a little movement/wobble of the cabinet, and if the lens is on the edge and I have not noticed, it can fall out.

hoanpham · Expire: 2015-01-18

My cabinet is fix screwed into the wall. A kitchen bench cabinet of 60cm x 2 with full-pull-out-drawers, and they can't roll. I need some time to find one specific lens, but they stay inside.

NikonAIS · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2014 11:13 pm Post subject:

Try purchasing several used rear element caps and mount them to a piece of 1/8 plywood either with glue or a screw. Now you can just mount the lenses to the board and they will stay put. Another way would be to get some "egg crate" foam and make cutouts for each lens lying on its side. Use two thickness, one cut and the other not, which will serve as cushioning for the lens.