FBRKN Pinhole Camera

In this guide you will learn how to make a pinhole camera that uses photographic paper.

In this project you will need to start by downloading the Illustrator file "FBRKN Pinhole Camera.ai" and then lasercut the design with a 4mm 40x60 cm MDF board. When you´ve cut your pieces you will need the following tools:

• One black tape
• A piece of sanding paper
• One aluminum beer/soda can
• One pair of scissors
• One bottle of wood glue
• One pin needle

Start by sorting out the right pieces for each part of the camera.

Now it´s time to prepare the aluminum plate. Cut out a 2x2 cm square piece from the beer/soda can with your scissor.

Use the pin needle to drill through your piece of aluminum. Do this by turning the needle round and round until you get through.

Use the sanding paper to smooth the hole on the opposite side of the aluminum plate.

Find the centre piece of the outer box. Attach your aluminum plate with pieces of black tape. Control that your pinhole is centred.

Now it´s time to start the assembly of the outer box of the camera. Start by selecting the centre piece with your aluminum plate and one of the longer side pieces. Now use your wood glue to mount the pieces together. Make sure not to use to much glue.

Continue the assembly of the outer piece of the camera. Use wood glue to mount the different side pieces together as you did in the previous step.

Time to prevent unwanted light to leak into our camera. Use black pieces of tape on the outside corners and sides of the assembled outer camera box.

Use the wood glue to mount the two pieces of wood cog wheel together. Mount your assembled cog wheel over the front hole on the outer box of your camera.

Assemble the side pieces with wood glue in the same manor as before with the outer camera box. Make sure not to attach the fifth and final piece just yet.

Time again to prevent unwanted light from entering your camera. Use black pieces of tape on the inside corners and sides.

Start by attaching the final side piece to your inner camera box. Then use pieces of black tape once more.

So you´re almost done. Your two boxes should now resemble the picture above.

Put gently the inner camera box inside the outer camera box. Make sure not to push it all the way in because it will be tough to get it out again. Now your camera is ready! To start taking photographs you will need access to a darkroom and photographic paper. Good luck!