Re: Stereo Cameras... (sticky Kodak shutter)

[P3D Alexander Klein <klein@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

P3D  <s.spicer@xxxxxxxxx> writes:

> >Date: Fri, 12 Apr 1996 12:30:54 -0700
> >From: P3D Gregory J. Wageman <gjw@xxxxxxxxxx>
> 
> >(Re: Kodak Stereo Camera) My guess is that the
> >new lubricant has turned whatever ancient lube was present to gum.  I think
> >the best course of action would be to flush the entire mechanism with a
> >mild solvent such as denatured alchohol.
> 
> 
> There are others on this list that have more experience than me - I've only
> fixed one shutter mechanism in my day - on a Wirgin Edixa.

I don't claim to have more experience, but I've repaired about a dozen
Kodaks, some of them with sticky shutters.

I prefer "Wundbenzin" as a solvent. This is a German expression for a
special type of super-clean benzene available in pharmacies to clean
wounds. It evaporates much faster than regular unleaded fuel (or gas,
for my US-friends) and smells half as badly as well. I've never found
anything else that was better.

Earlier, I had tried alcohol (96%), also from a pharmacy (in France),
because it's a whole lot cheaper there and not denaturated, so you could also
use it to brew your own liquor ;-) I'm also not sure which chemicals 
they use to de-naturize alocohol. At least, I only want the purest stuff
to touch my cameras.

To clean mechanical parts, I usually place them inside a small aluminum
box which is filled with "wound benzene". I wait a few minutes and start
shaking gently.

A good way to clean might be one of those ultrasonic cleaners, filled
with benzene. This should do a good job removing old residue that's
"baked" to the shutters. I've never tried this since I don't have access
to one of these machines. I would, however, love to hear any comments.

To clean lenses (if they can be removed and if they are not coated), the
very best is ... water and plain, cheapo soap.

Hope this helps,

alex


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