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Camera Restoration Advice |
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08-17-2006
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#1
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Selflessly Self-involved
Ash is offline
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,222
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Camera Restoration Advice
I'm going to restore the Rolleiflex 3.5 Automat that's in shoddy condition. (two test rolls later, still having bad luck! one had flare, one shifted during development and the top 5-8mm is contaminated!!)
I need to iron out the dents in the lid so it closes properly - not sure WHICH dent is causing the problem though, and I dont have anything to compare it to (as my 'cord III is significantly simpler).
I was thinking of sanding off all the outer black paint and leaving it shiny silver, but I'm not sure... maybe it'll look a bit OTT. What type of paint/finish should I use on the metal? I'm sure a bunch of you might have repainted a camera or two so you might know.
Hmm also do you think the Vinyl Leatherette will be good enough? I'm not sure I want to splash out on replacement leather just yet. I'm gonna buy from cameraleather.com
I'm thinking the correct method is to remove the old dodgy leather, sand down the surface (to remove all corrosion, consistent adhesion and smooth finish) then carefully apply the replacement (which is self-adhesive).
I also need to replace the screen, but I might spend the $30 on a screen from Rick Olesen rather than get an RB67-type and cut it down - only problem is my paypal account doesnt work!
So any help, tips, pointers, info and alternative methods would be VERY appreciated.
Thanks all
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08-17-2006
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#2
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Selflessly Self-involved
Ash is offline
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,222
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08-17-2006
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#3
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Registered User
Carrotblog is offline
Join Date: May 2006
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Congratulations on taking advice for another 6x6cm TLR!
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I was thinking of sanding off all the outer black paint and leaving it shiny silver, but I'm not sure... maybe it'll look a bit OTT. What type of paint/finish should I use on the metal? I'm sure a bunch of you might have repainted a camera or two so you might know.
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That's going to be really horrible. Why don't you try cameraleather.com kid? ;P
http://www.cameraleather.com
and the best repair resource on the internet I can find:
http://www.kyphoto.com/classics/foru...tml?1136058892
Used this to repair a Mockba!
You'll get some great ideas.
xoxoxo
Miffy
http://carrotblog.livejournal.com |
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08-17-2006
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#4
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Selflessly Self-involved
Ash is offline
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,222
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Well the paint needs repainting. there's sooo much tarnished metal on show. But I'm buying a leatherette/leather kit from cameraleather for the body. What I meant was the painted areas like the rims 
EDIT: Thanks for that link! Just got the Rollei repair manual for free 
Last edited by Ash : 08-17-2006 at 12:20.
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08-17-2006
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#5
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Registered User
Carrotblog is offline
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Underground
Posts: 63
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Quote:
Ash
Well the paint needs repainting. there's sooo much tarnished metal on show. But I'm buying a leatherette/leather kit from cameraleather for the body. What I meant was the painted areas like the rims
EDIT: Thanks for that link! Just got the Rollei repair manual for free
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No problem kid! I told ya it was a great resource and not some dippy web URL like this (JOKE! Honest mod.  )
The paint repair is easy. You look like someone who used to build toy planes. Maybe get an enamel jet black gloss paint from those airplane kits. They leave a high gloss finish and is more hard wearing than simple black marker gloss.
xoxoxo
Miffy
http://carrotblog.livejournal.com |
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08-17-2006
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#6
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Selflessly Self-involved
Ash is offline
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Posts: 3,222
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toy planes? how did you know?? |
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08-17-2006
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#7
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Registered User
Carrotblog is offline
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Underground
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ash
toy planes? how did you know?? |
Because I have an annoying little brother?
xoxoxo
Miffy
http://carrotblog.livejournal.com |
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08-17-2006
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#8
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Selflessly Self-involved
Ash is offline
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,222
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Well lets hope I dont get this camera stuck to my finger with polyester cement..
I'm currently trying to work out WHY the (non-removable) hood grinds and doesnt close properly. It's the most pressing problem and the repair manual is a bit daunting with very few/zero notes
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08-17-2006
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#10
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Selflessly Self-involved
Ash is offline
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,222
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I mean the actual waist level finder hood assembly. I already have a square-shaped Yashica-branded lens hood, and it looks great, and also a less impressive circular lens hood
I took all the screws out earlier today, and cleaned off the screen - immediate improvement but I need that screen replaced asap.
I just took the screws out again, then somewhat disassembled the hood assembly. A warped piece on one of the side leafs of metal was causing tension. It's reshaped and kinda closes fine. I need to do it in a fast motion or else it jams up again, but that's fine. It feels a lot nicer now! |
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08-17-2006
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#11
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Registered User
Carrotblog is offline
Join Date: May 2006
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Yes - I thought it was the WLF you were referring to. The metal tension holders get get jammed. They're important to keep the screen in place, no?
I'm sure the rabbit auction site had a few Rollei screens. Someone told me to look up RedLeica RedLeica1 or RedLeica2???) user ID on ebay as they sold screens.
I tried one (cost less than $30. It's blurred it hopelessly difficult to focus but at least its clean. I like the Beattie Intenscreen on my Hasselblad better
Shouldn't be too hard to get.
Seems like you got a user Rollei. It might take a bit of work to bring it back to fuller life.
xoxoxo
Miffy
http://carrotblog.livejournal.com |
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08-17-2006
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#12
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Selflessly Self-involved
Ash is offline
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,222
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further bad luck.. one of the 4 TINY screws that fit the hood to the top of the camera - DOESNT FIT! 
It's loose fitting and doesnt want to stay secure. this is getting a bit of a joke already..
Any idea on replacement screws? they're hardly a milimeter across |
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08-17-2006
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#13
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Registered User
FrankS is offline
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Great White North
Age: 56
Posts: 17,157
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You can get real leather from Aki Asahi from Japan for cheap with a very quick shipping time.
__________________
“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who has said it, not even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” – quote
I myself am made entirely of faults, stitched together with good intentions. -quote
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08-17-2006
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#14
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Selflessly Self-involved
Ash is offline
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,222
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I'm not sure Aki Asahi cuts to the correct shape, but I may as well cut myself then! That was plan B, thanks Frank |
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08-17-2006
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#15
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Registered User
FrankS is offline
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Great White North
Age: 56
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I've bought several camera covers from Aki and they have always been perfect fits. Do you mean he doesn't have a cutting die for your particular camera?
__________________
“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who has said it, not even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” – quote
I myself am made entirely of faults, stitched together with good intentions. -quote
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08-17-2006
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#16
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Selflessly Self-involved
Ash is offline
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,222
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He doesnt appear to have a cutting die for my rolleiflex - I'm emailing him now
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08-17-2006
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#17
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Selflessly Self-involved
Ash is offline
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,222
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08-17-2006
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#18
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Native Texan
Bill58 is online now
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: So. Korea
Posts: 3,086
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Join camera-fix@yahoogroups.com; there's a good thread right now about camera painting! |
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08-17-2006
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#19
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Chillin' in Geneva
dreilly is offline
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Finger Lakes Region of New York State
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Ash,
If you want I have a not-so-perfectly cut RZ67 screen. There's just one little crack in the corner, where you don't really notice it. Yours for free (well, for shipping) if you want it. The price is right!
doug
__________________
-D is for Doug
http://www.flickr.com/photos/xenar/collections/
No place is boring, if you've had a good night's sleep and have a pocket full of unexposed film. ~Robert Adams, Darkroom & Creative Camera Techniques, May 1995 (I suppose that should now read: "and have a full battery and an empty memory card." Though that sounds so dull.
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08-17-2006
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#20
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Registered User
FrankS is offline
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Great White North
Age: 56
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A focusing screen update breathes new life into these cameras. Go for it!
__________________
“Believe nothing, no matter where you read it or who has said it, not even if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” – quote
I myself am made entirely of faults, stitched together with good intentions. -quote
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08-18-2006
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#21
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Selflessly Self-involved
Ash is offline
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,222
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dreilly, pm'd
I've emailed CameraLeather (aki asahi pointed me in the way of microtools for leatherette, but its pretty pricey - may as well have a custom kit from CL) so I should know whether they have a die to match the camera.
I'll repaint the camera the same time I replace the leatherette, so the old leather comes right off, and the body is stripped and repainted, THEN the new leather and it should look good.
I'm hopefully getting that screen from dreilly - which would be a temporary fix - some point I'll try and sort out a Olesen screen, which is really what I want
Last edited by Ash : 08-18-2006 at 02:22.
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08-18-2006
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#22
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Slow learner,but keen!
SCOTFORTHLAD is offline
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: UK.
Age: 68
Posts: 714
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Hi Ash,
Good luck and congrats for taking on the project!!
The various suggestions re. focussing screens also interest myself.I have a lovely old Rolleicord 1a which came to me from Greyhoundman,which has only one drawback,namely the rather dim screen,even after GMan has cleaned it.
Replacing the screen would as Frank said give the great old TLR a lift,but is that possible,(and if so are the screens easy to get hold of)?I was wondering if anyone might know.
Brian.
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08-18-2006
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#24
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Selflessly Self-involved
Ash is offline
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,222
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I bought myself one of these for £1 in my local vintage camera shop: http://cgi.ebay.com/FOCUSING-SCREEN-...QQcmdZViewItem
It's the number 6 "checker" mamiya C330 focusing screen. I bought 2, one with a huge crack on the corner, but its ok as a spare. One part is fresnel,cut to a weird shape (JUST long enough to fit into the rolleiflex), and one part is a checkered piece of glass, too small to fit on its own.
I'm considering sorting out a proper sized bracket for the fresnel, but it seems ok as it is (probably shift inside the camera knowing my luck) and it's temporary til I get an Olesen screen, and the screen from dreilly as well.
I was amazed at how much brighter it was. I think its down to the lack of vignetting, the whole image jumps out more.
I just realised though, I probably have a screen I coulda nabbed from the lubitel! |
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08-18-2006
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#25
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Slow learner,but keen!
SCOTFORTHLAD is offline
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: UK.
Age: 68
Posts: 714
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Ash,
Thanks for the links.Will PM. to you,
Brian. |
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