Hasselblad Musty Smell

[MegoApesNut]

I just purchased a nice Hasselblad body and back from a seller in Japan. Both are in really nice condition and arrived super fast. However, there is a slight musty smell, especially inside the back. Any thoughts on how to eliminate this?

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

My used Cambo I bought while living in Japan smelt of mildew and cigarettes. I stuck it in the sun, and it took care of the mildew smell, but not the cigarette smell. In fact, 24 years later, it still smells a bit like an ashtray...

 

[moto-uno]

I have an excellent GL690 that has a slight aroma of cigarettes and no amount of sunshine or "Car & Truck Fresh" granules
have cleaned up the odors , possibly I'll try the granules for a few weeks and see if that's effective . Good luck and let us
know if you find something that actually works for you . Peter

 

[Charles S]

A cloth made damp with a mix of water vinegar and dishliquid should do the trick. The mold gets killed by the vinegar, the dish liquid should help unstick any other dust

 

[AgX]

Hot air stream. Howeverr it can take time, especially as plastics can absorb odours.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

My used Cambo I bought while living in Japan smelt of mildew and cigarettes. I stuck it in the sun, and it took care of the mildew smell, but not the cigarette smell. In fact, 24 years later, it still smells a bit like an ashtray...

stick it in a drawer or large plastic tub with some open baking soda or a while; that 'll take care of it.

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

Asia is very humid. The musty will dissipate over time if you leave the camera out.

 

[MegoApesNut]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I will let you know what works

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

stick it in a drawer or large plastic tub with some open baking soda or a while; that 'll take care of it.

Never thought of that... It works for my boots, so why not?

 

[M Carter]

I once bought a used fridge for my photo studio - upon delivery, I realized it had been in a chain-smoker's apartment. The delivery guy said "stuff it full of wadded up newspaper and change it every day". Took three days or so, but the smell was completely gone - and man, it really stank when I got it.

So now, if I get something from eBay with a musty smell, I take a big cardboard box, surround the thing with wadded newspaper, and put it out in the sun if it's a warm day. The paper really does suck the odor out.

 

[darkroommike]

I have a HEPA room filter with an Ozone generator, directing the fan onto my camera seems to do the trick. Hotels use something similar to air out stinky rooms. We wore a couple out at Motel 6.

 

[GarageBoy]

Damp rid helps

 

[moto-uno]

^ "rid" what perchance is that ? Regards,Peter

 

[Alan Gales]

Remove the plastic lens opening cover, film back and the waist level finder. Set it outside for a few hours and that may do the trick.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I have an excellent GL690 that has a slight aroma of cigarettes and no amount of sunshine or "Car & Truck Fresh" granules
have cleaned up the odors , possibly I'll try the granules for a few weeks and see if that's effective . Good luck and let us
know if you find something that actually works for you . Peter

one or two weeks inside a box with an open tray of baking soda takes care of most of it.

 

[choiliefan]

Another vote for the ozone generator. If you don't have access to one, there are companies local to you which do cleanup work after fires, etc who may take care of it for you for a nominal fee.

 

[Sirius Glass]

one or two weeks inside a box with an open tray of baking soda takes care of most of it.

+1

 

[GSansoucie]

I have my Hasselblad sitting next to my Mamiya that has a musty smell (from Japan). I’d leave my Mamiya out in our south facing bay windows but then it would be covered in cat hair and/or pushed off onto the floor by said cats. I like the bin with baking soda or damp rid idea.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have my Hasselblad sitting next to my Mamiya that has a musty smell (from Japan). I’d leave my Mamiya out in our south facing bay windows but then it would be covered in cat hair and/or pushed off onto the floor by said cats. I like the bin with baking soda or damp rid idea.

You might want to reconsider which rooms the cats are allowed in.

Welcome to APUG Photorio.

 

[Rick A]

Place it in a box with a pan of coffee grounds(fresh, not used) and close it up for a few days. Yes, I know, sounds flaky, but it works better than baking soda.

 

[Jojje]

My vote for baking soda - can be used even in jogging shoes...

 

[Ces1um]

I just purchased a nice Hasselblad body and back from a seller in Japan. Both are in really nice condition and arrived super fast. However, there is a slight musty smell, especially inside the back. Any thoughts on how to eliminate this?

Take it outside and use it. A lot.