How to debug an enlarger lens?

[Remanton]

Hi,
I need your help for a 100% analog debugging. I am about to reactivate my darkroom an dug out my el-nikkor 50 mm enlarger lens from the box where I stored all my equipment for the last six years.
The lens was in its original plastic box with a pouch of silica gel. But then I found this:

There lived a huge bug in my lens and before it passed away, it also pooed on the front lens from inside.
Besides the question how this beast made it in my lens, the more important question is how do I get it out again and get the front lens cleaned.

I found some YT videos but the guys just screwed the back and front part off. This is not possible with my lens.
How can I open my lens without buying tools that perhaps cost more than a new used lens?

 

[koraks]

I'm usually able to open a lens without any special tools. The main risk you run without 'special' tools is scratching the front ring that needs to be unscrewed before you can remove the front element.

In this case I'd start with the back since there's a couple of screws there that look promising. Besides, the deceased seems to be positioned more to the rear anyways.

 

[albada]

Welcome to Photrio!

The bug is on the outside edge, where it will only affect the lens when wide open (focusing), and not when exposing paper.
In your picture, the marks on the front appear to be small enough to have negligible effect on the image.
So I suspect the lens will perform fine as is.

Mark

 

[gone]

Love your thread title.

I think it might be fine just as it is too, but give it a try, although it may impact the sharpness. My experience w/ enlarging lenses is that they can sometimes be tricky to get apart. Unlike a lens on your camera, they don't get used much, basically only when printing. So getting them apart can require patience, and may not even be possible w/o a rubber "stopper"(or whatever it's called). Here's a video on how to clean it, assuming you have a 50 2.8 lens, which is what it looks like.

 

[meowdameow]

kimwipes has a special tissue for cleaning lens. Better to use a tweezers to hold the tissue than yr hand

 

[meowdameow]

For yr ref:

 

[meowdameow]

KIMTECH SCIENCE* KIMWIPES* Wipers

Cut it small and one box could last long

 

[meowdameow]

Use any lens cleaning liquid to wash away from the dirt and finish with a extra wipe with CRC contact cleaner.
But the poo may have already stained the coating.

If it doesn't affect yr prints may be just leave with it; it may cost you more the lens to have buy the tools / send it to clean by professional

 

[meowdameow]

For yr ref

 

[Remanton]

The bug is on the outside edge, where it will only affect the lens when wide open (focusing), and not when exposing paper.

Unfortunately the bug does not stick to the edge, when the lens points downwards it falls on the front lens and throws a shadow on the paper. So I can use it only for a new dodging technique ( I will call it buging and become famous and rich!)

 

[Remanton]

Here's a video on how to clean it, assuming you have a 50 2.8 lens, which is what it looks like.

Yes, that was the video I also found and this looks like the lens I own. The guy is just screwing the rear part off. He says it takes some force the first time, but i could not get the ring off (and I used as much force as I could).

 

[albada]

Unfortunately the bug does not stick to the edge, when the lens points downwards it falls on the front lens and throws a shadow on the paper. So I can use it only for a new dodging technique ( I will call it buging and become famous and rich!)

I like your sense of humor.
Please stay active in this Photrio forum. You'll fit in well around here.

 

[Melvin J Bramley]

Take care removing the bug then archival y process it .
Selenium toning will improve its colour.
Further, dry mounting is not recommended.

 

[Remanton]

If anyone is interested how to open a EL-Nikkor lens. You just need some special tools:

It was impossible for me to screw the rear part off by hand. So I used my pipe pliers and a piece of an old bicycle inner tube to avoid scratches.

 

[Rick A]

I guess you could say it wormed its way in.

 

[Remanton]

I guess you could say it wormed its way in.

Yes, and this really bugged me!