Looking for a set screw..

Robbie Bedell · Jan 20, 2021

Please put this in the 'Long Shot' department. I am working on doing a cla on an old Leica Focotar 50mm 3.5 enlarging lens. I have it apart but have managed (do not ask how) to lose the tiny set screw at the top of the lend that holds the outer casing together with the lens. It is about 1.5mm x 6mm with a slotted head and cone point. I am wondering if anyone has such a screw, perhaps from a lens that is totally trashed. I also would like to know where I might even locate such a screw. Please let me know! Thank you! Robbie

Sirius Glass · Jan 20, 2021

How about adding where you are to your profile. That information makes a difference of where to sent you to.

Southbay Industrial Hardware
203 E Grand Ave, El Segundo, CA 90245, United States

Phone: +1 310 322 4545

Robbie Bedell · Jan 20, 2021

Thank you! Will do..I am in West Palm Beach, Fla..

Hilo · Jan 21, 2021

Robbie,

As I have never seen a Focotar 50mm opening at 3.5, can you send a picture of it?

Robbie Bedell · Jan 21, 2021

Sorry Hilo! That's a typo. It is the usual 4.5...

ChristopherCoy · Jan 21, 2021

Have you tried McMaster Carr?

https://www.mcmaster.com/screws/flat-head-screws/slotted-flat-head-screws/

Hilo · Jan 21, 2021

Robbie Bedell said:
Sorry Hilo! That's a typo. It is the usual 4.5...

Yes, it is what I thought. But I would still like a picture of the front ring with the lens info and a picture of the location of the screw . . . to understand which version you have there. If it is the 5cm, I may have this for you. If it is the 50mm I don't think I do and you don't need to send the picture

Patrick Robert James · Jan 21, 2021

Whenever I lose a screw I take a bunch of those little square rare earth magnets and make a string with them. You can use whatever strong magnet though. Wave that over every surface close to you and you'll find your screw (unless it is brass of course). If that doesn't work, depending on the type of vacuum cleaner you have, you can vacuum the area then try with the magnet on what was vacuumed up. Knock on wood, haven't lost a screw yet....

Hope that helps...

Robbie Bedell · Jan 21, 2021

Hilo said:
Yes, it is what I thought. But I would still like a picture of the front ring with the lens info and a picture of the location of the screw . . . to understand which version you have there. If it is the 5cm, I may have this for you. If it is the 50mm I don't think I do and you don't need to send the picture

Thanks Hilo. The 5cmm and the 50mm (non-large front element AKA Schneider) are the same. One more typo on my account! I am working on the 5cm...! The 'first' Focotar..

Robbie Bedell · Jan 21, 2021

Patrick Robert James said:
Whenever I lose a screw I take a bunch of those little square rare earth magnets and make a string with them. You can use whatever strong magnet though. Wave that over every surface close to you and you'll find your screw (unless it is brass of course). If that doesn't work, depending on the type of vacuum cleaner you have, you can vacuum the area then try with the magnet on what was vacuumed up. Knock on wood, haven't lost a screw yet....

Hope that helps...

Thank you Patrick! The magnet did occur to me. But that's just one more thing to buy. The screw will show up as soon as I obtain a new one and get the lens back together..

Robbie Bedell · Jan 21, 2021

ChristopherCoy said:
Have you tried McMaster Carr?

https://www.mcmaster.com/screws/flat-head-screws/slotted-flat-head-screws/

Thanks. I did find them. But I don't think they would sell just one screw..

jeffreyg · Jan 21, 2021

Why not call Leica they may have a repair department that will part with a screw. There is a Leica store in Coral Gables. They might be helpful.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

http://www.sculptureandphotography.com/

Hilo · Jan 21, 2021

Robbie Bedell said:
I am working on the 5cm...! The 'first' Focotar..

That's what I wanted to know.

At work I have the Focotars, except the first 50mm. I checked the screws and the Leitz made Focotars have the same screw, including the Focotar-2 50mm. The screw of the Schneider made Focotar is much smaller. Then I checked my storage at home and found two more 5cm Focotars. Among those is one which has a stiff and non-clicking aperture ring. But it does have the screw. You are welcome to either the screw, or the lens at the cost of postage from The Netherlands. Send me a pm when interested . . .

Robbie Bedell · Jan 21, 2021

jeffreyg said:
Why not call Leica they may have a repair department that will part with a screw. There is a Leica store in Coral Gables. They might be helpful.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

http://www.sculptureandphotography.com/

Thank you Jeffrey. The thing is I don't think Leica remembers they even made enlarging lenses! The Gables store is all digital.

eli griggs · Jan 21, 2021

Take your piece that needs a set screw and go to Home Depot or Lowes, which carry them in the drawers of hardware, in many different sizes, SAE and Metric, in small packs and IIRC maybe some loose too.

I'd try Home Depot First and go to their largest local store or order online, and remember, they give Vets 10% off their buys.

Cheers.

Robbie Bedell · Jan 21, 2021

eli griggs said:
Take your piece that needs a set screw and go to Home Depot or Lowes, which carry them in the drawers of hardware, in many different sizes, SAE and Metric, in small packs and IIRC maybe some loose too.

I'd try Home Depot First and go to their largest local store or order online, and remember, they give Vets 10% off their buys.

Cheers.

Thank you Eli. There is a Lowe's not too far away. I will check them out this weekend.

Ron789 · Jan 21, 2021

Can you please describe how you took the lens apart for this CLA?
I'm trying to do a CLA on a Focotar-2 but I can't get it apart. I removed that tiny screw you mention, but then everything is still stuck tightly together. How do you get the lens out of the outer casing?

bdial · Jan 21, 2021

A hobby shop that sells HO gauge model railroad stuff might be a possibility too. But you’ll probably have better luck with Leica or one of the usual suspect Leica repair folks, especially Dag. I would expect it’s unlikely that a home center will have anything that small. Another variable would be that it may not have standard threads.

Robbie Bedell · Jan 22, 2021

Ron789 said:
Can you please describe how you took the lens apart for this CLA?
I'm trying to do a CLA on a Focotar-2 but I can't get it apart. I removed that tiny screw you mention, but then everything is still stuck tightly together. How do you get the lens out of the outer casing?

Hi Ron, I will state here that I am not a camera repair person so anything I say you will have to do at your own risk. Also, the Focotar 2 seems to be slightly different in in design. However, I don't think it's a good idea to remove the set screw first. The trick to getting into the lenses (Not the Schneider Focotar... Completely different) is to first remove the larger retaining ring at the back of the lens. You will not be able to remove the retaining ring if the set screw is not in place. When I say trick I mean it. Those rings are the tightest set rings I have ever encountered. It's as if the assemblers back in Wetzler were playing a cruel joke on the world or just did not ever want anyone to ever get the lens apart in the future. If you are not careful you can ruin your lens right at the start by buggering this ring. If you are good with tools you might try it, but with a Focotar 2 I would send it out to a professional, which is what i did with mine. So... put the set screw back in, remove the ring, then the remove set screw and then the lens will come apart. Beyond that I can't help as I have never opened the Focotar 2. If you want to send it out I highly recommend Allan Starkie at CamerworksUK in England. He did a total rebuild on my Focotar 2 and it came back a new lens. He did what a name repair person in the US was unable to do. Sorry I cannot be of more help Ron. Best of luck with your lens. The Focotar 2s are remarkable lenses....Robbie

Robbie Bedell · Jan 22, 2021

bdial said:
A hobby shop that sells HO gauge model railroad stuff might be a possibility too. But you’ll probably have better luck with Leica or one of the usual suspect Leica repair folks, especially Dag. I would expect it’s unlikely that a home center will have anything that small. Another variable would be that it may not have standard threads.

Thanks, I am going to contact Don G. I know he has lots of screws in his collection!

Alan Edward Klein · Jan 22, 2021

Robbie Bedell said:
Thanks. I did find them. But I don't think they would sell just one screw..

They will but there's a steep shipping charge maybe $15. Check with them. The girl I spoke with was very nice and their on-line site shows all parts in lots of detail. I used them recently to repair my quick release and just ordered a few parts.

Alan Edward Klein · Jan 22, 2021

They might sell screws in small batches rather than one. But they're still cheap usually.

Ron789 · Jan 22, 2021

Robbie Bedell said:
Hi Ron, I will state here that I am not a camera repair person so anything I say you will have to do at your own risk. Also, the Focotar 2 seems to be slightly different in in design. However, I don't think it's a good idea to remove the set screw first. The trick to getting into the lenses (Not the Schneider Focotar... Completely different) is to first remove the larger retaining ring at the back of the lens. You will not be able to remove the retaining ring if the set screw is not in place. When I say trick I mean it. Those rings are the tightest set rings I have ever encountered. It's as if the assemblers back in Wetzler were playing a cruel joke on the world or just did not ever want anyone to ever get the lens apart in the future. If you are not careful you can ruin your lens right at the start by buggering this ring. If you are good with tools you might try it, but with a Focotar 2 I would send it out to a professional, which is what i did with mine. So... put the set screw back in, remove the ring, then the remove set screw and then the lens will come apart. Beyond that I can't help as I have never opened the Focotar 2. If you want to send it out I highly recommend Allan Starkie at CamerworksUK in England. He did a total rebuild on my Focotar 2 and it came back a new lens. He did what a name repair person in the US was unable to do. Sorry I cannot be of more help Ron. Best of luck with your lens. The Focotar 2s are remarkable lenses....Robbie

Hi Robbie, thank you very much for this information and recommendation! Based on what you wrote I think I will not take the risk and just use the lens as is: the lens itself is fine, the only issue is that the aperture ring does not "click" smoothly, making it hard to set the aperture well by feeling and counting the clicks. I can live with that.

Robbie Bedell · Jan 22, 2021

Ron789 said:
Hi Robbie, thank you very much for this information and recommendation! Based on what you wrote I think I will not take the risk and just use the lens as is: the lens itself is fine, the only issue is that the aperture ring does not "click" smoothly, making it hard to set the aperture well by feeling and counting the clicks. I can live with that.

Thank you Ron! Yes, I think you are taking the right path. If the glass is good go for it. Good luck with your printing!

Galen Tieszen · Jan 24, 2021

Robbie, I'm working on repairing a WLF for a Mamiya C-33 and have needed several small screws, so I know what you are going through. I'm new to this mini-screw thing too, so here is a bit of what I've leaned.

Your metric measurement of 1.5mm is probably a 1.6 mm screw (no argument on length). Metric screws measure about 0.1 less than their nominal diameter. Searching the internet on "mini screws" I found the site: www.metricscrews.us and was able to order several screws from them at what I thought was a reasonable price. You might be able to find something that would work there. Also, another source for tiny screws is watchmaker suppliers, like esslinger.com, or jewelerssupplies.com. Hope this helps.

Looking for a set screw..

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency