Polish out bright spots around camera lugs?

Kino · May 12, 2017

Anyone have a method of removing those ugly bright spots that appear around the camera lugs, and sometimes on the pentaprism, where the strap and case rub the metal finish?

I am speaking specifically of the frosted metal on such cameras as the Minolta SRT line and such.

AgX · May 12, 2017

Your wording in the title is wrong, you actually want a non-polished effect.

I do not see a practical way to achive that. The sublayer had got that frosted or pearl effect. That rubbing resulted in a flatttening of the chrome- and its sub-layer.

Taking off these parts and smooth-blasting them, though could have the efffect of a new pearl surface.
A alternative would be applying a complete new layering.

paul ron · May 12, 2017

Leave it alone.. those are called experience marks.

Kino · May 15, 2017

AgX said:
Your wording in the title is wrong, you actually want a non-polished effect.

I do not see a practical way to achive that. The sublayer had got that frosted or pearl effect. That rubbing resulted in a flatttening of the chrome- and its sub-layer.

Taking off these parts and smooth-blasting them, though could have the efffect of a new pearl surface.
A alternative would be applying a complete new layering.

Yes, you are correct AgX. Perhaps I should look into something like a Badger Mini Sandblaster kit to refinish the areas. Sorry Paul Ron, I dislike the look intensely...

AgX · May 15, 2017

The likelyness that it gets worse seems so high to, that I never would try. And if it would work, you would have to work on all surfaces to make it even. (There is nothing more critical than even non-gloss...) That would mean also relettering.

Kino · May 15, 2017

AgX said:
The likelyness that it gets worse seems so high to, that I never would try. And if it would work, you would have to work on all surfaces to make it even. (There is nothing more critical than even non-gloss...) That would mean also relettering.

Some of my thrift store cameras are so marked and ugly, it would be worth the attempt.

AgX · May 15, 2017

If you have several caps of the same built to restore (not all caps are from brass), get you some identical real junk caps to start experimenting.

Sirius Glass · May 15, 2017

I would worry more about the strap holes in the lugs wearing thin.

AgX · May 15, 2017

Interesting point. The Canon A's got a hollow steel rivet set into the (likely brass) lugs. I was quite surprized when I first saw that.

Kino · May 15, 2017

Sirius Glass said:
I would worry more about the strap holes in the lugs wearing thin.

It certainly would require some careful masking and a very light touch.

AgX said:
If you have several caps of the same built to restore (not all caps are from brass), get you some identical real junk caps to start experimenting.

Yes, I have an old Minolta SRT MCII top I can experiment upon from a totally trashed parts camera.

AgX · May 15, 2017

But if you can find junk caps, you likely find junk bodies with pristine caps. If I got annoyed by those marks I rather would look for caps to swap.
But of course you then would miss that technical endeavour.

Polish out bright spots around camera lugs?

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