Polish out bright spots around camera lugs?

[Kino]

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]

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]

Leave it alone.. those are called experience marks.

 

[Kino]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[AgX]

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]

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.

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]

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.