Proper cleaning of grey leather on a Flexaret?

anfenglin · Jul 27, 2016

Hello!

I have here a great working Flexaret Automat VI with Prontor SVS and super bright focusing screen by Rick Oleson. I like the lens rendition and how the camera looks, unfortunately the grey covering was quite dirty from years of use, people grease and then storage in its case in a cupbord or such.
So I decided to cover it with something new, I found a nice handbag in a thrift store and got the scalpel out. I used the original covering as a template, took that off and cut along the lines.
Well, my cutting skills leave something to be desired and I don't like the color any more (dark brown), I just don't think it fits that good, so I decided to put the original covering back on and at least try to give it a good clean.
So far I've tried lighter fuel and Ballistol, none of it worked. The material seems to be some sort of plastic
and i still have Amorall plastic care (we call it Tiefenpflege - deep care) to try, I just thought to ask here whether anybody has tried this before.
Earlier I saw a picture of a near mint looking Flexaret and I so liked how it looked in grey, so I'd love to have it back in that color.
If anybody also has an idea if anyone makes kits like Aki-Asahi or the failure prone cameraleather, please, tell me.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Felix

gone · Jul 27, 2016

I've always just used warm water and hand dish washing soap w/ a rag. If lighter fluid didn'tt work, then I don't have any ideas, unfortunately. You might be better off simply buying some grey acrylic paint and a good brush to go over what you have, w/ lots of tape for masking stuff off. Or, since you already had the covering off, take it back off and paint it w/ two or three thin coats of paint. The paint is used w/ water, and you can buy it in glossy or matte finish. It's a very durable and flexible paint.

The problem w/ handbags and such is that the leather tends to be too thick for camera usage.

onre · Jul 27, 2016

Try an ultrasonic cleaner, if you have access to one. Lukewarm water and a couple of drops of dishwashing liquid are what I use.

shutterfinger · Jul 27, 2016

depending on vintage the covering may be naugahyde not leather. the most likely way to get it to look good is to mask it off and apply vinyl/leather dye that is a close match to original provided the lighter fluid has not ruined the covering.
Lighter fluid is one of the worst compounds to use on a camera.
Naphtha, lighter fluid's main ingredient is used in many safe cleaners in much lower concentrations.

onre · Jul 28, 2016

Flexaret VI does not have naugahyde or leather, but flexible plastic material. It's unlike anything I've seen on other cameras myself.

anfenglin · Jul 28, 2016

Yes, it's some kind of compound consisting of a fiber base with a zigzag pattern layer made from this grey plastic. I have now also tried the amorall, that also did not work.
I think I'll just get the paint then. I have taken off the original covering very carefully and stored it in an envelope, so painting it shouldn't be a problem.
Thanks so far!

shutterfinger · Jul 28, 2016

+1 for the paint.

Trask · Jul 28, 2016

Please post before/after photos so we can see how the paint option worked out for you. Good luck!

anfenglin · Jul 28, 2016

Thanks guys, will do!

anfenglin · Jul 28, 2016

Soo, after consulting with the guy from the store, I've come to the conclusion that paint is not a good idea.
It'll start flaking off eventually and handling a camera with just paint on a plastic surface will definitely leave marks sooner or later.
I'll keep looking and maybe find replacement leather.

shutterfinger · Jul 28, 2016

Heavy body acrylic artist paint should adhere but it has to be brushed on. Golden is the brand I'm familiar with but I do not know what brand(s) are available in your area.

anfenglin · Jul 28, 2016

Hmm, maybe a different store over here might have some of that, it's a store especially for artists and people who like to work with paper, stationery and such.

Born2Late · Jul 28, 2016

Have you contacted cameraleather.com? I've had really good luck with his stuff. In fact, I just recovered one of my cameras Monday evening with one of his kits. It only took a week from order to installation.

John Koehrer · Jul 28, 2016

I've been very happy with cameraleather, BUT all the products that I've used were pretty common.
I suspect that oddballs are going to take a looong time.

Try some spray on cleaner similar to 409/Simple Green. Spray on, let it sit a bit & give it a wipe

onre · Jul 29, 2016

I still recommend trying an ultrasonic cleaner with a mild washing solution. You may end up with like new parts.

anfenglin · Aug 6, 2016

Soo, here's an update. I have given up on any options using paint, I just don't trust it. I ran into a friend and he gave me an idea, he recommended using bleach, to be more precise, something with chlorine.
We call it Chlorix, it is a cleaning agent, also used for bleaching colors and such. So i got a bottle, diluted it 1+1 with water and used cotton swabs. It got at least a bit better but the human fat and such seems to have seeped into the fabric and plastic and the discoloration seems to be permanent.
Anyway, I put it back on the camera and it looks at least ok. I have a different problem now, the lever under the front plate pushing up the release button does not move freely, the button does not come up completely and so, sometimes, the shutter opens when cocking. I've had a similar problem before where I had diassembled almost the whole camera because a screw of the mirror box had fallen in a corner of the camera and would not be shaken out. Then the button would not come up and I had to disassemble the bitch again just to find out what was wrong. Then the leather thing and now the button again.
I'm sick of it. Maybe in a week or two.

MartinP · Aug 15, 2016

onre said:
I still recommend trying an ultrasonic cleaner with a mild washing solution. You may end up with like new parts.

The OP is talking about the cloth used to cover parts of the camera, not metalwork components. If these small pieces of plastic/cotton were placed in an ultrasonic cleaner would they survive?

anfenglin · Aug 16, 2016

Most likely not. Anything fibery soaks up moisture and swells up. That loosens the glued on plastic and voilá, you ruined it.

onre · Aug 19, 2016

The plasticky bits of a Flexaret survive ultrasonic cleaning just fine. This material is not like the common leatherette.

Greg Heath · Sep 16, 2016

Born2Late said:
Have you contacted cameraleather.com? I've had really good luck with his stuff. In fact, I just recovered one of my cameras Monday evening with one of his kits. It only took a week from order to installation.

A week ? Wow that's quick. I remember ordering from there in it took 4 months.

Proper cleaning of grey leather on a Flexaret?

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