Reusing old leatherette

4season said:

Generally speaking, yes this can be done, but results depend partly on your level of skill, attention to detail, and the condition of the leatherette. My Bronica ETRSI leatherette has shrunken, hardened, and developed curled edges, and while I’ve been able to improve it’s appearance, it will never look as good as brand-new leatherette.

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Hassasin said:

... Remove all pieces, clean glue off both sides and reglue ?

Is it possible to clean off old glue from the leatherette without damaging it, so it will not loose its lustre on the right side?

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Nicholas Lindan said:

Sticking down the odd peeling corner with some rubber cement isn't a problem. I have used rubber cement as if it were Pliobond so it sticks better or Pliobond as if it were rubber cement so it doesn't stick better.

The problem is removing old leatherette (what a name!) without it coming off in multiple torn bits and pieces and then trying to re-'ette the camera with the torn scraps.

There are lots of sources of kits for re-covering cameras. The last kit one I got was for a Yashica 635 TLR from cameraleather.com - fit perfectly, self adhesive, no muss no fuss, 'Grip-tack' material so my hands don't slip. Couldn't ask for better.

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Hassasin said:

Here is a question to those who must have already tried it or done it.

Have a camera, Bronica EC TL ,that has leatherette partially peeling off, but all pieces are in an almost intact condition. If I wanted to reuse it, how would you go about it? Remove all pieces, clean glue off both sides and reglue ?

Is it possible to clean off old glue from the leatherette without damaging it, so it will not loose its lustre on the right side?

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Dan Daniel said:

Lift off very slowly and gently with a small spatula-type tool. Thin metal with no sharp leading edge. Keep nudging up the glued edge. Watch out for 'false ease' where the skin seems to be lifting off easily in one piece so you give a solid pull and find that the camera body changes underneath and the glue grabbed real hard in one area and you rip the skin... don't ask...

I would not use any solvent at all to clean the back of the leatherette. Too big of risk of it either wicking around or soaking through and attacking the outer skin texture and pattern. On the camera body use whatever you like but of course don't go flooding fluids into the body. On the back of the skin pieces, pick off any blobs if there are some. Not sure how Bronica worked on this- contact cement? Acrylic cement film? Well, you'll see. You might need to scrape a bit if there are blobs.

I wouldn't worry about a completely clean or flat back surface on the skins. The outer texture hides a lot of flaws. Little low blobs won't be a big deal.

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Nicholas Lindan said:

Old cameras often had the covering glued on with shellac. Not much doubt about identifying shellac under the covering - it being all crackly and flakey. Very easy to clean shellac off with a rag and some alcohol. Nothing says shellac can't be used to this day.

As a bonus it won't melt plastic if you use isopropanol to dissolve the flakes. Don't know of any plastic cameras that come with leatherette, though. Hmmm, bright yellow leatherette on a Holga. I'll bet that's a request the camera covering guys haven't seen before -- well, haven't seen today at the least.

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Hassasin said:

Not shellac for sure, contact cement.

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