Reusing old leatherette

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Hassasin

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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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The one time I did it, was with a Kiev camera. Remove the leatherette, did some cleaning with a damp cloth, dried and applied contact glue to reattach. Leatherette is still attached so I guess it worked.


Marcelo
 

4season

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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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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.

Completly agree. On my case, leatherette was in good shape, just peeling. If leatherette is damaged, I had to replace it. I've used Hugo Studio products but there are several other places.
 

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... 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?

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 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

Hassasin

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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.

I am not going to reglue what is coming off without taking it all off first. I want to try to reuse original stuff because it is not even shrunk and looks great on surface. If it fails, then I will see if anyone makes new cuts. This is not a popular body so choices are limited, but that I will take up my go to supplier. But am hoping to redo it with what there is.
 

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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?

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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Hassasin

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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.

Great thanks. from what I see it looks like contact cement. Will give it a go when time allows.
 

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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

Hassasin

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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.

Not shellac for sure, contact cement. But you know, this is Bronica EC TL, those days plastic was a felony in their shop 🙂
 

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Not shellac for sure, contact cement.

No, shellac for real. Especially on pre WWII cameras with real leather covering like old Rolleis. The leather is a real PITA as it sort of fuzzes-out, splitting in the middle when you try to remove it. But also used on old cameras with synthetic/cloth covering.
 

Dan Daniel

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Using alcohol to remove skins held on with shellac will often soften the skin itself as the alcohol soaks into the leather composite.

For contact cement, apply cement to one side only!!!! Let it dry half way- still a little tacky but not fresh out of the tube.
 

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I've never pulled shellacked leather off a camera, just fabric and other synthetic coverings. A thin butter knife separated the covering from the camera. Most of the shellac came away with the covering. I removed the left over shellac with a bit of scraping followed by denatured alcohol. I haven't seen shellac used for a long while.
 
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