Seals for RB67 Backs

Neil Poulsen · Dec 12, 2019

My RB67 backs fit multiple cameras that I own. But I see that seals on most of them are pretty rough, and I'd like to replace them. I checked with our local Advance Camera, and they would charge about $50 per back for this. This is reasonable, but it's still high enough to prompt me to consider changing the seals myself.

Any recommendations for materials? With the right materials and glue, I could easily change these seals. Is there a kit? For example, I have a couple of kits to change seals on Mamiya Press backs.

MattKing · Dec 12, 2019

Jon Goodman - jon_goodman@yahoo.com - his kits are both reasonably priced and excellent, and he is great to deal with.
He has been streamlining his offerings recently. If you contact him it would be great to hear back about whether the seals for the RB67 backs remain in his "catalogue".

Marco Gilardetti · Dec 13, 2019

After having found out that the best camera technician that I have ever had (already died, pretty young poor fellow) used to replace those crappy foam seals that get sticky in a couple of years with black wool thread of appropriate thickness, I begun to do the work myself. Basically, when done, you'll never need to do it again, as wool lasts a lifetime. The wool is kept in place by little drops of paste (very few is needed, and the wool shall not be soaked with it of course).

For an RB67 back you need some black wool thread and a stripe of black velvet of approriate size and thickness for the hinge area, which is of very poor design and has no light traps at all. Velvet strips are commonly found here at haberdasheries. Choose a type that will not get untied when cut with scissors.

villagephotog · Dec 13, 2019

Neil Poulsen said:
Any recommendations for materials? With the right materials and glue, I could easily change these seals. Is there a kit? For example, I have a couple of kits to change seals on Mamiya Press backs.

I'm not sure where you live, but there's an outfit called USCamera (evidently in the Denver, CO, USA area) that sells pre-cut light seal kits. I used one of their kits on a Mamiya Press 6x7 back, and it worked very well. Their web site has pretty detailed instructions about how to do the job. By far, the biggest task is to scrape all the old foam and adhesive off the back (not so easy). Here's their web page with seals for the RB backs:

https://uscamera.com/product-category/light-seals/mamiya-light-seals/page/2/

Jeremy Mudd · Dec 13, 2019

I've purchased several seal kits for the RB67 backs and other cameras on eBay, and have done the seal replacements myself with great success. "tokyo-camera-girl" is one of the sellers on there that I've purchased from several times and I've been happy with the quality.

Neil Poulsen · Dec 15, 2019

Thanks for all the recommendations. This will save a bundle.

MattKing · Dec 15, 2019

My favourite camera repair technician has two rates for replacing seals. One rate for the entire job, and another much more favourable rate if you first do the work of removing the old seals and cleaning the channels where they were attached.
That should probably tell you something about the task.
He will use wool yarn for certain locations, but the special purpose adhesive foam for other locations.

hol571 · Dec 17, 2019

I used this kit: http://www.aki-asahi.com/store/html/Mamiya-RB67/Light-seal/ To get the old seals off the wooden cuticle stick and some naptha (lighter fluid) or isopropyl alcohol did the trick. It's not difficult, just takes a little patience

Neil Poulsen · Dec 20, 2019

Marco Gilardetti said:
After having found out that the best camera technician that I have ever had (already died, pretty young poor fellow) used to replace those crappy foam seals that get sticky in a couple of years with black wool thread of appropriate thickness, I begun to do the work myself. Basically, when done, you'll never need to do it again, as wool lasts a lifetime. The wool is kept in place by little drops of paste (very few is needed, and the wool shall not be soaked with it of course).

For an RB67 back you need some black wool thread and a stripe of black velvet of approriate size and thickness for the hinge area, which is of very poor design and has no light traps at all. Velvet strips are commonly found here at haberdasheries. Choose a type that will not get untied when cut with scissors.

When I first read this post, I was thinking sewing thread and wondering where I could find something thick enough.

It later occurred to me that the right gauge of weaving yarn could be ideal. Weaving yarn has a smaller diameter and isn't as fluffy as knitting yarn. I have some that I think will work; it's diameter is about the same as the width of the seal channels. I also have a good source for art felt that is sticky on the reverse side (pressure sensitive). I can use that for the broader seals.

I'm encouraged; I'll experiment a little and post the results. I have it in mind to purchase a few backs, each for a different development. (Also, one for transparency.) Being able update the seals myself will save on expenses.

Deleted member 88956 · Dec 21, 2019

Or invest is SD backs, problem solved.

Neil Poulsen · Dec 22, 2019

Witold said:
Or invest is SD backs, problem solved.

I gave that some thought. If I had to pay to get new seals on these, about $50 per back, that would have been the better option. But, I need several of these packs, so I went with the less expensive.

Deleted member 88956 · Dec 22, 2019

Neil Poulsen said:
I gave that some thought. If I had to pay to get new seals on these, about $50 per back, that would have been the better option. But, I need several of these packs, so I went with the less expensive.

Makes sense. I was lucky to have started in RB on a large all SD & K/L package. SD backs also add the dark slide slot. I never had to use side keeper arrangement, but have tried it and got some goose bumps feeling the difference.

Seals for RB67 Backs

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hol571

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Neil Poulsen

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Seals for RB67 Backs

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