Would you but any faulty cameras and try to repair it?

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kl122002

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After a successful restauration, do you sell the repaired camera ?

Honestly I won't, in most of the time. I like to work on it but not interested to sell .

Just , however when someone is real interested and really wishing to pay , I don't mind the offer as long as it is reasonable. Or when my table is too crowed and I have to give up a few, I prefer to ask for shops for doing the consignment.

I definitely won't send them to charity shop and let random ruined my work , then someday someone come up with the camera I 've fixed to get it repaired again.
 

Andreas Thaler

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Honestly I won't, in most of the time. I like to work on it but not interested to sell .

Just , however when someone is real interested and really wishing to pay , I don't mind the offer as long as it is reasonable. Or when my table is too crowed and I have to give up a few, I prefer to ask for shops for doing the consignment.

I definitely won't send them to charity shop and let random ruined my work , then someday someone come up with the camera I 've fixed to get it repaired again.

I can understand that well. When you voluntarily put so much work into a camera, a personal connection develops 🙂
 

Andreas Thaler

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Do you want to lubricate those shutter blades or grind them?
Well, the pencil doesn't do it too. It is the very reason I warned against it.

I can't follow your comments on graphite technology.

If I interpret it correctly, then your concern is that the pencil (graphite pencil, there is a scale of hardness) grinds metal blades?
 

Andreas Thaler

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Now go on and find out why, you big experienced philosopher!

That's right. Repairing things can make you think 😀

 

Andreas Thaler

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Do you want to lubricate those shutter blades or grind them?
Well, the pencil doesn't do it too. It is the very reason I warned against it.

Is it the ratio of graphite to clay in a pencil that concerns you? Clay as an abrasive?

For a very soft graphite pencil where the proportion of graphite is very high, I wouldn't worry. In relation to fins that slide on one another, such as in an aperture, it is more likely that there are hard grains of dust that can cause abrasion. However, I have never seen aperture blades with such an effect.

Whether you should lubricate aperture blades can be debated. They are not intended for this, but it depends on the application.

If the fins are no longer smooth and this creates resistance, graphite from a very soft graphite pencil could be an option. Also for lubricating other parts that slide on one another. If you prefer 100 % graphite go for this.

If, on the contrary, you want more resistance, i.e. to make something less slippery, you could try rubbing it with a hard graphite pencil. We assume that clay actually creates a friction effect. You have to look at whether material abrasion plays a role here. Maybe this will work, you have to check it out. This effect could also be achieved with grease or a thick lubricant.

These are interesting considerations, thanks to you.

Any form of creativity is welcome in DIY. Practice shows whether something works.

I'll put this in my toolbox 👍
 
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BrianShaw

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Given the inexpensive and easily procured more modern and highly-effective dry moly products, it seems that graphite (or other graphite shortcuts such as pencils) can easily be replaced.
 

Andrew O'Neill

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I have bought a few that I found visually appealing, that don't work, or the film format doesn't exist anymore. People like to dump their old cameras on me 🤔 I have quite a few old cameras that take 120/620, whose shutters don't work, or are off by quite a bit (bulb works great!). Will I fix them? Probably not. I don't see myself as a camera repairman.
 

Kino

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While Chris Sherlock tends to use a light dusting of graphite in shutter repair, he emphasizes how important it is to inspect, clean and polish the blades with something like Brasso. Just injecting graphite into a dirty or corroded shutter won't help for long.


He also has a good video on making specialty tools for camera repair:

 

campy51

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I just ordered 3 as is cameras and should have them in about 4 days. One Contax IIIa with a faulty meter, Contax II that shutter won't fire and a Canon L1 with a faulty rangefinder . This should keep me busy for a while. I will keep you informed on how it works out.
 

88E30M50

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I just ordered 3 as is cameras and should have them in about 4 days. One Contax IIIa with a faulty meter, Contax II that shutter won't fire and a Canon L1 with a faulty rangefinder . This should keep me busy for a while. I will keep you informed on how it works out.

Those sound like fun projects. I'm still working to learn the Canon A-1 platform. An 8th A-1 just arrived this week. This one is already missing large components but has some usable parts for me to salvage. It will also be a learning experience in disassembly of section that I have not removed before. I am amazed at how nice of a camera you can buy for pennies on the dollar if you are willing to learn how to repair them.

That said, I do know my limitations. When my early Canon F-1 showed issues, I sent it off to someone that knows what they are doing with that platform.
 
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