Zorki Paint

[Chuckwade87]

So the black paint on my Zorki 1 is literally coming off on my hands, I am thinking about repainting it another color other than black, was wondering if anyone has done this before and could give me some insight....

Thanks

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Some at rangefinder.ru have done this.
Most likely yours was already re-painted with not adhesive paint. Remove it first, but don't use acetone (it will melt plastic surface), some used alcohol for it.
Black automotive paint will do, use sponge or paralone to apply it on camera.

 

[jim10219]

I used some enamel to paint mine. I used the kind you get at hobby and craft stores for painting models. It worked extremely well, but be advised that if you go this route, you'll need to make sure it cures a couple of days before using it. Enamel paint dries pretty quickly, but it can take a week or more before it cures enough to use without scratching. Once it's fully cured, it's pretty rugged paint though.

In any case, you'll want to make sure to clean the old surface as best you can, and use a paint that will adhere to metal, or use an appropriate bare metal primer.

 

[4season]

I used this:
http://sugarartistsacrylic.com/

By the way, if you wish to remove the 4 chrome screws on the front of the camera, best not to remove all at once lest the shutter rollers and drum come loose and turn this into a bigger job than it needs to be. (I didn't care because I was replacing my FED-2 shutter anyhow).

 

[BMbikerider]

I have seen some superb results where the paint has worn off a camera body and has been treated and sprayed using an air brush with a fine nozzle. The bare metal needs to be 'keyed' first so the paint will adhere and not come away from the body. An easy way to do this is to ensure it is completely grease free on the surfaces to be painted and the 1st coat needs to be an etching primer which will ensure good adhesion.
A very light rub down with something like a 1000 or 1200 grit finishing paper. The 2nd and 3rd coat needs to be a metal grey primer and then rubbed down again with the same grade abrasive paper. Finally a finishing coat of a satin black or whatever colour you choose.

Between each coat the camera body needs to be left for 24 hours to ensure the previous coat is completely dry. Do it properly and with care the end result will last for a long time.

 

[Chuckwade87]

Thanks for all the advice

 

[albada]

Has anyone baked-on enamel in an oven?
(Obviously, mechanisms must be removed first).
Mark Overton

 

[Chuckwade87]

That seems like overkill for a Zorki, but it'd last a lifetime and then some

 

[AgX]

A true collector of course would only use the real stuff...
For some other field there is such.

 

[4season]

Has anyone baked-on enamel in an oven?

Although it was originally applied under heat and pressure, I don't know how well the vulcanite body covering would tolerate that.

 

[AgX]

True Vulcanite should tolerate heat, but you would have to disembowel the body.nevertheless before baking any paint.

 

[Chuckwade87]

There is no vulcanite on my Zorki 1. Just a matte black paint

 

[John Koehrer]

Well, firearms paint is pretty durable. Not cheap though there's some available online that's a two part paint in a single can.
Apparently it's designed so the inner(hardener?) portion is perforated/opened just before use and it has s short usable life.

I don't believe that any paint's going to be permanent on a chrome finish so it will need to be stripped prior to painting.