those TINY screws - tip

[FrankS]

I just swapped out the focusing screens between F and F3 frames to get a split prism focusing aid. Tiny clips and tinier screws hold the screens in. Magnatize your screwdriver by rubbing it on a magnet to help hold onto the screws.

 

[nikon_sam]

Sometimes I'll lick the tip of the screwdriver to get a little spit on it...that'll hold it too...but that really only works with Phillip type screws...

 

[peterm1]

I stumbled on the magnetization idea when I bought some small screwdrivers that unknown to me had been magnetised for this purpose. I also make a point of laying down some kind of pale colored soft cloth before working on equipment like this. That way there is less chance, should you drop something small (and believe me you will) of it bouncing off the table and disappearing forever under a cabinet or something. And being pale its easier to find anything thats landed on the cloth. I usually also lay out several small plastic boxes (the kind you might put small lunch time treats for kids school lunches in ) and use these to hold the disassembled bits. By keeping them in sequenece its also easier to keep track of how to reverse the disassembly process when reassembling.

 

[charjohncarter]

Good tip, thanks, where do you find a magnet these days?

 

[FrankS]

Fridge magnets, audio seakers - I have a couple of 6x9 speakers from a previous car that I've kept for a future application. Has anyone heard of Peerless?

 

[Ron G]

I lay out a white foam pad of the packing variety and it not only helps to see the small parts but it absorbs some of the energy of the small parts that might otherwise bounce off to parts unknown.I would not use the stiff styrofoam but the thin stuff that can be rolled up like craft paper etc.I have magnets at all of my workstations for the purpose of magnetzing my tools.
Some cameras have aluminum screws too that require special handling.Ron G

 

[greyelm]

If I have to remove small screws I stick them to a magnet for safekeeping also the magnet can be used on the screwdriver as already mentioned.

 

[sevo]

I have a silicone rubber work mat with an adhesive surface and (supposedly) damping texture that is intended to keep small parts from springing off the table. It works pretty well, even after some fifteen years of use. I got mine in the early years of SMD from an electronics store - nowadays the DIY assembly departments in electronics stores have mostly vanished, but watch making and jewellers supply stores should still have these mats (as should factory suppliers, if you feel like ordering by the dozen).

 

[dexdog]

Good tip, thanks, where do you find a magnet these days?

Micro-tools sells a simple device that allows one to both magnetize and de-magnetize screwdrivers. It has arrows on it that shows which way to pass the screwdriver to do either task.

 

[NormanV]

You need to be careful about magnetizing small parts as it can cause them to stick together enough to cause drag in delicate mechanisms.

 

[dct]

All good ideas here. Additionally I keep track of my work shooting a digital image of every step I do for disassembly or adjustment. Also which similar tiny screw come from which part exactly. My image tracking helped me alot putting all back together withour "spare parts" on the table 😛

 

[charjohncarter]

Fridge magnets, audio seakers - I have a couple of 6x9 speakers from a previous car that I've kept for a future application. Has anyone heard of Peerless?

Thanks, I have an old speaker too. So two good ideas from you.

 

[Spavinaw]

Anybody know where I can buy, beg, or borrow (permanently) two or more set screws that fit the shutter speed dial on a Leica IIIf RD ST. Right now I am making do with a couple of screws from a broken eyeglasses frame; however, they have heads on them, and I'd really like to replace them with the proper set screws. The correct screws are 1.5mm diameter and very short. So far the smallest screws I have found are 2mm diameter. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

[monopix]

Has anyone heard of Peerless?

I use Peerless drive units in my home built speakers.

 

[matt_s]

tiny screws

tiny screws

Hi Spavinaw,

Are you sure you need a M1.5 screw? 1.6 is a bit more common, although anything goes on some old cameras.

Anyway, the first source I usually check is McMaster-Carr, but they seem to only go down to M1.6 screws in different lengths.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#set-screws/=djklb2

I use these guys at work all the time- they have everything, but you may need to buy in bulk:

http://www.metricscrew-toolco.com/newcont.html

And you can always check with SmallParts:

http://www.smallparts.com/s?keyword...eID=16410581&ref_=sp_s_node_16410581&x=0&y=25

Good Luck,

Matt

 

[FrankS]

Anybody know where I can buy, beg, or borrow (permanently) two or more set screws that fit the shutter speed dial on a Leica IIIf RD ST. Right now I am making do with a couple of screws from a broken eyeglasses frame; however, they have heads on them, and I'd really like to replace them with the proper set screws. The correct screws are 1.5mm diameter and very short. So far the smallest screws I have found are 2mm diameter. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

You could try contacting Leica repair persons. Youxin Ye is a pleasant guy and may be helpful.

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Not sure of this but doesn't an American firm (DAG?) advertise second-hand Leica parts?

Whoever they are , I had a good service and the bits I needed but some time ago.

Regards, David

PS Plastic boxes? Don't Fuji, Ilford, Kodak etc give them away free with film?

 

[Spavinaw]

matt s--Yes, I probably need 1.6mm screws since they are standard. I just measured the ones I had with a micrometer and used that dimension for my original post. You probably don't get precision to 0.1mm in glasses from the Dollar Store. Ha! Thanks to everyone for the tips.