Best way to skin the FED2 cat?

[Bluesman]

Hi there. Re-covering an incoming casualty (FED2). Aki-Asahi has a removal guide on his website. Is it still the best way to get the old panzer-skin off, or do you guys have better tips?

http://aki-asahi.com/store/html/vulcanite-removal/01.html

 

[Ko.Fe.]

You could try to repaint it first. If you don't like results, try it dry first, not with little artisan scrapper, but with real chisel. If dry method will not works, inhale the fumes.

 

[Valkir1987]

The paint stripper will damage the paint as well. The vulcanite is in fact rubber. It will dissolve in lighter fluid and oil too, but it will take more time if you want to preserve the paint bezel.

Better not inhale the fumes. They can damage your brain and nerval system. Many old camera repairmen suffer from OPS (painters disease) and early dementia caused by solvents.

Provide proper ventilation, wear gloves and avoid breathing any of the solvents. Work outside if you can.

 

[Dez]

You can see that the paint was damaged in the pictures posted by AA. I have never tried removing this coating, but I have had good results removing the horrible rubberized fabric on later FSU cameras and replacing it with leather. Makes a huge improvement in grip and appearance.

Cheers,
Dez

 

[wolves3012]

You can strip the vulcanite by heating it up (I seem to recall 200C) but obviously you can't do that with a complete camera. Easy to do with the bottom-load cameras though, since you can just remove the whole shell and put that in the oven.

Despite what it shows on the link, I seriously doubt paint stripper can be used without damaging the paintwork. It'll be next to impossible to keep the stripper off the paintwork.