Cleaning M body

[ruffian_on_the_stair]

Hello all. I recently decided to give film photography a go so went to the loft to see what sort of gear my Dad had owned. Amongst lots of SLR stuff I was fortunate to find three Leicas - an M2 and a couple of screw mounts. The M2 especially seems to be in good condition and I am eager to get to grips with rangefinder photography. However my main problem at the moment is that the metal parts of the M2 have been covered in electrical tape for at least 15 years and the removal of it as left a horrible sticky residue. I'm not sure what the best way to get it off is, the man in the camera shop said lighter fluid but I'm petrified of damaging it. Does anyone have any advice? Thanks.

 

[Keith]

Forget the lighter fluid ... it doesn't seem to shift this sort of stuff very well at all!

I discovered a while ago that the adhesive from tapes and stickers etc seems to come off more easily with a light vegetable oil ... I've used olive oil then removed the slight oily residue with lighter fluid!

Sounds weird I know!

 

[Gazzah]

Orange Zest...

Orange Zest...

Sounds even stranger but rubbing the zest of an orange works wonders removing the sticky mess.

 

[Frankie]

I have been using lighter fluid to clean glue residue for decades. A Ronson brand bottle costs a couple of buck and last for years.

WD-40 is good for removing stubborn stuff like pine tar...more likely found on your car parked under trees.

After getting the glue residue off...might have to reapply a couple of time...use house hold cleaner Fantastic to get the grime off.

When in doubt, clean a little patch at a time and don't soak the camera.

 

[Ansel Adams]

You can safely use lighter fluid for "Zippo" (is also excellent for polishing the Vulcanite).

Regards
Enrico

 

[rlouzan]

+1
Ronson lighter fluid

 

[Vickko]

Adhesive can be odd.

With some, lighter fluid is fine.

With others, acetone is better. But be careful with acetone, it can dissolve some plastics, or "craze" the surface of some plastics, turning it into a dull finish (if it was glossy).

Another solvent was methyl hydrate, for other categories of stuff, like cleaning some inks.

Always use solvents sparingly, and experiment to confirm that you do no harm.

Vick

 

[Sparrow]

Am I the only person wondering how one would come to be massaging a M2 with olive oil in the first place?

 

[Vickko]

I've heard that method too. The oil dissolves the goo, and subsequent solvent cleans it all alway. And the body gets much more relaxed.

🙂

 

[Sparrow]

I see ... and it moves fondling to a whole new level in the process

 

[ableforensics]

Cleaning Cameras

Cleaning Cameras

3M Adhesive Remover. Designed for applications such as this. Effective as Acetone but will not harm plastics. It will even remove old masking tape which is commonly a nearly impossible task.

 

[ferider]

I recommend against Oil, WD40, etc. Might end up in the wrong places.

With increasing strength: alcohol (like iso-propanol), lighter fluid (like "goop-off"), or Acetone (classic nail polish remover), depending on how sticky it is (Acetone being the strongest, also attacking some plastics - no real risk with an M2 though).

 

[ashfaque]

Am I the only person wondering how one would come to be massaging a M2 with olive oil in the first place?

For a while I was thinking you're joking. Reason: when I was 5-6 years old, my mom used to use oilve oil on me after shower (, especially during winter,) to avoid dry skin!

 

[coelacanth]

How about good old Goog One?

 

[tennis-joe]

What I am wondering is why anyone would put tape on such a beautiful camera?
Joe

 

[Sparrow]

For a while I was thinking you're joking. Reason: when I was 5-6 years old, my mom used to use oilve oil on me after shower (, especially during winter,) to avoid dry skin!

I was winding-up Keith, but don't tell him

 

[ferider]

What I am wondering is why anyone would put tape on such a beautiful camera?
Joe

 

[Sparrow]

I recommend against Oil, WD40, etc. Might end up in the wrong places.

With increasing strength: alcohol (like iso-propanol), lighter fluid (like "goop-off"), or Acetone (classic nail polish remover), depending on how sticky it is (Acetone being the strongest, also attacking some plastics - no real risk with an M2 though).

Agreed about the wd40, it migrates too easily, the windows on the M2 are sealed, a latex glue on the glass one and a polystyrene cement on the illuminator, so petrol or white-spirit will soften the latex the other would need an acid to touch it, petrol or white-spirit will also soften the vulcanite if used to excess, olive oil should be OK with care

 

[d.keljikian]

Goo Gone is a wonderful product. Apply it to a swab or dab it on to a Q-Tip for small areas (and areas not too close to spots where liquids can seep into camera interiors). Let cleaner sit on localized area for 30 secs-1 minute then wipe away.

I've cleaned everything from gummed-up light stands to delicate camera finders (an ancient, overly-taped SBKOO finder) with great success. Just don't let the cleaner run into camera/finder/lens interiors.

-Doug

 

[Luna]

What I am wondering is why anyone would put tape on such a beautiful camera?
Joe

huh?