sepiareverb
genius and moron
Here is what a nickel would look like, with a chrome lens to compare.
How does one do that?? And are the wind-on, rewind and shutter speed parts plated the same way???
Converted-to-Black-Paint Leica M's, show 'em here!
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How does one do that?? And are the wind-on, rewind and shutter speed parts plated the same way???
sanmich
Veteran
If I'm not mistaken, the nickel and chrome plating processes are two distinct ones. the deplating should be distinct too (it's just the reverse electrolytic process).
I am starting to think of painting a camera on Nickel to get a better paint adhesion, even if the brassing may be less nice.
In fact, if painting over nickel is much tougher and requires only a regular level of care, it won't bother me to repaint the camera every few years.
The painting over brass looks really difficult to get right.
Painting over nickel or over brass is pretty much the same. At least with the paint I use, it sticks equally well on either surface.
The main issue with painting on brass is the major prep work getting all the leftover crud from the chemical process of removing the nickel; the technical term for the crud is 'smut.' The parts will sometimes look almost black and have to be sanded or blasted to remove the smut.
I suppose if the brass is not prepped well, completely getting rid of the leftover residue, then yes, the paint won't adhere very well.
The main issue with painting on brass is the major prep work getting all the leftover crud from the chemical process of removing the nickel; the technical term for the crud is 'smut.' The parts will sometimes look almost black and have to be sanded or blasted to remove the smut.
I suppose if the brass is not prepped well, completely getting rid of the leftover residue, then yes, the paint won't adhere very well.
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Strip the chrome and this is what the parts look like. The levers and bits will look like this as well.
nobbylon
Veteran
Robert,
as far as I could tell on all three I have done the only parts that are nickel plated are the top and bottom plates.
I only say this because they turn brass colour very quickly in the solution whereas the top and bottom plates take ages,
regards john
as far as I could tell on all three I have done the only parts that are nickel plated are the top and bottom plates.
I only say this because they turn brass colour very quickly in the solution whereas the top and bottom plates take ages,
regards john
Every part that has the Leica 'satin' chrome finish is nickel plated underneath...the top and bottom take a lot longer because there is a lot more to remove. 🙂
Yes, sometimes after taking a part out from the chemicals, I have to compare the part side by side to an unstripped chrome part to make sure all the chrome is off...on the smaller parts it's not always obvious especially under household lighting. 😉
250swb
Well-known
RFluhver
Well-known
maddoc
... likes film again.
nobbylon
Veteran
It looks like it got worn so he or someone else chipped the rest of it off. Done a while ago as the brass has taken on that muddy brown look.
To get rid off that polished brass look I've used boiled egg yokes in a plastic bag with whatever parts you want darkened and left overnight. The sulphur in the gas turns the brass darker!!
To get rid off that polished brass look I've used boiled egg yokes in a plastic bag with whatever parts you want darkened and left overnight. The sulphur in the gas turns the brass darker!!
nobbylon
Veteran
I'd definately repaint this with one of my cans of spray paint, it looks a right mess😀
rlouzan
Well-known
Johan/John,
That is one of HCBs cameras😱. Repaint? Heresy, I'd go with black electrical tape😀.
Regards,
Robert
That is one of HCBs cameras😱. Repaint? Heresy, I'd go with black electrical tape😀.
Regards,
Robert
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elmer3.5
Well-known
Hi, this is one of my own painted cameras, the beeter one i must say.
It´s gray.
I switched the plastic framelines window and set instead a grounded glass, since i hate those horrid plastic windows!
Bye!
It´s gray.
I switched the plastic framelines window and set instead a grounded glass, since i hate those horrid plastic windows!
Bye!
nobbylon
Veteran
looks great in that colour.
kosta_g
Well-known
Hi, this is one of my own painted cameras, the beeter one i must say.
It´s gray.
I switched the plastic framelines window and set instead a grounded glass, since i hate those horrid plastic windows!
Bye!
that is such a good colour. with chrome levers it would look amazing.
like the mysterious M2 "Luftwaffe" grey...
lxmike
M2 fan.
lxmike
M2 fan.
Hey boys...I don't have my own repainted M2 or M3 to show off, but I was in Lemonsha today in Ginza and again I spotted a few repainted M2's.
.
😱 I have never seen so many Leica in one place before😱
Art Vandalay
Imported from Detroit
Very nice! Any details on your repaint?
chris7521
Well-known
Thank you🙂 Home grown. It took quite a while to find something I was happy with ( Adhering wise ). First- CLA, strip, clean with "Alconox" followed by "Citranox" , light coat of black epoxy primer, then about 4-5 coats of black lacquer. Paint markers for engravings.
Once was enough. It's a lot of work to do it right.
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