Leica M3 cloth shutter fungus

[_goodtimez]

Hi folks,

my sister has an M3 showing white marks of fungus on the shutter.
Does anyone know a trick to remove this ?
I thought about chlorine but I'm affraid to discolore the material.
Thanks

 

[icebear]

I have never heard of fungus on the shutter cloth.
Whatever it is DO NOT use any solvents or chlorine bleach. The cloth shutter is rubberized, i.e. any solvent will destroy this thin coat of rubber.
How much is it ? Is it on both sides of the shutter and on the entire shutter or just the frame area?

I trust, you tried to blow it off with a rocket blower (or sorts) or carefully with compressed air. I'd try to use a Q-tip moistend with very lightly sopy water and try only one spot, if it does anything. Do not mechanically 'rub on the rubber', you will destroy it. Make sure the camrea stays open to have the spot dried completely after you are done with your effort. Try at you own risk of course.

 

[mdarnton]

My M4 shutter has some white streaks and patches on it, on the film side. I just got it back from a CLA and they're still there, so I assume they're OK. They look like someone tried to write on it with chalk, then removed most of it, not anything like fungus, which I assume would be more like a spiderweb-type look.

 

[_goodtimez]

I will upload pictures as soon as I receive them from her.

 

[Particular]

I think vinegar will kill fungus, but as icebear suggested go lightly and at your own risk.

 

[Lflex]

If they are circular and white-ish, it is probably just sunburn scars. If so, no need to do anything unless it has caused pinholes of course.

 

[farlymac]

I don't think they are sunburn marks on the film side. I've had good results with Lysol Spray Cleaner on the outside of cameras. Might work with a light touch on your shutter curtains, allowing time to completely dry between applications, and winding on to the other curtain.

PF

 

[_goodtimez]

Sorry I got the picture today only:


Rach's M3 by Wegothim, on Flickr

 

[zuikologist]

it looks like heat damage to the rubberised surface. Is it hard or rough when touched with a fingertip.

 

[nobbylon]

If that is with the camera ready to shoot then my guess is it's been sat unused for a long period and the glue used to attach the curtain to the drum has affected the curtain. If it works and doesn't light leak i'd leave well alone and just use it.

 

[Monochrom]

Hi, get yourself a little alcohol and some Q tips, then mositen the tip and clean fungus with circular and gentle movements, it will disapear, be sure to clean the tip or use several in orther to wipe out the fungus....if not you will be taking it from the main stain to another part.

You can thin alcohol with waterperhpas 1/3 of water...alcohol dilutes stains and dries quickly!

Good luck!

 

[Lflex]

Your picture is not detailed enough to determine if it is fungus, but from what I can see, I suspect it is not.
Fungus is a living organism. Take a close look an see if it looks like something that is/has been growing.
Does it smell mouldy?

Regardless, do NOT use chemicals on the shutter curtain, you will only weaken the fabric and you won't be able to clean out all the fungus spores anyway.
If it is in fact fungus, the only effective way to remove it, is a CLA and replacement curtains.
However, as noted; I am not certain it is fungus in the first place. Why do you conclude that?

 

[_goodtimez]

Yes maybe it's not fungus. I will ask my sister to smell that thing !

 

[mikemc_photo]

Not mold or fungi. I would use a DROP of clean, new DOT 3 brake fluid. BF will not melt the rubber, but will allow it to stay supple. Curtains are rubberized silk, glued to the drum and rollers.

I have touched up a few with a sharpie...but it looks poor. As long as you have no pinholes, or cracks...leave it alone and keep shooting.