Leica M3 customization(paint,leather,engravings...)

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Good luck - and the pizza's warmed in the oven will only taste of paint for a couple of days.

Really enjoyed reading this and must still laugh about the last sentence, 😛

Additional info: One of the reasons that the original M's in black blistered in the paint was a reaction to acid/oil in the hands of the user.

Knowing this, I surely will use gloves now when shooting the Millenium ....

 

[Tom A]

Knowing this, I surely will use gloves now when shooting the Millenium ....[/QUOTE]


The Millennium uses a different black paint. Initially it was developed for the LHSA camera. The older paints were not allowed to be used for environmental reasons and they had to go a less volatile paint.
The old screw-mounts were done with laquer rather enamel. There is wonderful shot in a Leica book with a bunch of painters spraying Leica II's top-plate, windows open and behind was the supervisor, puffing on his pipe!

 

[karlori]

Tom, thank you a lot for your helpful insight ! I was intending to ask how to remove the windows and your reply will be a great heads up.
As far as paintstripping is concerned I've got it covered and will give the parts that need stripping to a gunsmith who will reverse plate them. I tried the HCl and the Lacquer remover on the bottom plate and neither did anything to the finish, guess the HCl is too diluted and the Lacquer remover is not intended for that use.

Thank you for your time.

(and about that pizza ... i think that would be a welcomed change from the charcoal taste i manage to pull off every now and then)

 

[karlori]

UPDATE:

And... My first problem... I have ordered the tools needed to remove the selftimer,frame preview levers and the rewind knob, but it seems that the package has been lost. I need to give the parts for dechroming Tuesday morning ( in 2 days). I have started to disassemble the camera and I'm still left with these 3 d***ed things... Any ideas of a DIY tool that i can pick up in your average hobby shop or is there any alternative routes on remving the rewind knob... ( Film doors, bottom plate and ports, wind lever are all disassembled with 0 damage and 0 problems).

 

[karlori]

Another try at ordering the tools and still nothing. I have finally came into contact with Morgan from Cameraleather and my kit is done ( had communication problems ... seems my gmail randomly rejects some email).
Again I ask you how to remove the shutter ring ? Its the only part I could not remove and am really starting to get my good will killed by this thing.

Any ideas would be more than welcomed and no i will not order from ebay i threw 140$ down the wind because of the tool and i dont want to spend another dollar online ...

Thanks in advance !

 

[karlori]

Bump... :/

 

[Pirate]

What is the "Shutter Ring"?

 

[errorlogin]

Don't know, if it was posted earlier, but do you know this site?

http://www.jumboprawn.net/jesse/cams/gear-profiles/leica-m2-overhaul/leica-m2-overhaul.html

Was very helpful for me, when put my cover off my M3. But i cannot help any further, it's been some time ago.

Jan.

 

[Pirate]

Here's the site that a lot of the guys here have recommended:

http://www.micro-tools.com/store/C-SPT/Special-Tool.aspx

 

[Pirate]

Here's the link for lens tools. You can throw this one in your bookmarks for later:

http://www.micro-tools.com/store/C-SPN/Spanner-WrenchsLens-Tools.aspx

 

[richreidjr]

I would love to see a picture of this final outcome.
I wouldnt mind haveing a professionally done M3 in say olive drab...

 

[karlori]

Its the micro tools site that i had no package delivered and after that i went to ebay and purchased there... Not from mr.Zhou (sp?) and did not receive either... I will post the process as soon as i get this last piece off...

 

[Pirate]

Which piece is it you're trying to get off now? I don't know what a Shutter Ring is.

 

[karlori]

Dunno how to call it... The washer on top of the shutter button that holds the film advance lever in place.

 

[Pirate]

Ah... ok. Have you tried a rubber band with a pair of pliars so you don't scratch the anything? If you don't squeeze too hard, that might work. The big wide rubber bands.

 

[Landshark]

I've scratched at least one of those retainers with pliers. They tend to slip upwards even with the rubber band.
I got a set of leica wrenches from Mr Zhou and had them in about a week. They're excellent, but if you buy them take a file or sharpening stone and smooth the edges a bit.
they're pretty sharp and will scratch the chrome if you're not careful. Put tape under them if you don't want to smooth them.
I understand he's an ebxy employee.

 

[karlori]

I have seen and am contemplating buying his leather half case for the M3 and the set ... Just seems my last few purchases from anywhere and anyone in the world went south... I think customs is to blame and the holidays...