Let's see your Leica M

NicoM said:
Awesome! Can I ask how you stripped the chrome? Also, what kind of paint did you use?
Click to expand...

I did a combination of reverse electrolysis and acid bath. I also had to sand a fair amount of nickel coating off in the process.
I just used a Krylon semi gloss paint. Which I baked for a while to harden.

I like the way it looks, and it seems to be holding up nicely, but I'm still in the "testing" phase.
 
Travis L. said:
I did a combination of reverse electrolysis and acid bath. I also had to sand a fair amount of nickel coating off in the process.
I just used a Krylon semi gloss paint. Which I baked for a while to harden.

I like the way it looks, and it seems to be holding up nicely, but I'm still in the "testing" phase.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply! I'm really looking forward to repainting my first Leica!
 
NicoM said:
Awesome! Can I ask how you stripped the chrome? Also, what kind of paint did you use?
Click to expand...

You can send it to a body shop and for a small fee they can do a reverse electrolysis and strip all the chrome and nickel off.

www.acmeplating.com did my M4

I don't recommend sanding...

Before you spray you need to clean the brass with acetone or alcohol.
Then spray on a self etching primer or the paint won't stick to the brass.
Then spray on a light tack coating of paint. Let it dry completely.
Repeat with another coat of paint.
Bake it, but don't burn it.
Fill the engravings with a paint stick (from Micro-tools)
Let it settle for a day or so and then reassemble.

Remember, you're going to get better results with several thin coats of paint, instead of one thick one.
Use an airbrush with a moisture trap, instead of a can.
Experiment with paint dilutions first on a scrap surface that has a primer coat.
Use a fine grain enamel paint as sold by Micro-tools.


If you rush this it will look like hell and chip off.
 
Harry Lime said:
You can send it to a body shop and for a small fee they can do a reverse electrolysis and strip all the chrome and nickel off.

www.acmeplating.com did my M4

I don't recommend sanding...

Before you spray you need to clean the brass with acetone or alcohol.
Then spray on a self etching primer or the paint won't stick to the brass.
Then spray on a light tack coating of paint. Let it dry completely.
Repeat with another coat of paint.
Bake it, but don't burn it.
Fill the engravings with a paint stick (from Micro-tools)
Let it settle for a day or so and then reassemble.


Remember, you're going to get better results with several thin coats of paint, instead of one thick one.
Use an airbrush with a moisture trap, instead of a can.
Experiment with paint dilutions first on a scrap surface that has a primer coat.
Use a fine grain enamel paint as sold by Micro-tools.


If you rush this it will look like hell and chip off.
Click to expand...

I defer to your expertise.

I couldn't find any plating shops that would even talk to me about a job as small as this. So I did it myself.
I got 90% the way there with reverse electrolysis. I did have to sand some nickel off.
I was also fairly diligent choosing the paint. I tried several types as well as different baking techniques on scrap pieces of brass.
In the end I found the look I wanted right out of the can. No special equipment needed.

So far, no chips and it doesn't "look like hell" as you have suggested. I'll keep you posted.
 
d3Mi4.jpg
 
Literally. They came from an old war photographer.

I had everything cla'd or overhauled by Youxin and DAG along with new curtains and mask for one M2. Both needed new coverings, as most of the vulcanite was gone.

What you can see are some of the images he took with them.
 
I recently met a retired US Navy photographer. He showed my a photo of his "war chest". Must have been 10 or more Leica M2,3,4's and another dozen Nikon F's and F2's. Talk about war torn?
 
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