Light Seal Rope

[68degrees]

I read a book by Thomas Tomosy where he talks about what to use to replace light seals. He isnt a fan of the foam, he talks about a rope that he pushes into the light seal channel. What kind of rope is this and where can I get it?

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

At the local knitting store. Buy "Lily Sugar 'N Cream" cotton yarn in black.

I've used this successfully several times. A little dot of Pliobond glue at the end. Based on an article by Matt Denton.

All that said, I prefer Jon Goodman's foam light seal kit if he has one for the camera involved.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=rope+for+camera+light+seals

 

[68degrees]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=rope+for+camera+light+seals

wow 16,700,000 results... that narrows it down. haha Thanks anyway. Ill just ask the actual RFF experts.

 

[68degrees]

At the local knitting store. Buy "Lily Sugar 'N Cream" cotton yarn in black.

I've used this successfully several times. A little dot of Pliobond glue at the end. Based on an article by Matt Denton.

All that said, I prefer Jon Goodman's foam light seal kit if he has one for the camera involved.

Thank you for sharing your expertise and personal life experience. Colonel much appreciated.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

wow 16,700,000 results... that narrows it down. haha Thanks anyway. Ill just ask the actual RFF experts.

It takes far less time to click on the first two or three links than it took you to create this thread and reply.

 

[Penny Lane]

At the local knitting store. Buy "Lily Sugar 'N Cream" cotton yarn in black.

I've used this successfully several times. A little dot of Pliobond glue at the end. Based on an article by Matt Denton.

For those in Europe, Schachenmayr's Nomotta Catania is a nice cotton yarn that does the job very well. Cheap, too, at around €2,- per ball. I've used this lots of times without any hassle.

However, there are indeed lots & lots & lots of alternatives 🙂

Derk

 

[68degrees]

It takes far less time to click on the first two or three links than it took you to create this thread and reply.

Gabriel, the question was not directed at you it was directed at members who know the answer by experience. Not folks like you who have nothing better to do than to make disrespectful replies. Learn some manners. If you dont know, just please stay quiet. Its an internet forum. Its understood we all know how to google. I realize googling might be still new for you, that you are still excited about and its the first thing that pops into your head when you dont know something. Thats fine. For me, I like interacting with other human beings and it adds to the knowledge base of the forum itself.

Thanks.

 

[rjbuzzclick]

I've used thin black knitting yarn as well and it works fine. That being said, I've also used many of Jon Goodman's kits and can also highly recommend them as well.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Gabriel, the question was not directed at you it was directed at members who know the answer by experience. Not folks like you who have nothing better to do than to make disrespectful replies.

I'm sorry my nudge at "minimal research before thread posting" came across as a disrespectful reply. I was not aware that the question was directed at someone other than me, specifically.

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

I've used thin black knitting yarn as well and it works fine. That being said, I've also used many of Jon Goodman's kits and can also highly recommend them as well.

I've never had any problem with his kits -- very reasonably priced (I'd even say "underpriced"), well-documented, and generously stocked. It was essential for me to repair a few Canonets, and a Leica R4.

 

[68degrees]

I'm sorry my nudge at "minimal research before thread posting" came across as a disrespectful reply. I was not aware that the question was directed at someone other than me, specifically.

Alight no worries mate. I was irritable today to begin with, I may have overeacted a bit. Cheers.

 

[68degrees]

At the local knitting store. Buy "Lily Sugar 'N Cream" cotton yarn in black.

They only had dark blue, no black. So I passed and got some other black cotton yarn. Ill braid it and make something thicker. This is for a thrift store pentax that my dad bought. It had no light seals at all. The shots were all so purple and washed out crazy.

 

[ZorkiKat]

They only had dark blue, no black. So I passed and got some other black cotton yarn. Ill braid it and make something thicker. This is for a thrift store pentax that my dad bought. It had no light seals at all. The shots were all so purple and washed out crazy.

Dark blue should have worked. In some cameras I worked on, I found yarn which were brown or even green. The colour itself does not really matter, as long as it's dark. It's more of aesthetics than function when it comes to colour.

Now that you've mentioned Pentax, the seal you may want to replace is the one that is lodged next to the back door's hinge. That seal is flat and wider than 'rope'. You can use the felt lips from a discarded 35mm cassette to replace that seal.

 

[wblynch]

Thanks for this thread. I would never have known about "Lily Sugar 'N Cream" cotton yarn otherwise.

I have some cameras in which I replaced the foam seals about 8 years ago and they are already deteriorating again. I would prefer felt or yarn for longevity and elimination of goo.

-Bill

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

I've had good results simply opening up spent 35mm film canisters and removing the velvet strips from the slots. I cut them down to size and use tiny beads of contact adhesive to attach. It's fiddly but I've now used it on cameras from a C220 to various Japanese SLRs or RF on a number of occasions, with no sign of light leaks. Best part is, you've probably got some spent cans on hand (I raided a lab some months back and stocked up on empties for the next decade...)

Having said that Jon is one of the nicest and most helpful guys you could ever hope to meet.
Best,
Brett

 

[Clark.EE]

On a similar theme I have just got myself a Mamiya press camera.
All the seals needed replacing. The seal between the interchangeable backs & the Camera was a pain to replace. Much thicker cord than normal was required.
In the end i used window Blind cord. Only available in white, so I had to black it with a marker pen. Seems to work Ok