Painting cameras

[Range Loser]

Hi everyone,
I know there have been a few threads from those of you who have re-painted cameras. So here's a question. I just bought a camera that someone has touched up on the brassed corners with black paint. Bargain camera, but I hate the touch ups. What's the best way to remove it without affecting the original paint? I guess even fine emery cloth will make scratches, what about paint thinners or even paint stripper? Help anyone?
Thanks, Andy..

 

[terrafirmanada]

Your best bet is most likely stripping the camera, and repainting the whole shebang. If you are looking for the easy out a fine grit (1000ish) wet sand paper will take off the touch-up, and maybe some more of the paint as well. This will make your camera look more worn, and you can do the whole deal down the road.

 

[Range Loser]

Painting

Painting

Thanks Thomas,

Don't think I could handle stripping down the camera, and I don't mind the worn look. So you reckon fine sanding is best? Don't you reccomend any sort of solvent? Andy.

 

[terrafirmanada]

No, I would just do a wet sand with fine grit. Here is an M2 I did using 500

 

[Ash]

And there was me thinking of touching up my black Standard! 😀

 

[Screwy]

What Camera are we talking about ? is it an FSU camera or something less exotic like a Leica or a Contax ? 😀

I would go with the 1000 grit wet and dry paper used wet with a little washing up liquid in the water , If you rub the wet and dry against it's self before using it , This will reduce the cutting action . Then find a better match for the touch up paint or leave it brassed
The trouble with solvents is, you don't know how there going to react with the original finish and you could end up worse off .


Paul

 

[Range Loser]

Hi, thanks for the advice everyone. I was keeping the identity of the camera secret as this is "rangefinder forum" and I thought I may be excommunicated. It's actually a Nikon F3P that look like it's seen a hardish life. I always seem to post under FSU cameras as that it where I started reading RFF. Anyone know of a decent independent F3 repairer in the UK, it has a shutter release fault. But it was only £65. Andy.

 

[Range Loser]

By the way Ash, I have a 100ft roll of Pan F that I could sell you.

 

[Ronald M]

If they used black lacquer, lacquer thinner will take it off and not touch enamel.

try some fingernail polish remover on a Q-Tip. That is acetone and won`t touch enamel either. Confine to touched up areas.

Safe way is 1000 grit wet dry used in small pieces and wet. Auto paint supply store.

If it a laquer camera, abrasive is the only way. I would wet 1000 grit and drag it across the touch up by the leading edge. This will get the high spots off and leave the base of the touch up. Use no more than the weight of the wet sheet. Blend with a fine polishing compound .

 

[w3rk5]

I'd use acetone on a Q-tip first. Like Ronald M suggested, "Confine to touched up areas". Good luck.

 

[Range Loser]

Thanks Ronald M and W3RK5, acetone is working well, and revealing a lot of titanium! I think I like it.
Andy..

 

[Xmas]

Thomas

Wet and dry paper grit will do considerable damage to a camera and I'd not let any paper near to a black M2, (or even a Kiev) especially if it has a pukka serial number. My M2 needed a new set of innards except for rngfndr - from wear and tear, I dont have an origional speed dial, lever wind or counter dial any more, different shade of black, even after brassing sets in.

People who paint cameras remove the plates first?

Noel

 

[rolleistef]

terrafireamanda,, is your M2 an genuine black one or did she embraced the dark side of photograhy after she was born?

 

[terrafirmanada]

No, not an original. I did wet sand this and the otheron I did after removing the chrome and nickel.

 

[w3rk5]

Thanks Ronald M and W3RK5, acetone is working well, and revealing a lot of titanium! I think I like it.
Andy..

May we see the results? 🙂

 

[Davor]

This only works on some paint, like the one they usually put on plastic, but try sanding it off with a sugar cube. The sugar might/should take off the paint without harming the brass.

It might take quite a few cubes, tough. 🙂

 

[Range Loser]

Will post some pics in a couple of weeks, the camera is being serviced at the local repairers. Andy.

 

[bsdunek]

IMHO - The only way to paint/repaint a camera is to disassemble it and strip the parts and prime and paint.

I have customized many cameras when I was in the repair business. I am always afraid of getting abrasive, solvents or paint in the innards. You could paint with a brush, but it won't look very good.

Back in the 60's, when all the news photogs used brassed black cameras, I had calls to "brass" peoples cameras. I did use 600 and 1000 grit paper very carefully on the edges of Nikons, Canons, etc, to make them look "brassed".

My own Nikons just got that way from use! 😎