f16sunshine
Moderator
peterm1
Veteran
Yes but my approach to using baking soda is different. Did you read my post at all?
Dan Daniel
Well-known
I've taken musty clothing to a cleaner who put them in an ozone closet for a few days. This kills mold and mildews. I have no idea what ozone will do to other parts of the camera, but maybe it would react with the scent molecules?
richardHaw
junk scavenger
here in Japan, "scented" cameras usually come in tobacco flavour 
there is nothing much you can do. You can try putting the camera in a Tupperware with some charcoals and see what happens :bang:
There is a scent-removal spray that I used a long time ago on another hobby (car restoration). I forgot the name but it's pretty good with removing stink from upholstery :angel:
there is nothing much you can do. You can try putting the camera in a Tupperware with some charcoals and see what happens :bang:
There is a scent-removal spray that I used a long time ago on another hobby (car restoration). I forgot the name but it's pretty good with removing stink from upholstery :angel:
Dogman
Veteran
Time will eventually allow the scent to float away. Leave the camera out in the open air and sunshine for a day or two and see if that doesn't help. Sometimes the potions used to cure will damage so be cautious in applying various cleaning compounds.
I'm a former pipe smoker. When I quit smoking, I could take out a seldom used camera that I had packed away for a while and the pipe tobacco odor was strong. It diminished fairly fast once it was out in the open air.
I'm a former pipe smoker. When I quit smoking, I could take out a seldom used camera that I had packed away for a while and the pipe tobacco odor was strong. It diminished fairly fast once it was out in the open air.
tunalegs
Pretended Artist
I once bought an old dot matrix printer off of ebay. It reeked of tobacco. I've bought lots of old electronics which have some tobacco smell. But this thing stunk up any room I put it in. I finally put it in the garage to get the smell out of the house. Then the garage smelled. But interestingly enough after about five days of sitting in a hot garage (in 100F+ Texas summer weather) it stopped smelling. Completely. Now its back in the house and doesn't cause any problems.
The garage was hot enough to get the smell out of the plastics, and large enough to allow the smell to dissipate. You can't really do this in a closed container, even with charcoal to absorb the odors.
The garage was hot enough to get the smell out of the plastics, and large enough to allow the smell to dissipate. You can't really do this in a closed container, even with charcoal to absorb the odors.
oftheherd
Veteran
Boy! Can I relate to the bolded/underlined above. My wife has fibromyalgia. She has had it for about 25 years. Many doctors to this day aren't sure they buy into there being any such thing. But when she first go it, there wasn't even a name for it, at least within the HMO we use. They often told her it was just in her head. What really hurt was when a doctor told her there was nothing he could do to help her, that she would just have to live with it for the rest or her life. What a good way to give someone severe depression! Just as bad was a rheumatologist who only has one mantra for fibromyalgia; Exercise. My wife told her she tried it and it only made the pain worse. The reply - Exercise.
Don't get me wrong. There are a lot of good and conscientious doctors, but those who are not create a more lasting impression.
Now, back to your regularly scheduled attempts to remove unwanted odors. I hope you find something that works well and quickly.
Glad to hear you have made some progress with doctors who at least acknowledge your condition.
rfaspen
[insert pithy phrase here]
Update:
First, thank you everyone for your suggestions.
The camera still stinks, but less. I can use it outdoors, which is where I most want to use it.
The volcanic rocks from Home Depot were a waste of $9.78 Absolutely no effect.
The bags of activated carbon might have had a very slight effect, but not sufficient by any means.
Wiping down with vinegar, isopropyl alcohol (91%), ethanol (90%), and naptha had no noticeable effect. Camera still stank of pefume/cologne quite badly.
I didn't try using the baking soda paste on this camera. I tried such a paste on scented plastic stuff in the past and I don't think it worked at all. I was reluctant to try on the camera, but I might give it a go before long.
Modern scented products are pernicious and evil.
Finally, I tried something called "Nature's Miracle" on the camera. This product is a mix of enzymes and aimed at pet owners who have cats or dogs that have an accident somewhere in the house you didn't want to have accidented.
This product was able to reduce the stench by a noticeable amount. Still not enough, but this is the first time ever I've had any success with reducing perfumey scent from plastic. I noticed with repeated applications that the plastic parts of the camera were reducing in scent, and the rubber portions remained awful. That's unfortunate, but still good news. I will replace the rubber bits with new bits, and if the remaining plastic can be brought down to tolerable scent levels, I have a usable camera.
BTW, tobacco stink is never this difficult. Ever. And I don't react to tobacco so its just an annoyance when I get stuff "infused" with tobacco smell -- Not pleasant, but thankfully not fatal.
I want to again thank everyone for their suggestions, or at least the supportive ear.
First, thank you everyone for your suggestions.
The camera still stinks, but less. I can use it outdoors, which is where I most want to use it.
The volcanic rocks from Home Depot were a waste of $9.78 Absolutely no effect.
The bags of activated carbon might have had a very slight effect, but not sufficient by any means.
Wiping down with vinegar, isopropyl alcohol (91%), ethanol (90%), and naptha had no noticeable effect. Camera still stank of pefume/cologne quite badly.
I didn't try using the baking soda paste on this camera. I tried such a paste on scented plastic stuff in the past and I don't think it worked at all. I was reluctant to try on the camera, but I might give it a go before long.
Modern scented products are pernicious and evil.
Finally, I tried something called "Nature's Miracle" on the camera. This product is a mix of enzymes and aimed at pet owners who have cats or dogs that have an accident somewhere in the house you didn't want to have accidented.
This product was able to reduce the stench by a noticeable amount. Still not enough, but this is the first time ever I've had any success with reducing perfumey scent from plastic. I noticed with repeated applications that the plastic parts of the camera were reducing in scent, and the rubber portions remained awful. That's unfortunate, but still good news. I will replace the rubber bits with new bits, and if the remaining plastic can be brought down to tolerable scent levels, I have a usable camera.
BTW, tobacco stink is never this difficult. Ever. And I don't react to tobacco so its just an annoyance when I get stuff "infused" with tobacco smell -- Not pleasant, but thankfully not fatal.
I want to again thank everyone for their suggestions, or at least the supportive ear.
Ko.Fe.
Lenses 35/21 Gears 46/20
Sorry, I missed it.
My old new Lybitel-2 was very stinky, but due to plastic case. I forgot what is the word for material, some skin of non-exiting animal. First, I was thinking it is the camera, but it was its case.
Does camera have the case or stripe? If so, try to keep them completely separated for two weeks and check where smell is.
Lets do some more logical thinking here. Bare metal, glass or bakelite will not hold smell if surface was cleaned.
You did cleaned all of the surfaces already. Including internal ones?
In my recent attend to make $19 Industar to look like $50 lens I followed advice to clean some internal parts with gasoline. It went into the aperture part and was trapped here. As result the lens smelled as gasoline for few weeks, I have to keep it with caps off for ventilation. But it still smells!
Perhaps, previous master was too sissy and instead of gasoline the perfume was in use in attend to clean something, something inner. And it is trapped now.
Baking soda in the open box, or at the tea plate. Bare, naked camera with everything open beside of it. All placed on the shelf somewhere. But! Camera and plate with soda are in the large shopping bag. The bag is tighten up to keep air inside. Change soda daily. It might take couple of weeks.
It was another stinky old camera I took care this way. I forgot was it Anniversary from the basement or C33 from the smoker. What kind of camera is yours? Bellows? Wood?
My old new Lybitel-2 was very stinky, but due to plastic case. I forgot what is the word for material, some skin of non-exiting animal. First, I was thinking it is the camera, but it was its case.
Does camera have the case or stripe? If so, try to keep them completely separated for two weeks and check where smell is.
Lets do some more logical thinking here. Bare metal, glass or bakelite will not hold smell if surface was cleaned.
You did cleaned all of the surfaces already. Including internal ones?
In my recent attend to make $19 Industar to look like $50 lens I followed advice to clean some internal parts with gasoline. It went into the aperture part and was trapped here. As result the lens smelled as gasoline for few weeks, I have to keep it with caps off for ventilation. But it still smells!
Perhaps, previous master was too sissy and instead of gasoline the perfume was in use in attend to clean something, something inner. And it is trapped now.
Baking soda in the open box, or at the tea plate. Bare, naked camera with everything open beside of it. All placed on the shelf somewhere. But! Camera and plate with soda are in the large shopping bag. The bag is tighten up to keep air inside. Change soda daily. It might take couple of weeks.
It was another stinky old camera I took care this way. I forgot was it Anniversary from the basement or C33 from the smoker. What kind of camera is yours? Bellows? Wood?
nukecoke
⚛Yashica
Once bought a Jupiter-8 lens, and it (still) smells like a brothel in Murmansk - way overdosed with cheap, nostril stabbing perfume.
Spanik
Well-known
Nothing like the smell of a new Kiev 60 straight from factory. Took best of 2 years to get out of it.
sepiareverb
genius and moron
Ugh. FYI, the "improved" incarnation of that Natures Miracle that I just got (fecking cats) has a horrible perfume added to it. If yours is the original (alcoholy smell) and it seems like it might be helpful in future you might want to stock up.
BuzzyOne
Established
I lost my sense of smell from steroidal nasal spray. I miss the stank of my cameras.
giganova
Well-known
Febreeze? You could use cotton swabs. If not, just replace the leatherette, they are cheap.
giganova
Well-known
Maybe you are lucky and some of the molecules are from Henri Cartier-Bresson and you could clone him?
fdarnell
Well-known
seems like you have to somehow get the modern artificial scent oils off the camera which are bonding with either paint or plastic.
Some suggestions:
1. Clean it off with goo-gone - you can get at loses. Think of this as solvent level I - it's stronger than most alcohols - more like lighter fluid
2. Clean it will goof-off, also at Lowes - this is quite stong. Takes off the tape stickum and part of the plastic on cameras. I used it to clean off the deteriorated matte coating that turns sticky on the old N90's and such. Be careful as it might remove the paint, but you could repaint or re-leather if it's really a nice old camera.
3. Cover it with a strong tape, like duct tape or a strong sealing tape - the stuff that might leave a residue. This might pick up some of the scent oil as it would give it a more receptive bonding surface. Put it somewhere heated - like 100+ if you can - that will force the vaporization rates up. Then you will have to clean it with #1 or #2, but then the only smell might be more like lighter fluid. Goof-off is very volatile, use caution.
4. try putting it in direct sunlight for a long period - maybe days, since the UV could break down some of the volatile oils so they no longer smell.
Wish you luck.
Some suggestions:
1. Clean it off with goo-gone - you can get at loses. Think of this as solvent level I - it's stronger than most alcohols - more like lighter fluid
2. Clean it will goof-off, also at Lowes - this is quite stong. Takes off the tape stickum and part of the plastic on cameras. I used it to clean off the deteriorated matte coating that turns sticky on the old N90's and such. Be careful as it might remove the paint, but you could repaint or re-leather if it's really a nice old camera.
3. Cover it with a strong tape, like duct tape or a strong sealing tape - the stuff that might leave a residue. This might pick up some of the scent oil as it would give it a more receptive bonding surface. Put it somewhere heated - like 100+ if you can - that will force the vaporization rates up. Then you will have to clean it with #1 or #2, but then the only smell might be more like lighter fluid. Goof-off is very volatile, use caution.
4. try putting it in direct sunlight for a long period - maybe days, since the UV could break down some of the volatile oils so they no longer smell.
Wish you luck.
blumoon
Well-known
rfaspen
[insert pithy phrase here]
So....
Its now about 1 1/2 years later, after my initial post. I very much appreciate everyone's suggestions for dealing with my scented camera.
Until last week, the camera was still as strongly and unpleasantly scented as when I received it. And I tried many of your suggestions, and then some. For those who wear cologne/perfume, keep in mind you are permanently scenting stuff you handle. Modern fragrance chemistry is amazing, if not frustratingly annoying.
Last week I replaced all the rubber parts around the outside of the camera. I had to master the use of Pliobond glue, but once I did that I was able to reduce the scent of this camera a fair bit with the replacements. Clearly, the previous scent-soaked owner handled the camera and deposited a lot of scent on those "wear areas". I still only use the camera outdoors and hold my breath when holding it near, but its a good camera that meets some of my photographic needs very nicely. Its my only adversely scented used camera. I have many even older cameras that come from the days before modern chemical engineering. They're OK.
Its now about 1 1/2 years later, after my initial post. I very much appreciate everyone's suggestions for dealing with my scented camera.
Until last week, the camera was still as strongly and unpleasantly scented as when I received it. And I tried many of your suggestions, and then some. For those who wear cologne/perfume, keep in mind you are permanently scenting stuff you handle. Modern fragrance chemistry is amazing, if not frustratingly annoying.
Last week I replaced all the rubber parts around the outside of the camera. I had to master the use of Pliobond glue, but once I did that I was able to reduce the scent of this camera a fair bit with the replacements. Clearly, the previous scent-soaked owner handled the camera and deposited a lot of scent on those "wear areas". I still only use the camera outdoors and hold my breath when holding it near, but its a good camera that meets some of my photographic needs very nicely. Its my only adversely scented used camera. I have many even older cameras that come from the days before modern chemical engineering. They're OK.
Mark J
Member
Have you tried a CLA? Lubricants could absorb the odors and external cleaning would not remove that repository.
capitalK
Warrior Poet :P
I have had a few cameras with tobacco smell. A week or two wrapped in newspaper (remember those?) worked wonders. It absorbed most, if not all, of the smell. Might work for this, too?