Speed Graphics - techniques to remove verdigris ?

[Luddite Frank]

Zeiss cameras may get "bumpy", but they got nothing on Graphic Press cameras for growing heavy, gunky verdigris around any & all brass fittings (essentially every bit of hardware on the camera).

What techniques are favored for removing the green gunk w/o harming leatherette, plating, or paint?

Been working for a couple evenings now on a 1937-ish pre-Anniversary 4x5, removing crud... 😱

 

[Crazy Fedya]

Try vinegar on q-tip. I had a lot of success with it.

 

[Mr_Flibble]

Alcohol will dissolve verdigris as well.

Toilet duck works a treat too...but it's rather to aggressive for the other materials on the camera.

 

[michaelwj]

Try vinegar on q-tip. I had a lot of success with it.

Agreed. I tend to dilute it 1:1 though (at least to start). It's also good for freshening up engraved markings on bodies and lenses.

 

[Dan Daniel]

After cleaning it off, any suggestions for sealing the screws or rivets to prevent bumps in the future? I've applied thinned clear nail polish at times but maybe I am just wasting my time.

 

[Crazy Fedya]

Agreed. I tend to dilute it 1:1 though (at least to start). It's also good for freshening up engraved markings on bodies and lenses.

European vinegar has 10 percent concentration, and 5 percent in the US. I use whichever one is under the sink.

 

[Crazy Fedya]

After cleaning it off, any suggestions for sealing the screws or rivets to prevent bumps in the future? I've applied thinned clear nail polish at times but maybe I am just wasting my time.

I never sealed any screws, but you can try clear coat nail polish. My wife has is , I used it several times to lock rangefinders, or to stop soft release from unscrewing.

 

[Dwig]

...
What techniques are favored for removing the green gunk w/o harming leatherette, plating, or paint ?
...

Wherever possible, remove the metal parts for cleaning. Don't attempt to clean them while they are installed on the camera.

 

[Luddite Frank]

Thanks for the replies.

Yes, will remove hardware when / wherever possible.

In the case of Graphic Press Cameras, quite a few of the offending fittings are mounted on the body over-top of the leatherette, and the verdigris becomes impressed into the texture of the Leatherette.

After carefully scraping-away the build-up, one is left with the green mung still filling the texture of the leather.

So, hopefully the vinegar would remove that build-up w/o harming the covering.

Has anyone tried ammonia on a Q-tip ?

 

[retinax]

Is the covering real leather? I've been told by someone who works with leather that vinegar is actually good for leather. I suspect I actually depends on how the leather has been treated, but I wouldn't worry too much. If that is true, I'd be more skeptical about ammonia or anything pH>7.

 

[Luddite Frank]

Yes, real leather, or at least constituted from real leather.

I imagine the chemicals used in the tanning process are what are reacting with the brass to create the verdigris in the first place.


Frank