the ultimate restoration project

[aizan]

I am going learn how to restore cameras to like new condition. I've had it on my mind for a long time, just never committed to it. I'm going to start small and work up to my battered M2. This entails how to do a CLA, how to make shutter curtains, how to remove dings and dents, and how to repaint the entire camera, including crinkle painted areas.

It's going to take a while, so wish me luck!

 

[onnovisser]

How about keeping us up to date with a photolog of your every move?

🙂

Good luck! you might need it...

 

[aizan]

Don't worry, every step will be documented!

 

[dmr]

so wish me luck!

Good luck. 🙂

Seriously, I hope you will share some of your CLA techniques, those which can be applied generically as opposed to brand specifically. 🙂

Repainting is something I would also be interested in, maybe like converting some satin chrome parts into black "press" style parts.

 

[photodog]

Practice of a Russian camera first! Or maybe work on a old Leica screw mount. Good luck!

 

[aizan]

i went and ordered three books from ed romney: revised basic training, leica camera repair, and advanced leica screwmount repair. my first job will be finishing the repair of my olympus pen s. i'm just going to fix the shutter and restore the crinkle paint area. then, i think i'll get a leica iiic with blistering chrome, slow shutter speeds, and hopefully burnt curtains. i should work on dents, too, and i'm always seeing dented prism housings on slrs. i could definitely go for a dented nikon f prism. i guess that'll be enough to prepare for the m2.

 

[Doug]

I've wondered if I should be taking my dented cameras to the auto body shop... Really there should be good tools and techniques for doing that on a camera body scale. But I haven't heard about shops that are known for that.

 

[ddutchison]

i went and ordered three books from ed romney: revised basic training, leica camera repair, and advanced leica screwmount repair. ...

I'm curious to hear your impressions of Ed Romney's books.

I've considered working up to overhauling my M2 by way of my Oly SP first, which I would follow up by purchasing a beat early Kiev II. There's a lot of good info that camera ( like this Contax II page ), and I figure after a Kiev, a Leica would seem simplicity itself.

for dmr436, and anyone else interested, here's a detailed description of someones successful repaint of an m3: Discussing the project and How it was done

 

[unsharp]

Good luck!

Is it a hobby thing or do you plan to enter the buziness of camera repair?

Please share with us you experiences as you learn, it would be very intresting.

Anders 🙂

 

[Pherdinand]

Good luck. I guess it will be good to have one more person that can do a good repair job. They are not that many otut there, right now!

 

[aizan]

I guess I could do it on the side, but mainly as a hobby. I'll be posting the whole thing, so anyone would be able to do it!

 

[sychan]

Good luck!

Good luck!

Aizan,

Good luck with your project - I've have a bunch of feds laying around for projects that I've stalled on. Everyone once in a while I look around here for inspiration to get me going again. 😉

 

[aizan]

Yay, I just received the repair manuals. Went and printed the two pdfs available online, too; 'Factory tips...' and the Leica M2 service manual. The latter cost $25 with coil binding at Kinko's. I'll review them later in the process.