tho60
Well-known
In your opinion, may I use WD-40 for repair Zorki shutters? The old grease has gummed, and some people recommend that we should apply watchmaker’s oil. But I wasn’t able to acquire such fluid. But I have a plenty of WD-40.
A similar question: is WD-40 proper for relubing FSU lenses?instead of grease? I have tried, but IMHO it dries quickly and loses much of its abilities.
A similar question: is WD-40 proper for relubing FSU lenses?instead of grease? I have tried, but IMHO it dries quickly and loses much of its abilities.
MartinP
Veteran
WD-40 is a vegetable-oil in a solvent. If you wanted to use it with cotton-buds to remove an gummy lubricant then it might work, in place of lighter-fluid for instance, but for final lubrication it would be less than ideal I'd expect - especially if squirted on in large quantities as the solvent would carry the oil all over the place before evaporating!
paulfish4570
Veteran
no, no, no, and no. you can use to clean grease from metal with a rag, but do NOT use it as a lubricant. replace grease with grease ...
tho60
Well-known
Ok, there might be some misconception. I wouldn't use Wd-40 for cleaning old grease but I would apply it as a lubricating fluid.
robbeiflex
Well-known
Not a good idea. If my memory serves me correctly then you could get corrosion after the WD40 dries. It is also great for removing grease, but not a grease replacement. Better to use it as suggested above on a cotton bud or cloth to clean a specific place, and find a closer substitute to the watchmaker's oil that you are missing.
In would not recommend it. It would be bad.
Ezzie
E. D. Russell Roberts
What about sewing machine oil?
robbeiflex
Well-known
The thing is, knowing WD40, right after it's applied it would seem OK, but a few days later...
mwooten
light user
I don't use it to clean guns, and they are a bit hardier than lenses.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
You won't find any bicycle enthusiasts that recommend WD-40 for bicycles. FWIW, you probably won't even find tractor collectors who let that stuff anywhere near their cherished vehicles...
paulfish4570
Veteran
i've seen a lot of blued finishes ruined by wd-40 - and bores ...
Gray Fox
Well-known
I have a gunsmith friend who makes a lot of money each year, just before bird season, when the Bubbas who sprayed their pump and seimi-auto shotguns down with WD-40 at the end of the last season learn it has turned to varnish and the guns won't function. He has to take all the wood off the guns and soak the entire mechanism in a tank of real solvent. Just think what it would do if left in a fine mechanical system such as a camera.
jesse1dog
Light Catcher
WD-40 - water dispersal for 40 days - I seem to remember somebody telling me that was how it was named. It has certainly loosened hard dried grease on a few clock mechs I've had. Not good enough for long term use though.
jesse
jesse
jesse1dog
Light Catcher
From Wikipedia:
"WD-40 is the trademark name of a widely-available water-displacing spray developed in 1953 by Norm Larsen, founder of the Rocket Chemical Company, San Diego, California. It was originally designed to repel water and prevent corrosion,[1] and later was found to have numerous household uses.
WD-40 stands for "Water Displacement - 40th Attempt". Larsen was attempting to concoct a formula to prevent corrosion, by displacing the standing water that causes it. In the process, he arrived at a successful formula on his 40th attempt.[1] WD-40 is primarily composed of various hydrocarbons."
Best go to Wikipedia for more details.
jesse
.
"WD-40 is the trademark name of a widely-available water-displacing spray developed in 1953 by Norm Larsen, founder of the Rocket Chemical Company, San Diego, California. It was originally designed to repel water and prevent corrosion,[1] and later was found to have numerous household uses.
WD-40 stands for "Water Displacement - 40th Attempt". Larsen was attempting to concoct a formula to prevent corrosion, by displacing the standing water that causes it. In the process, he arrived at a successful formula on his 40th attempt.[1] WD-40 is primarily composed of various hydrocarbons."
Best go to Wikipedia for more details.
jesse
.
Valkir1987
Well-known
A NO here too! Had a Fed 2 here which the previous owner soaked in WD-40, terrible. Like posted before, the stuff is only sold because you keep using it.
In fact you need special lubricants that don't react with copper holding metals. Like watch oil. Ballistol Klever is unsuitable for the same reason, but is excellent for Bikes and Guns.
In fact you need special lubricants that don't react with copper holding metals. Like watch oil. Ballistol Klever is unsuitable for the same reason, but is excellent for Bikes and Guns.
ZorkiKat
ЗоркийК&
Before you all start throwing WD40 out... let me say that it can be used. But not straight out of the can.
A famous repair resource person described to me a method by which WD40 can be used for fine mechanisms. Most of you probably have been to his pages or used his diagrams for your DIY camera work. AFAIK, he uses this lubricant a lot for his repairs.
His method goes like this:
Spray some WD40 into a jar. Enough to have a considerable volume.
Let the collected oil stand for a couple of days. There will be a whitish misty crud which will settle at the bottom. At the top is fine clear oil.
Skim this oil. Or collect with a syringe. Or a watch oiler can be dipped to collect some of this fine oil for application.
The fine oil works quite well. At least in the cameras I've worked on. That would include many Zorki and FED. A few Leica. Some Seagulls. And Canons too. Plus one Nikon S2. The oldest repair that used this oil was done almost 5 years ago. To this date, the WD40'd FED still works. In fact I'm using it today.
The oil doesn't really fully dry. Some of it is left to do the lubricating. It may gum up, just like the other oils, and will probably do so if it mixes with dirt or dust. So far, no drying has ever occured.
I'm not saying that WD40 is perfect for repairs. Only that it worked for me.
A famous repair resource person described to me a method by which WD40 can be used for fine mechanisms. Most of you probably have been to his pages or used his diagrams for your DIY camera work. AFAIK, he uses this lubricant a lot for his repairs.
His method goes like this:
Spray some WD40 into a jar. Enough to have a considerable volume.
Let the collected oil stand for a couple of days. There will be a whitish misty crud which will settle at the bottom. At the top is fine clear oil.
Skim this oil. Or collect with a syringe. Or a watch oiler can be dipped to collect some of this fine oil for application.
The fine oil works quite well. At least in the cameras I've worked on. That would include many Zorki and FED. A few Leica. Some Seagulls. And Canons too. Plus one Nikon S2. The oldest repair that used this oil was done almost 5 years ago. To this date, the WD40'd FED still works. In fact I'm using it today.
The oil doesn't really fully dry. Some of it is left to do the lubricating. It may gum up, just like the other oils, and will probably do so if it mixes with dirt or dust. So far, no drying has ever occured.
I'm not saying that WD40 is perfect for repairs. Only that it worked for me.
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Gary Sandhu
Well-known
I destroyed a contax T with WD 40. It dissolved the plastic in the rewind crank and ISO Dial.
Also, my leica 50 lux pre-asph aperture dial had seized up and although WD-40 got it moving, it require a CLA to remove the solvent.
PLEASE don't use it!
Also, my leica 50 lux pre-asph aperture dial had seized up and although WD-40 got it moving, it require a CLA to remove the solvent.
PLEASE don't use it!
Livesteamer
Well-known
For the focusing threads you need a thicker lubricant. I recently unscrewed my I 22, cleaned off the old grease and got a little axle bearing grease for cars to put on the threads. Worked fine. Joe
elmer3.5
Well-known
Hi, when i have dryed grease and dirt i pour some alcohol to remove it, it doesn´t matter if you pour a lot as it will dry and leave no residues (except from the grease and dirt themselves)
I apply some liquimoly oil if thicker lub is required.
I use WD-40 in some places where tolerance is too small.
To apply it i always use the tip of a tiny screwdriver, very controlled.
Yesterday i used it on my iii-g.
500 and 1000 speed jammed, after pouring a little bit below the speeds selector wheel it just came alive!!!!
If used in exact quantities you can really benefit form this WD-40, and after a lor of time using it i´ve never had problems in the long term.
Bye.
I apply some liquimoly oil if thicker lub is required.
I use WD-40 in some places where tolerance is too small.
To apply it i always use the tip of a tiny screwdriver, very controlled.
Yesterday i used it on my iii-g.
500 and 1000 speed jammed, after pouring a little bit below the speeds selector wheel it just came alive!!!!
If used in exact quantities you can really benefit form this WD-40, and after a lor of time using it i´ve never had problems in the long term.
Bye.
wolves3012
Veteran
No, it contains polyvinylbutyral, which is the water-repellant part and will gum up the works quite effectively - unless you use Zorkikat's method and let is separate. For a far better lubricant, watch-oil or clock-oil is more suitable. If you can get hold of it (it's commonly available from cycle shops in the UK), GT85 would be ok too - that contains Teflon and is an excellent lubricator/corrosion inhibitor that won't dry out.In your opinion, may I use WD-40 for repair Zorki shutters? The old grease has gummed, and some people recommend that we should apply watchmaker’s oil. But I wasn’t able to acquire such fluid. But I have a plenty of WD-40.
No, it's far too thin and sticky. It'll be very likely to run into places where it'll cause problems too. Use a leightweight grease, preferably silcone-based so it won't deteriorate with age. Lithium-based cycle greases are favoured by a lot of people.