Vulcanite care

[MISH]

what do people here do to preserve and protect the vulcanite on their Leicas? I have read that Armorall is not good for it. What do you use?

 

[rolfe]

Unless the vulcanite is perfect, I would get rid of it and substitute one of the coverings from

http://aki-asahi.com/store/

Personally, I think they're better than the original, but I wouldn't destroy a fully intact vulcanite covering to replace it.

 

[mooge]

I'm not sure how scientific this is, but I don't take care of my M2 at all and its vulcanite has held up pretty well (except where it's been chipped off by falls, putting the top plate back on fifty times, etc...). I use it pretty often though so maybe it's the hand grease? just a guess...

 

[Richard G]

Handling the camera as a camera sees my M2 mint after 56 years. And my palms are not that sweaty.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

There really isn't much that can be done more than 30 years after the vulcanite has been applied to the camera. Just like there aren't very good preservatives for vinyl in a car. Once it begins use and exposure to the elements, it just starts to slowly degrade. Vulcanite outgasses and that is where it gets stinky, like sulphur. Eventually, the bonds that hold it together as the hard yet flexible rubber covering break down and it starts to crumble.
Some have used lexol with some success. Some have used preservative for old tires which makes sense in theory.

Phil Forrest

 

[Bill58]

Awhile back, I read that mineral oil applied every year helps. Wipe it on, let it soak in, then wipe of the residue. I think that works on vinyl too.

 

[peterm1]

I have had cameras with vulcanite that has become dry, brittle and cracked then fallen off in small locations. In some cases it was possible to re-glue small pieces and even disguise gaps and holes. To glue small pieces of vulcanite back into place, I have used super glue (crazy glue) or epoxy. To fill in holes where the vulcanite has been lost I used a trowelable asphalt jointing / sealing compound bought from a hardware store. This was applied with a matchstick with one end cut to a wedge shape to use as a trowel. When it dries and hardens it looks very very like vulcanite but its only suitable for small match head sized gaps as otherwise its too obvious. I tend to agree that when the vulcanite is coming adrift in large pieces its easier to just take it all off and apply a replacement bought from one of the providers mentioned. For degraded vulcanite, temporary improvements in appearance if not function can be achieved with a variety of emoluments. I have used various silicone sprays (brushed not sprayed on) with some appearance benefits although many claim its not really good for vulcanite. That is true to the extentt hat it will not prevent vulcanite that has detached from the metal of the camera body form continuing to do so. But it does at least darken it and make it look better.

 

[greyelm]

More info here : http://www.nemeng.com/leica/032b.shtml