I also know
somebody who sprayed WD40 into a slightly sticking Kurta
(almost on-topic ;-)). The result was a totally sitcking Kurta.
AARRGGHHH! Those people are EVIL!
Exactly. I did offer to repair the Kurta, but after I heard what had
happeend to it, I pointed out it would ahve to be totally stripped and
cleanerd, and even at my low rates, that might well cost more than the
thing was worth. As far as I know, it's still in the same state...
Could you remove all glass from your SLR and then flood-clean it with
lighter fluid? Might save some dismantling...
Not really. The glass parts wil lcome off (interchangeable prism and
focussing screen), but it's acloth focal plane shutter, shich is not the
best thing to flood with lighter fluid. I'd also have to relubricate all
the bits that need oil anyway.
My expeirence is that flood-cleaning meter movements doesn't work eitehr.
It's odd,
but apart from some people on this list, I can't think of
any
source that recomends the use of WD40 on precision mechanisms. Every
book
on clock repair, camera repair, instrument repair, etc that I have
ever
read warns against it.
It comes up sometimes on the classic camera mailing lists I am a member
of. However there is always a flood of responses strongly advising
That does notp suprise me.
against it in no uncertain terms. Many precision
mechanisms are better
off unlubricated, e.g. shutters.
It's perhaps worth mentioningthat a lot of small gear trains, in
particualr clocks and watches, but also chutter times, etc, are supposed
to run with the teeth _dry_, no oil. Yes, you put a drop on each pivot,
but nowhre else.
Leaf shutter (and diaphragm) blades must be oil-free or they will stick
like crazy. But often the timing and control mechanisms do need _careful_
lubrication (by which I mean 1 drop of watch oil in the right place).
Something else to watch out for is keeping anything silicone-based away
from a camera. The silicone adsorbs to glass etc at a molecular level
and is absolutely impossible to remove. I expect that doesn't apply to
Now that I didn't realise (not that I normally use silicone lubricants),
thanks!
-tony