Camera Talk

Got myself one of these in minty condition from that famous auction site. These lenses receive good comments on the web and it looks great on my F-100. I did not yet have a chance to try it out though.
However, yesterday I noticed that the plastic distance scale window had popped upwards and could be lifted off the barrel completely : the black glue (?) did no longer hold it down and the curve of the window is different than that of the lens barrel, so it naturally wants to lift off.
What is the best type of glue to fix this please? It looks like the black stuff they use to glue a windshield to a car, but it may have been black double tape that turned to sticky goo.

First, Benny, you'll have to clean the old glue/tape off the lens barrel. Try not to get any solvent inside the barrel when you do this. Use something like an ear swab soaked in the solvent, starting with some isopropyl alcohol, and then maybe some lighter fluid. They sell a product here called Goo-Gone that might be the best to use in this situation. It seems to cut through adhesives nothing else will touch.

For re-attachment, you'll need something that will not craze the window. You also want something that will not out gas so much it settles on the lens elements, like any of the cyanoacrylic "Super Glues" will. I have used a product called Weldbond on things like view/rangefinder windows, and it works just fine.

Good luck!

PF

Thanks Phil. Those are great tips.
I will need to get me a tube or bottle of Weldbond from the auction site, since we do not have it over here.
I'm sure we have something similar available here, but one would need to be a glue scientist to figure out which product comes closest in that ridiculous number of different glue offerings. (there are almost as much different sorts of glue than there are yoghurt flavors !)
Is this the glue you mean?
http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/images/g/g ... s-l225.jpg

Bennybee wrote:Thanks Phil. Those are great tips.
I will need to get me a tube or bottle of Weldbond from the auction site, since we do not have it over here.
I'm sure we have something similar available here, but one would need to be a glue scientist to figure out which product comes closest in that ridiculous number of different glue offerings. (there are almost as much different sorts of glue than there are yoghurt flavors !)
Is this the glue you mean?
http://thumbs.ebaystatic.com/images/g/g ... s-l225.jpg

Not sure if they have different versions of Weldbond, but that's the brand I was talking about (the bottle shape and color is not the same as mine). I think the European equivalent is Pliobond. Anything that says it is safe for plastic, and is non-toxic should work, Benny.

PF

I just ordered a 5.4 fl oz. bottle of Weldbond from a UK seller on the auction site. It will be my first experience with that product, but I figured I can't go wrong for £10.58 and the fact sheet promises exactly what you said, Phil. Who knows, it might help solve many other little problems in the camera cabinet too, and inside some of the vintage audio gear that I have. That nasty cyonoacrylic stuff is indeed good for nothing and after opening the tube twice it turns into a solid piece of horror that ends up in the dust bin.

The bottle of Weldbond has arrived ! Ready to tackle the repair job. Here are a few pictures.