Camera Talk

Hi all,

Any idea (not by force) to unglue this? It's the prism/rangefinder of a Super Ikonta BX. Not Xilene, I can't with the smell.



Thank you in advance,
Alex

I'd try modetrate heat

Maybe heat slowly in water, up to about 50 C, and try to move it out (do not touch the glass with something cold when trying to move it).

If heat does not unglue it, you will have to try smelly solvents. The glass is in a metal frame, I gather. Acetone could do it (ladies' nail lacquer solvent) but the paint could also come off.

Heat will undo the Canada Balsam. Preferably in a water bath like Julio suggests. You'll need to remove all of it, and get some new cement that is cured with UV light. You might want to mark the edges so the alignment will be correct on reassembly, something like a scratch line.

PF

Hi all,

This camera it's finished, client did the tests and he has back a Super Ikonta 533/16 with a clear viewfinder with a perfect rangefinder.
About ungluing, 1 hour inside a jar with water at 180 degrees were enough to unglue it.

Full pictorial:
https://flic.kr/s/aHskQZxP8F

Now I have a Super Ikonta 532/16 and a prism from a 531/2, I will try to match them and make the rangefinder work again
Thank you, all, for the advices.
Alex

You're welcome, Alex. I saw the photos of the repair on Flickr, and you did a really good job.

PF