Log in

[Edsprake]

Apologies if this is a somewhat newbie question, I've just come into possesion of a few very well used vintage cameras and was after some first time advice.  
 
The Retina version 118 I have has clearly been very well used indeed and the spring pl

[Glenn]

Most of the pressure plates I have come across are not painted, they are blackened by some form of chemical process - adonising if alloy or chemical blacking if steel. If yours is steel just go and buy a small tube of gun blue/black from a gunsmith - if

[Edsprake]

That sounds good, I shall have a search.  
 
I was suggested by one of the engineers at work to take the pressure place back to metal then do a couple of thin coats of matt black paint followed by lapping paper to ensure a smooth coat, not sure th

[Glenn]

If the plate is alloy there are small home anodising (fingers hit keys in correct order this time!) kits available, but the dying process might be beyond kitchen sink chemistry. Still it may be worth a search online, the dying of a clear anodised surf

[Hollenbj]

I'm following this thread with anticipation.  I too have worn film pressure plates.  
 
I've seen the results of gun bluing and it's not terribly black.  Probably enough for our purpose, but the original plates are definitely black.
 
I

[Edsprake]

I was in the shop that I get my film processed by yesterday and was chatting to one of the guys who's been doing this for years, and apparently a worn pressure plate would have caused more problems back in the 30's than it would now as current film

[Finnegan]

I like the strip it to bare metal and repaint idea. The black on these Retinas look like paint to me.

[Fallisphoto]

Well, if it's paint, I'd use epoxy paint. Epoxy paint doesn't require baking to harden it, like enamel does and it dries really hard. You need to be careful though, and don't make mistakes, because once epoxy paint dries, the only way

[Mr_flibble]

Ed, you're right, most films these days have anti-halation layers that prevent/reduce light from passing through the base layer and reflecting off the film pressure plate.  
 
Lucky film is one with a poor anti-halation layer, the result is bl