Log in

[Michalis_dk]

Recently I bough an Isolette III in 'like new' condition but both the rangefinder and lens needed attention. The rangefinder is clean and accurate now but I have problems with a stuck front set of the Solinar. I have tried warming it up and dissolving

[Rick_oleson]

i don't think acetone is as effective as lighter fluid - probably because it evaporates too fast.  what has worked for me is to get the threads as wet as possible with lighter fluid and then grip the front cell with pliers and apply slow, firm, stea

[Reiner]

Some days ago I unscrewed a completely froozen front cell of an Isolette by warming it up in a baking oven. I have unmounted the lens and shutter combination from the bellows and placed the combination in the oven. The oven was still quite warm after use

[Michalis_dk]

Thank you both for your advice. I tried warming it up with a hairdryer because it has helped with an Apotar but Solinar has en fourth element...  
 
Rick are you sure about using pliers? The front element has a quite thin 'frame' and I'm afraid

[Rick_oleson]

on the one that i had, the visible part was removable first so that you just had the cell itself to deal with.  it might not have been a solinar.
 
lighter fluid evaporates faster than acetone?  what kind of lighter fluid are you using, butane?

[Reiner]

I have looked it up. The boiling point of octane - the main component of lighter fluid - is 126?C. The boiling point of acetone is 56?C. Shame on me!
 
But I still can't believe that the boiling point of lighter fluid should be higher than that of

[Mel]

A Warning:  Many years ago I warped the blades of a shutter,  The blades were plastic, not metal.  I  think I used acetone or MEK.  The camera was an Ansco 120 folder.
  Mel

[Rick_oleson]

that's the reason for using lighter fluid.  it doesn't attack any plastics that i've ever been able to try it on

[Reborn]

I used a rubber band to remove the front element of my Solinar after using lighter fluid and it went off quite easily

[Michalis_dk]

Warming it up worked in this case BUT I still managed to destroy the lens. Squeezed too much the ring holding the second element which cracked. Stupid stupid stupid!  
I guess I'll be looking for a new front cell...