Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/04/10
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]SNIP -- Mark E Davison wrote: I recently reported a problem with new M6 bodies scratching film. Here are some details of my experiments which might help clarify things. 1. The scratches I witnessed were almost undoubtedly due to the abrasive film pressure plate. SNIP -- Mark, Have you considered a non-abrasive paint cleaner, as Special Touch made by One Grand, Van Nuys, CA, or Klasse from Germany (Heavy duty non-abrasive cleaner). Both of my M6 have film in them at the moment, but my recollection is the pressure plate is a satin black paint. It sounds as if you are going to send the body in for repair (if it is a Passport repair, I would not read further or try the following suggestion), so you have little to lose if the pressure plate is the part that you are going to replace. Using an old but clean t-shirt double over (two thicknesses of material) with just a drop of non-abrasive cleaner (DON'T use much, more is not better), I would very very lightly polish (with the cleaner) out the areas on the pressure plate where you saw the debris. The cleaner should be applied parallel to the film track, and not in circles. Patience is a virtue here. You should have the body on a table, and appropriately pad under the flip up back (with the pressure plate up) and working surface so that you are not putting pressure on the hinge, or excessive pressure on the plate. You should cover the body opening with a food plastic wrap so no lint or cleaner migrates into the body cavity. Usually with a doubled over old thin t-shirt and cleaner you can feel sharp edges or dimples in a paint. If it is a "spike" in the metal itself from embossing you will feel it. All you are trying to do is to gently round those sharp edges or dimples. After several applications, wipe with another clean cloth with just a drop (more is not better) of isopropyl alcohol to clean any residue and to dull to satin again. Let air for an half hour or so before using. After I finish the film in one of my M6 (probably tomorrow), I will look and confirm that the pressure plate is a baked on satin paint and amendable to cleaning in the fashion I have described. Best of Light, Bill Caldwell Northern Virginia <sneeker@erols.com>