Re: [Leica] M4-P black chrome finish problems

[TTAbrahams@aol.com]

There is a caveat to the chemical stripping of a zinc M4P top-plate. If you 
use an acid bath, you will end up with a small pile of zinc in the bottom of 
the tank! Brass is easy to Dechroming, but the chemicals used are vile. The 
chrome comes off in one bath and the nickel flashcoat in another.
 I agree with Disfromage on the necessity to dismantle the camera.NEVER paint 
an assembled camera, it is very easy to have paintladen fumes drift into 
stuff like film-counters, viewfinders (and you thought that the old finder 
was dim, wait until you have seen one coated with black enamel) and 
lensmounts. Some of the parts of the M4P is made from alloy (film rewind 
crank, pre-selector lever and screw) and some of the bezels around the 
filmcounter, flash connectors etc. If you strip these with acid, they are 
GONE! Take the camera to a repair guy and have him disassemble it for you and 
then experiment, At least you will have the working parts left if something 
goes wrong. I have taken several M's apart (and managed to put most of them 
back together) and also painted several. If your M4P has the brass top-plate, 
no problem, once it is off the camera, have it stripped and then paint it 
whatever color you want. You can always remove the paint if it does not work 
out. I have a grey M2, a blue-grey M2, a purple M4, a green M1 - of course 
they all have matching Rapidwinders in the correct color! I also have an old, 
one of the 1st 1000 M4P's that I have owned since new and to say that it 
looks worn is an understatement, even the brass is starting to wear thin in 
places! Your easiest solution is to cover the camera with black tape and 
replace it as it peels off.
Tom A