Re: Vulcanite: [Leica] Friday FS: Nickel + Dime

["Mike Durling" <durling@widomaker.com>]

I use a black epoxy for small vulcanite patches.  The material I use is
actually steel filled.  I don't care about the steel but the color is right.

You are correct, texture is the biggest problem.  Basically it looks good
from a distance and helps prevent further cracks.

I think on my M4 the major cause of vulcanite failure is that the glue has
dried up and no longer holds the fragile vulcanite on the body.  My older
Leicas don't have as much problem with chipping.

Mike D

- ----- Original Message -----
From: "Dante A Stella" <dante@umich.edu>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Friday, November 24, 2000 12:57 PM
Subject: Re: Vulcanite: [Leica] Friday FS: Nickel + Dime


>
> My apprehension about Vulcanite would not exactly be allayed by switching
for
> another with it intact, since mine was intact when I got it.  The basic
problem
> is that any rubber compound will dry out in 41 years, and thermal stress
only
> exacerbates the problem.  I will give it one more whirl with a patch (it
is a
> small chip but disconcerting, since I'm sure more will come).  I think
> ultimately, forking over a hundred bucks to Leica's Canada repair facility
will
> be cheaper than therapy.
>
> It was a poor choice of material - but Leitz was not alone.  Konica made
their
> Model I with Vulcanite and it is a chronic problem on that camera, too.
>
> Has anyone used a vinyl-patching compound (with the color matching, heat
cure and
> texturization)?  I saw that today - the biggest challenge is getting the
right
> texture but it looks like the right idea.
>
>
>
> john wrote:
>
> > Dante A Stella wrote:
> > >
> > > Well, I think we're on the way to funding a recovering for my M3,
whose
> > > Vulkanite is not reacting well to the cold and dry weather.
> > >
> > My local repairman tells me the cheapest and easiest way to recover you
m3 is
> > to find another m3 basket case but with good vulconite and swap body
shells.
> > No messy removal and no problem with cracking the valconite fitting it
to the
> > camera. It is also the right vintage.  My repairman and I suspect other
repair
> > persons have many boby shells from non repairable cameras. YOu might
want to
> > check it out
> >
> > John Shick
>
>