[Leica] Re: Tatty vulcanite

[ricc at mindspring.com (Ric Carter)]

Hey Larry--

How about a photo of what it looks like in place?

Thanks

Ric Carter
http://gallery.leica-users.org/Passing-Fancies

On Aug 23, 2006, at 12:01 PM, Lawrence Zeitlin wrote:

>
> On Aug 23, 2006, at 8:14 AM, Hoppy wrote:
>
>> DS M3 vintage body, functional, but the vulcanite's looking tatty
>
>
> RECOVERING A LEICA
>
> Vulcanite is Leica's cruel joke on Leicaholics. It becomes brittle  
> with age and flakes off at the slightest excuse. Even Leica has  
> abandoned Vulcanite on new cameras, substituting a textured PVC  
> covering.
>
> I have recovered several user LTM cameras, an M3, and an Olympus  
> OM1 with 3M Safety Walk Nonskid Tape and have found it to be  
> significantly better in appearance and handling ease than the  
> original aged and battered Vulcanite. The nonskid tape is a  
> resilient textured rubberlike material sold in hardware stores for  
> $1.99/ft. in a 2" width. It comes in black, grey, and white colors  
> with an adhesive back. The 2" width is perfect for Leica bodies. I  
> wouldn't recover a valuable collector quality Leica but it is just  
> the thing for a hard working user camera. You can also play around  
> with people's minds. I covered a IIIc in grey and panic fellow  
> Leica fans when they think I am taking a Luftwaffe model on hiking  
> trips in the Appalachians.
>
> The process is quite simple. Remove the cracked Vulcanite from the  
> camera. That's the easy part. Next make a paper cutting pattern for  
> the nonskid material. Be very precise in marking the position and  
> outline of the lens mounting flange, the strap lugs, and the  
> baseplate lug cutout. Indicate the exact position of the two shell  
> mounting screws and the slow speed dial on the LTM models. The  
> paper pattern should wrap around the body shell and be joined just  
> below the center of the lens mounting flange. When you are  
> satisfied that the pattern is as good as you can get it, cut the  
> nonskid material to the same shape using a sharp Exacto knife.  
> Since the 2" tape edges are perfectly straight, I have found it  
> easiest to use one side for the upper edge of the covering, the  
> part that fits next to the top plate. Use a leather punch to cut  
> precise holes for the strap mounting lugs and the shell mounting  
> screws.
>
> When the covering is cut to shape remove the backing paper and  
> align it to the camera. The sticky adhesive permits some movement  
> as long as it isn't pressed hard to the underlying surface. When  
> you are satisfied that the nonskid material is correctly  
> positioned, press it into full adhesion. The adhesive sticks pretty  
> well immediately and sets quite strong within 24 hours. Check to  
> see that the baseplate fits correctly. Slight corrections can be  
> made with a sharp razor blade. If you've made an unfixable error,  
> rip it off and try again. The stuff costs only about $2 per camera.
>
> When you are done you will have a Leica that looks as good as new  
> (at least the covering) and handles a lot better. True to its name,  
> the nonskid material permits a firm grip on the camera and absorbs  
> and cushions slight impact better than the factory covering. If you  
> hate Vulcanite and don't want to spend $100 on a custom cover give  
> this a try.
>
> Larry Z
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information