Dannybuoy Posted May 11, 2011 Share #1  Posted May 11, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) So I've been fancying a black dot on my M9 for some time now but didn't really want to have to try and get a black replacement. I decided to have a bash at painting the thing myself. The results are actually pretty good. Not factory good but you have to look very close to tell that.  Here's how I did it:  Step 1: I masked the dot with a 1" square piece of Safmat, which is a self adhesive film that designers used back in the days of Omnicrom machines. This film is removable but has a good tack to it. It's also very easy to cut with a scalpel blade. After all it was meant to be as it was used by designers wanting to cut out very small point size type to be applied to surfaces. I have a few sheets left from my days at Uni all those years ago...  I carefully, with a brand new blade cut around the red dot and removed the circle I'd cut out.  Step 2: I placed the whole camera in a plastic bag and secured it in place. Then I cut a square out of the bag over the dot and very carefully sellotaped around the dot making sure to seal the bag to the safmat but not overlap onto the dot area. Now I had a camera in a bag with just the red dot exposed to air.. you can guess what comes next...  Step 3: I placed the camera on some cardboard and gently sprayed with rich black satin finish spraypaint. I did this several times letting it set before applying the next coat. I also did my shutter release screw on button at the same time!  I made sure to spray from 4 directions so as to cover every edge of the logo.  Step 4: I let it dry for a few minutes then tool it out of the bag. I then took a new scalpel blade and very, very carefully scraped off the paint from the raised lettering (I used the flat edge of the blade and not the tip. It came off very cleanly as the paint was still a very tiny bit soft. It's probably best to do it when it's still setting as if it was completely dry and brittle it might have flaked off more of the paint.  Step 5: I let it dry for a while longer then gently removed the safmat mask. it came of cleanly and left no adhesive residue (the joy of safmat!).  Step 6: Sat back, lit a pipe and enjoyed my handy work! ;-)  It looks great, totally changes the look of the camera. I'm quite tempted to do the same thing to the white M9 characters too. Will see how I feel over the next few days. I have no idea how durable the paint will be, but it was a very easy and in expensive way to achieve a black dot. I imagine the paint can also be easily removed with some white spirit and a q-tip if I change my mind.  Here's some photos so you can see the results. Shame about the two nasty scratches on the body above the dot! Oh well, war wounds are to be expected! Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/151496-m9-with-diy-black-dot-i-had-a-go/?do=findComment&comment=1669457'>More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 11, 2011 Posted May 11, 2011 Hi Dannybuoy, Take a look here M9 with DIY black dot - I had a go. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
tdtaylor Posted May 11, 2011 Share #2 Â Posted May 11, 2011 Did a similar thing, but used an extra leica logo I had. After spraying, took some rigid "q-tip" like pads and thinner I had on hand and took the paint off the lettering. In all took ten minutes. Not that it matters, but it did change the look of the camera, surprisingly so. Sometimes it is fun to do things just for the sake of fun. Â And the pictures are so much better Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 11, 2011 Share #3 Â Posted May 11, 2011 Very nice I'm sure. But why didn't you simply slip off the dot to spray it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannybuoy Posted May 11, 2011 Author Share #4 Â Posted May 11, 2011 Very nice I'm sure. But why didn't you simply slip off the dot to spray it? Â I tried for ages. The bloody thing wouldn't come off. It rotated about 20 degrees but just wouldnt come out. That was my only option! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdtaylor Posted May 11, 2011 Share #5 Â Posted May 11, 2011 For those that are trying to remove the dot, patently keep your finger on the dot for 20 minutes or so to soften up the adhesive tape, then twist with steady pressure. With patience, it will come off. Many have tried toothpicks and other similar devices to help with twisting it off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peyton Hoge Posted May 12, 2011 Share #6 Â Posted May 12, 2011 Maybe you could use the camera as a door stop! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Valdemar Posted May 12, 2011 Share #7 Â Posted May 12, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have a one year old girl and a three year boy old at an age when most sensible people are retired and on a pension. Â I wish I had time for these types of monkeyshines. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdtaylor Posted May 12, 2011 Share #8 Â Posted May 12, 2011 I have a two girls, a junior in college and a junior in high school- just starting to have time Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
menos I M6 Posted May 12, 2011 Share #9 Â Posted May 12, 2011 Uh no, another thing, to look after, when searching a second hand M9: - sensor ok? - Lightroom activated? - how many spare batteries included? - shutter actuations? - no. of attempted paint jobs? Â Dannybuoy, nice, you do handy work, it's most important, you like it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannybuoy Posted May 12, 2011 Author Share #10 Â Posted May 12, 2011 Uh no, another thing, to look after, when searching a second hand M9:- sensor ok? - Lightroom activated? - how many spare batteries included? - shutter actuations? - no. of attempted paint jobs? Â Dannybuoy, nice, you do handy work, it's most important, you like it. Â Yep, I do like it thanks! Thanks for your concerns. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Washington Posted May 14, 2011 Share #11 Â Posted May 14, 2011 jappv, That's just how I scratched my camera.... the damn dot was loose enough to rotate, but I just could not lift it. So, I used a thin blade to grab an edge... and slipped. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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