analogue pete Posted November 11, 2021 Share #581 Posted November 11, 2021 Advertisement (gone after registration) love the Leica shutter button detail. Where did you find it? 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 11, 2021 Posted November 11, 2021 Hi analogue pete, Take a look here I love my M4. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Erato Posted November 11, 2021 Share #582 Posted November 11, 2021 2 hours ago, analogue pete said: love the Leica shutter button detail. Where did you find it? Here you are...https://en.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-M/Technical-Equipment/Ergonomics/Soft-Release-Button Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
matted Posted February 23, 2022 Share #583 Posted February 23, 2022 Ordered a replacement skin for my trusty M4 from Aki-Asahi. Based on their instructions (use a toothpick... hah!) and the fact that the vulcanite is already coming off in places, I thought it would be easy to remove the existing covering, but holy guacamole, was I ever wrong. This stuff is STUBBORN! If I knew what I was getting into I probably would have just left it as is... I spent a few hours cutting it away with a sharp knife the other day until my hands cramped up, and was only about 15% finished. Am now slathering it with paint thinner (tip from Morgan of Camera Leather) every 15-20 minutes and am still not really getting anywhere. Not sure what my next move is, perhaps a Dremel? Seems like a recipe for disaster but it may come to that. Here are the "before" pictures: 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! 1 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/141350-i-love-my-m4/?do=findComment&comment=4389433'>More sharing options...
spydrxx Posted February 23, 2022 Share #584 Posted February 23, 2022 It shouldn't be that difficult. Just go slowly, use a flat bladed scraping knife like those found in xacto kits and the vulcanite should just pop off in smaller chips. I've done 5 cameras over the years and only the first one was a teaching experience. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
matted Posted February 24, 2022 Share #585 Posted February 24, 2022 5 hours ago, spydrxx said: It shouldn't be that difficult. Just go slowly, use a flat bladed scraping knife like those found in xacto kits and the vulcanite should just pop off in smaller chips. I've done 5 cameras over the years and only the first one was a teaching experience. Thanks. I know it “shouldn’t” be that hard, but for whatever reason, it is… the vulcanite came off in chips as you described close to the edges near the top and bottom plates, around the lens mount, self timer, etc, however all of the “inner” sections seem quite a bit stronger and welded to the body. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huss Posted February 24, 2022 Share #586 Posted February 24, 2022 (edited) 7 hours ago, matted said: Thanks. I know it “shouldn’t” be that hard, but for whatever reason, it is… the vulcanite came off in chips as you described close to the edges near the top and bottom plates, around the lens mount, self timer, etc, however all of the “inner” sections seem quite a bit stronger and welded to the body. It is very difficult. On my two M3s it only came off after I used extremely caustic paint stripper. NOT paint thinner! https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klean-Strip-1-qt-Premium-Paint-Remover-and-Stripper-QKPS301/307995061 You brush on the paint stripper, after about 10 minutes the vulcanite is all bubbly goo and it is easy to scrape off. Wear chemical resistant gloves. It does not damage the chrome, but it will remove any paint! So your black screw heads will now be bare metal on the body. Edited February 24, 2022 by Huss 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
matted Posted February 25, 2022 Share #587 Posted February 25, 2022 Advertisement (gone after registration) On 2/24/2022 at 2:29 AM, Huss said: It is very difficult. On my two M3s it only came off after I used extremely caustic paint stripper. NOT paint thinner! https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klean-Strip-1-qt-Premium-Paint-Remover-and-Stripper-QKPS301/307995061 You brush on the paint stripper, after about 10 minutes the vulcanite is all bubbly goo and it is easy to scrape off. Wear chemical resistant gloves. It does not damage the chrome, but it will remove any paint! So your black screw heads will now be bare metal on the body. Thanks! I didn’t realize the distinction between thinner and stripper. Unfortunately the stripper you linked does not seem to be available in Canada. The only paint strippers I can find here are of the gel variety… I imagine that would still be ok? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
matted Posted February 25, 2022 Share #588 Posted February 25, 2022 On 2/23/2022 at 1:53 PM, spydrxx said: It shouldn't be that difficult. Just go slowly, use a flat bladed scraping knife like those found in xacto kits and the vulcanite should just pop off in smaller chips. I've done 5 cameras over the years and only the first one was a teaching experience. I’m not sure if the paint thinner I used softened up the vulcanite a bit, but I switched up knives to one closer to what you’re describing and am making progress on the inner bits now. It is still not chipping and needs more force than I would like in places to scrape, but at least it feels doable now. 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! 1 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/141350-i-love-my-m4/?do=findComment&comment=4390478'>More sharing options...
a.noctilux Posted February 25, 2022 Share #589 Posted February 25, 2022 Very interesting topics, Sorry to say, for me not in right place, images are so ugly 🤢 Don't forget that this thread is " I love my M4 ", these last posts could be put in other places or new thread created. Benefit is if in future somebody needs to know how to replace vulcanite, the new thread will be found easier than in this "I love" thread 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted February 25, 2022 Share #590 Posted February 25, 2022 ‘Each man kills the one he loves’ was the song, no? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
matted Posted February 25, 2022 Share #591 Posted February 25, 2022 2 hours ago, a.noctilux said: Very interesting topics, Sorry to say, for me not in right place, images are so ugly 🤢 Don't forget that this thread is " I love my M4 ", these last posts could be put in other places or new thread created. Benefit is if in future somebody needs to know how to replace vulcanite, the new thread will be found easier than in this "I love" thread It is because I love it that I'm doing it, but fair point nonetheless. I wasn't necessarily posting it here for advice, but to show the story of my M4. It will make a good makeover display IMHO... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
otto.f Posted February 25, 2022 Share #592 Posted February 25, 2022 (edited) On 2/23/2022 at 5:54 PM, matted said: Ordered a replacement skin Is the vulcanite quite the same as the old skin? I mean do you leaf the old skin of the backdoor intact? Edited February 25, 2022 by otto.f Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capuccino-Muffin Posted February 25, 2022 Share #593 Posted February 25, 2022 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! 1 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/141350-i-love-my-m4/?do=findComment&comment=4390690'>More sharing options...
Kriehuber Posted February 25, 2022 Share #594 Posted February 25, 2022 4 minutes ago, Capuccino-Muffin said: 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! Love the Abrahamsson Shutter Speed Dial 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huss Posted February 26, 2022 Share #595 Posted February 26, 2022 13 hours ago, matted said: Thanks! I didn’t realize the distinction between thinner and stripper. Unfortunately the stripper you linked does not seem to be available in Canada. The only paint strippers I can find here are of the gel variety… I imagine that would still be ok? Yes, it's a thick gel. Coat it on, wait 10 minutes and the vulcanite has turned into goo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
matted Posted February 26, 2022 Share #596 Posted February 26, 2022 7 hours ago, otto.f said: Is the vulcanite quite the same as the old skin? I mean do you leaf the old skin of the backdoor intact? It is quite close, however the replacement is slightly more matte I think. I was going to leave the door but since I am going through all the trouble I am probably going to swap it out as well. I’ll take a picture of them side by side before I remove it. 37 minutes ago, Huss said: Yes, it's a thick gel. Coat it on, wait 10 minutes and the vulcanite has turned into goo. Thanks again. I made a lot of progress scraping today (right side totally clean and left side 50% done so I am just going to finish the job with the x-acto knives. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erato Posted March 7, 2022 Share #597 Posted March 7, 2022 🌿🍀 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! 6 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/141350-i-love-my-m4/?do=findComment&comment=4396304'>More sharing options...
Huss Posted March 7, 2022 Share #598 Posted March 7, 2022 11 hours ago, Erato said: 🌿🍀 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! Beautiful. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
3oob Posted March 26, 2022 Share #599 Posted March 26, 2022 M4 and 50 Summicron DR 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! 3 2 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/141350-i-love-my-m4/?do=findComment&comment=4407602'>More sharing options...
otto.f Posted March 27, 2022 Share #600 Posted March 27, 2022 13 hours ago, 3oob said: M4 Seems it has a new skin? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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