Using Surgical Spirit to Unstick M2 Shutter Button

[Daniel Schutte]

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So over the weekend a few drops of red bull were spilled on the top plate of my M2 (don't ask) - mainly on the right hand side, so the frame counter and shutter button were hit.

The day after I noticed that the aforementioned parts felt sticky - the shutter button particularly was returning to it's normal position more slowy after being depressed.

I didn't have any isopropyl alcohol on hand since it seems to be impossible to find in the UK, so I put a drop or two of denatured ethyl alcohol (surgical spirit, as it is called here) into the shutter button, then began to depress it repeatedly. This process was repeated 2 or 3 times.

It seems to have worked very well and the camera feels normal again, but I am scared that ethyl alcohol might have adverse effects on the camera. From what I've read, isopropyl alcohol (if anything) is what should be used, and I've even read that ethanol can react with brass to cause oxidation.

Is this something that I should be worried about, or am I overreacting?

[LocalHero1953]

I am half a chemist (geologist with environmental chemistry) and I have not heard of ethyl alcohol reacting with brass, and can't think why it would - I think you're OK on that front. I would be more concerned about the effect of such alcohol solvents (iso propyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol) on lubricants and shutter curtains. Since you say you used a drop or two, you might be fine. In your shoes I would be inclined to wait and see if any problems arise. Lubricants and shutter curtains can be replaced, but you would incur most of the cost of doing so by just doing the investigation now.

[wizard]

Red Bull contains a lot of sugar, and it is mostly that sugar which, once it solidifies, causes the sticking effects you have noticed. Etyl alcohol is a solvent, and while applying it to the affected areas may reduce the sticking effects somewhat, it will not remove the sugar from your camera. Rather, by doing what you have done you will further spread the sugar to other parts within your camera. Ultimately solving (🙂) your problem will require to remove the top cover of your M2 and clean the affected parts.

[250swb]

Surgical spirit can be either isopropyl alcohol or ethyl alcohol and if it's been diluted with water it's probably ideal because the stickiness is sugar and water dissolves sugar. There is the possibility that it could get sticky again in a few days if the sugar coalesces again. You could also have used vodka, this would have been my recommendation. As regards isopropyl alcohol you can buy it by the gallon (smaller amounts are available) on eBay and it's the sort thing all photographers should have.

[Mikep996]

If it's working normally now I'd just use the camera and not worry about it.  If it becomes "sticky" again, then proceed with some further cleaning which might require a more "invasive" approach.

 

[Daniel Schutte]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

LocalHero1953, it's good to know that the ethyl alcohol shouldn't have any adverse effects. I was extremely careful when applying it and the amounts were very small, so it shouldn't have gone anywhere near the shutter curtain. I didn't consider lubricants however - could the accidental removal of these cause any long term issues?

Fortunately, it has been my plan to send the camera for a service with Cameraworks, and they've said they can likely accept it in a month or two. Because of this, I am concerned only with things that can cause damage either immediately or within that timeframe.

250swb, I agree about isopropyl alcohol being something all photographers should have - I have some arriving from Amazon tomorrow - somehow they sell it despire Robert Dyas, Sainsbury's, Boot's and my local hardware store not doing so...

[LocalHero1953]

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If Cameraworks say they can accept it in a month or so, I would jump at it - they have been known for having a very long waiting list. If they give it a good CLA and check over for all the other glitches an old camera can be liable to (e.g. shutter speeds) then it should be good for a long and happy life thereafter.

Incidentally, your OP mentioned surgical spirit and denatured ethyl alcohol. These terms can cover a wide range of actual substances (and different ones in different countries). Unless formulated for scientific purposes it could be a mixture of methyl, ethyl and propyl alcohols, various impurities, and water. As has been pointed out, it's the water that may have shifted the Red Bull sugars, and vodka would have been as useful!

[Huss]

3 hours ago, Daniel Schutte said:

..

Fortunately, it has been my plan to send the camera for a service with Cameraworks, and they've said they can likely accept it in a month or two. Because of this, I am concerned only with things that can cause damage either immediately or within that timeframe.

..

Of course mention to them the Red Bull dousing.