Splashed Coke on my K-5II

Neville · 04-06-2014, 09:13 PM

The other day I was walking around with my K-5II hanging around my neck and I decided to open a can of Coca-Cola.

Unfortunately there was some gas build up in the can so, when I opened the can, it spayed coke all over the place and some ended up on my camera.

My immediate reaction was "thank goodness my camera is water resistant", and I gave it a quick wipe with my shirt.

However, since then I have noticed that the on-off/shutter button is very difficult to rotate when switching the camera on or off, presumably due to some coke having congealed underneath the switch mechanism.

How can I fix the problem? I have tried using warm water on a cloth to try remove the gunge, but without much success. If I repeatedly switch the camera on and off, the switch loosens up and feels normal after a while, but it gets sticky later on again.

stevebrot · 04-06-2014, 09:35 PM

Originally posted by Neville

Splashed Coke on my K-5II

Oh no!!! I read on Facebook that Coke is used by the Navy to dissolve rust and grease from ancient ships. It will also dissolve stainless steel and cause hardening of the large gut.

Your K-5IIs is doomed!!!

You should have had a Pepsi...

Steve

(...sorry, I have no useful hints for extracting the ultimate in harmful liquids from your camera. I am soooo sorry

)

Bob from Aus · 04-06-2014, 09:41 PM

My wife sprayed my K5 with sprite and I didn't find out until the next day. The on off switch is still difficult to turn but nowhere near as bad as it was. By this time I found out the sugar had got into the electronics. The major issue at first was the white balance went haywire. This has come good most of the time. However under bright light conditions I need to under expose. Washing the camera with water made no difference to the hard to move switches. The camera is quite unreliable.

In my case my camera insurance coughed up for a new camera. The distributer said my camera was beyond repairing.

Adam · 04-06-2014, 09:46 PM

This might sound silly, but try giving your camera a gentle shower, then wipe it try. Any lingering water might help dissolve the sugar.

Adam
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Bob from Aus · 04-06-2014, 10:25 PM

Originally posted by Adam

This might sound silly, but try giving your camera a gentle shower, then wipe it try. Any lingering water might help dissolve the sugar.

I tried that with mine and didn't do any further damage.

carrrlangas · 04-06-2014, 10:56 PM

Originally posted by Adam

This might sound silly, but try giving your camera a gentle shower, then wipe it try. Any lingering water might help dissolve the sugar.

Remember to put a WR lens in front so that the mount is sealed..

Not a Number · 04-06-2014, 11:17 PM

Originally posted by stevebrot

You should have had a Pepsi...

Steve

(...sorry, I have no useful hints for extracting the ultimate in harmful liquids from your camera. I am soooo sorry

)

I don't know about that. Pepsi has a lower pH (more acidic) than Coca Cola. And I remember my Jr High School science teacher put some raw bacon in a beaker of Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola. The bacon "cooked" in the Pepsi. But then the formulas may have changed since the late 60s.

**Ex Finn.** · 04-07-2014, 03:07 AM - **3 Likes**

This worked on a sticky switch on my D-BG4.

You Tube

Neville · 04-07-2014, 10:39 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Ex Finn.

This worked on a sticky switch on my D-BG4.
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96NT7-pcFVY

Thank you for the tip. It seems to have fixed the problem!

zekewhipper · 04-11-2014, 09:46 PM

Oh good Lord no! Don't use water, as that can still get inside and cause corrosion! You should use some kind of high concentrate isopropyl alcohol or a gentle spritz of contact cleaner.

Not a Number · 04-12-2014, 08:22 AM

The K5ii is weather sealed. A rinse with water as shown should be no problem. Mounting a WR lens might be a good idea though. Alcohol can attack many resins (plastics), adhesives, paints/lacquer (used for lettering or coatings) and lubricants.

aleonx3 · 04-12-2014, 08:39 AM

Originally posted by zekewhipper

Oh good Lord no! Don't use water, as that can still get inside and cause corrosion! You should use some kind of high concentrate isopropyl alcohol or a gentle spritz of contact cleaner.

That would be the ideal solution if you have the Canikony camera... but for Pentax WR camera... the solution using luke warm water as demonstrated by Ex. Finn is better.

fgaudet · 04-12-2014, 09:07 AM

Sugared water is the worst... For anything, WR or not. The problem most people encounter when trying to clean sticky stuff is that they don't use enough liquid or they don't allow enough time for the gummy sludge to dissolve.

Pour one drop of coke on your counter, let it dry for a few days and then try to take it off, only with water, without scrubbing... It will take more than a few drops or a quick spray.

You probably gummed up your seal around the switch

*(I take no responsibility for what might happen to your K5ii if you do the following)* Like any DIY stuff, there is always the risk of making the matters worse or causing some damage. The camera is WR but not 100% water tight, stuff might leak in.

What I would do, I would put the camera upside down (shutter button facing down) and get some electrical contact cleaner/degreaser and spray around the on/off switch, play with it a couple times (with camera still upside down), spray again, play again, and repeat until happy. Last fall, my niece was playing with soap bubbles in the yard (with added corn syrup for enhanced resistance) and being a kid, ended up in the house, covering everything with a sticky soapy goop, this also included my K100D. Weeks later I decided to do some macro shots and my AF/MF switch would stick, upon inspection there was a sticky soapy residue in the switch area. Doing the exact clean up I described above (took probably 20-30 spray/play routine) it worked #1. The stuff wasn't nearly as sticky as a pop (*soda) residue would be but it may be worth a try. The K100D is not WR but it wasn't nearly as expensive as a K5ii and it was my 2nd backup so I didn't care much if I broke it. However, to this day my parents are still using it without any issue.

**TimR** · 04-12-2014, 09:27 AM

Neville, I am glad your camera is going to be okay. This is a very educational thread
with several good tips. Thanks

zekewhipper · 04-12-2014, 09:32 AM

WR means weather "resistant", which is not the same thing as weather "proof". Water can still get inside if the camera is exposed to it long enough, if the water is under high enough pressure, or through some leak path caused by seal damage or a contaminant.

As for the alcohol, yes, it can do some of those things if you use an excessive amount and work it in. However, if you use tiny amounst sparingly, then it can clean things well without causing corrosion or buildup due to the fact it evaporates.

04-12-2014, 08:22 AM	#11
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	The K5ii is weather sealed. A rinse with water as shown should be no problem. Mounting a WR lens might be a good idea though. Alcohol can attack many resins (plastics), adhesives, paints/lacquer (used for lettering or coatings) and lubricants. Last edited by Not a Number; 04-12-2014 at 08:28 AM.

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04-06-2014, 09:13 PM	#1
Neville Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Durban, South Africa Photos: Gallery Posts: 561	Splashed Coke on my K-5II The other day I was walking around with my K-5II hanging around my neck and I decided to open a can of Coca-Cola. Unfortunately there was some gas build up in the can so, when I opened the can, it spayed coke all over the place and some ended up on my camera. My immediate reaction was "thank goodness my camera is water resistant", and I gave it a quick wipe with my shirt. However, since then I have noticed that the on-off/shutter button is very difficult to rotate when switching the camera on or off, presumably due to some coke having congealed underneath the switch mechanism. How can I fix the problem? I have tried using warm water on a cloth to try remove the gunge, but without much success. If I repeatedly switch the camera on and off, the switch loosens up and feels normal after a while, but it gets sticky later on again.

04-06-2014, 09:35 PM	#2
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by Neville Splashed Coke on my K-5II Oh no!!! I read on Facebook that Coke is used by the Navy to dissolve rust and grease from ancient ships. It will also dissolve stainless steel and cause hardening of the large gut. Your K-5IIs is doomed!!! You should have had a Pepsi... Steve (...sorry, I have no useful hints for extracting the ultimate in harmful liquids from your camera. I am soooo sorry )

04-06-2014, 09:41 PM	#3
Bob from Aus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,094	My wife sprayed my K5 with sprite and I didn't find out until the next day. The on off switch is still difficult to turn but nowhere near as bad as it was. By this time I found out the sugar had got into the electronics. The major issue at first was the white balance went haywire. This has come good most of the time. However under bright light conditions I need to under expose. Washing the camera with water made no difference to the hard to move switches. The camera is quite unreliable. In my case my camera insurance coughed up for a new camera. The distributer said my camera was beyond repairing.

04-06-2014, 09:46 PM	#4
Adam Administrator Site Webmaster Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 51,609	This might sound silly, but try giving your camera a gentle shower, then wipe it try. Any lingering water might help dissolve the sugar. Adam PentaxForums.com Webmaster (Site Usage Guide \| Site Help \| My Photography) PentaxForums.com server and development costs are user-supported. You can help cover these costs by donating or purchasing one of our Pentax eBooks. Or, buy your photo gear from our affiliates, Adorama, B&H Photo, KEH, or Topaz Labs, and get FREE Marketplace access - click here to see how! Trusted Pentax retailers:

04-06-2014, 10:25 PM	#5
Bob from Aus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Australia Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,094	Originally posted by Adam This might sound silly, but try giving your camera a gentle shower, then wipe it try. Any lingering water might help dissolve the sugar. I tried that with mine and didn't do any further damage.

04-06-2014, 10:56 PM	#6
carrrlangas Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Joensuu (Finland) Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,761	Originally posted by Adam This might sound silly, but try giving your camera a gentle shower, then wipe it try. Any lingering water might help dissolve the sugar. Remember to put a WR lens in front so that the mount is sealed..

04-06-2014, 11:17 PM	#7
Not a Number Moderator Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Venice, CA Posts: 10,526	Originally posted by stevebrot You should have had a Pepsi... Steve (...sorry, I have no useful hints for extracting the ultimate in harmful liquids from your camera. I am soooo sorry ) I don't know about that. Pepsi has a lower pH (more acidic) than Coca Cola. And I remember my Jr High School science teacher put some raw bacon in a beaker of Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola. The bacon "cooked" in the Pepsi. But then the formulas may have changed since the late 60s.

04-07-2014, 10:39 AM - 2 Likes	#9
Neville Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Durban, South Africa Photos: Gallery Posts: 561 Original Poster	Originally posted by Ex Finn. This worked on a sticky switch on my D-BG4. http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96NT7-pcFVY Thank you for the tip. It seems to have fixed the problem!

04-11-2014, 09:46 PM	#10
zekewhipper Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 308	Oh good Lord no! Don't use water, as that can still get inside and cause corrosion! You should use some kind of high concentrate isopropyl alcohol or a gentle spritz of contact cleaner.

04-12-2014, 08:39 AM	#12
aleonx3 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brampton, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,996	Originally posted by zekewhipper Oh good Lord no! Don't use water, as that can still get inside and cause corrosion! You should use some kind of high concentrate isopropyl alcohol or a gentle spritz of contact cleaner. That would be the ideal solution if you have the Canikony camera... but for Pentax WR camera... the solution using luke warm water as demonstrated by Ex. Finn is better.

04-12-2014, 09:07 AM	#13
fgaudet Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 726	Sugared water is the worst... For anything, WR or not. The problem most people encounter when trying to clean sticky stuff is that they don't use enough liquid or they don't allow enough time for the gummy sludge to dissolve. Pour one drop of coke on your counter, let it dry for a few days and then try to take it off, only with water, without scrubbing... It will take more than a few drops or a quick spray. You probably gummed up your seal around the switch (I take no responsibility for what might happen to your K5ii if you do the following) Like any DIY stuff, there is always the risk of making the matters worse or causing some damage. The camera is WR but not 100% water tight, stuff might leak in. What I would do, I would put the camera upside down (shutter button facing down) and get some electrical contact cleaner/degreaser and spray around the on/off switch, play with it a couple times (with camera still upside down), spray again, play again, and repeat until happy. Last fall, my niece was playing with soap bubbles in the yard (with added corn syrup for enhanced resistance) and being a kid, ended up in the house, covering everything with a sticky soapy goop, this also included my K100D. Weeks later I decided to do some macro shots and my AF/MF switch would stick, upon inspection there was a sticky soapy residue in the switch area. Doing the exact clean up I described above (took probably 20-30 spray/play routine) it worked #1. The stuff wasn't nearly as sticky as a pop (*soda) residue would be but it may be worth a try. The K100D is not WR but it wasn't nearly as expensive as a K5ii and it was my 2nd backup so I didn't care much if I broke it. However, to this day my parents are still using it without any issue.

04-12-2014, 09:27 AM	#14
TimR Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Kansas Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 344	Neville, I am glad your camera is going to be okay. This is a very educational thread with several good tips. Thanks

04-12-2014, 09:32 AM	#15
zekewhipper Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Photos: Albums Posts: 308	WR means weather "resistant", which is not the same thing as weather "proof". Water can still get inside if the camera is exposed to it long enough, if the water is under high enough pressure, or through some leak path caused by seal damage or a contaminant. As for the alcohol, yes, it can do some of those things if you use an excessive amount and work it in. However, if you use tiny amounst sparingly, then it can clean things well without causing corrosion or buildup due to the fact it evaporates.