Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 

Reply
Show Printable Version Search this Thread
02-24-2019, 04:34 AM - 1 Like   #1
Veteran Member
Astro-Baby's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Reigate, Surrey
Posts: 764
Olive Oil and old cameras CAN mix.......

I picked up an old Chinon CE5 recently. Camera was stated as working (and it was) but its plastic body skins were not as good as I had hoped. The leatherette seemed to be suffering a tad and the plastic top and base were looking a lot worse for wear. Initially I used a small amount if IPA cut down with water and strangely it reacted really badly with the plastic - started taking the dye out off the plastic if you can believe that. Luckily I tested a small area first on the base of the camera. Could have been a disaster there.

Anyway I was looking for something too restore the plastic and give it a shine and also to restore its somewhat tatty leatherette. I did a fair amount of web reading and came across a tip that using olive oil can help restore plastic and heal UV damage. I was a bit sceptical but my mum used to have a great faith in olive oil for all kinds of things so thought I may as well give it a try.

The technique is USE SPARINGLY (like VERY sparingly). A tiny blob of Olive Oil on a paper kitchen towel. Rub onto the surface and massage in slowly. Leave the oil in place for about 5 minutes and then wipe clean with a lint free cloth. A light going over with a cloth dampened with some washing up liquid and water if the lint free dry cloth isn't getting a good effect. Hola - miracle of miracles it worked and the ancient Chinon came up looking really nice. The original faded plastic restored a bit but the leatherette came up like new. Obviously maximum care because you don't usually want oil anywhere near a camera but working slowly in sections with tiny amounts of the olive oil really did produce a good result.

Pic of the camera after the OO treatment here....

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/attachments/8-pentax-film-slr-discussion...-caroline-.jpg

02-24-2019, 04:39 AM   #2
PJ1
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
PJ1's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Toowoomba, Australia
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 5,469
Nice job. Hopefully that oil will not "migrate".
02-24-2019, 04:49 AM - 3 Likes   #3
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
ffking's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Old South Wales
Posts: 6,029
Getting into the swing of the thread title, my first thought was that your initial cleaning attempt was with India Pale Ale
02-24-2019, 10:28 AM   #4
Pentaxian
womble's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Hertfordshire
Photos: Gallery
Posts: 4,324
I thought it was a cartoon character using a Pentax... 🤭

02-24-2019, 01:19 PM   #5
Otis Memorial Pentaxian
stevebrot's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Vancouver (USA)
Photos: Gallery | Albums
Posts: 42,007
QuoteOriginally posted by ffking Quote
Getting into the swing of the thread title, my first thought was that your initial cleaning attempt was with India Pale Ale
Me too...it took Google to convince me it might mean IsoPropyl Alcohol. FWIW, I use dish detergent (dilute) for external camera cleaning and resort to isopropanol only when the camera has tough tobacco varnish.


Steve
02-24-2019, 05:32 PM - 2 Likes   #6
Otis Memorial Pentaxian
Otis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis FanOtis Fan
Loyal Site Supporter
clackers's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Melbourne
Photos: Albums
Posts: 16,394
QuoteOriginally posted by ffking Quote
Getting into the swing of the thread title, my first thought was that your initial cleaning attempt was with India Pale Ale
Wouldn't work for me, bottles of IPA around my place are always empty.
02-25-2019, 12:50 AM - 1 Like   #7
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
ffking's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Old South Wales
Posts: 6,029
QuoteOriginally posted by clackers Quote
Wouldn't work for me, bottles of IPA around my place are always empty.
I've struggled with that phenomenon myself - someday I'm going to sit down and work out what's happening, but my head always seems to be a bit fuzzy when I notice the empty bottles.

02-27-2019, 08:20 AM   #8
Loyal Site Supporter
Loyal Site Supporter
tonyzoc's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 983
I've used a product called Venetian cream...a shoe polish actually...that I got from Micro-Tools many years ago. It's great on real leather covering...recolors those nics nicely and polishes nice to a nice shine...great on shoes too.

Reply

Bookmarks
  • Submit Thread to Facebook Facebook
  • Submit Thread to Twitter Twitter
  • Submit Thread to Digg Digg
Tags - Make this thread easier to find by adding keywords to it!
amount, base, bit, camera, chinon, cloth, leatherette, lint, oil, plastic
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Nature Nice mix of Yellow,Gold and Green. Tonytee Post Your Photos! 4 06-28-2018 07:45 AM
Cityscape Ex Olive Oil... Now Flowerpots Kerrowdown Post Your Photos! 6 12-05-2017 09:36 AM
Cameras cameras cameras Lurch Pentax DSLR Discussion 16 04-14-2013 02:54 AM
Oil Crisis? What Oil Crises? benjikan General Talk 41 07-22-2008 06:30 AM
Can you mix Sigma and Pentax flashes for wireless?? dudlew Flashes, Lighting, and Studio 5 10-02-2007 04:02 PM



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:13 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top