Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/06/27
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> You seem to imply that the bubbling started after you visited the sulphur > mine. No thin plating is going to seal against highly corrosive substances. > Leica is right in that every time you expose the camera to high humidity, > and possible airborne salinity, it seeps into the bubbling areas and > reactivates the corrosion. After all, sulphur, salt and water is a great way > to make sulphuric acid. Possibly wiping the camera down with a damp cloth > after the exposure in the mine could have prevented the problem in the first > place. The M6 top plate is made of a zinc composite material that is, > unfortunately, highly susceptible to acid corrosion. You can either change > the top plate, leave it alone as a wonder of the camera world or break open > the bubbles and apply a neutralising agent such as what a body shops uses on > rust. > > John Collier > >> From: brice777@yahoo.com >> >> I have two black M6's and both top plates are corroding as manifested by >> tiny bubbles popping up (although not bursting) all over the place. >> >> Is it ironic that it gets worse every time i visit a tropical country? >> Additionally, on the trips I've made, I've visited a sulfur mine, where >> there was a tremendous amount of exposure to volcanic sulfur fumes... is >> this a possible culpurit? >> >> Any ideas what might be causing this? Any ideas how to stop the bubbling? >> >> Leica USA was stumped and blamed the humidity.... >> > I have found that wiping down the top/bottom plates on my M's periodically with lighter fluid removes any contaminates including the invisible acid from fingers. Just apply a small amount on some old underwear. Also it leaves a protective cover over the chrome or black paint and gives the camera a nice, new shiny look. If you do this every once in awhile bubbling is not likely to ever occur. Steve Annapolis