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Photo Forum / Film Photography / Large Format / June 2004

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Copal Shutters, Need Lubrication?

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Heinz Grau - 24 Jun 2004 17:11 GMT
Does a Copal Press 1 shutter need lubrication? I know that some photographic
shutters are designed to run dry, but I don't know if this is the case with
Copals. I cleaned one of my shutters which got stuck at the longer times
with a solvent. Now it works perfectly, but I am afraid it will wear out
early if it is dry. If any, what kind of oil would I need to lubricate it?

Thank you

Heinz
Richard Knoppow - 24 Jun 2004 17:38 GMT
> Does a Copal Press 1 shutter need lubrication? I know that some photographic
> shutters are designed to run dry, but I don't know if this is the case with
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Heinz

  There is not much lubrication used on most shutters.
Mostly a very small amount of fine oil, like watch oil, used
on the bearings of the gears in the speed regulator
escapement. In the USA one can get suitable synthetic
(silicon) oil at hobby shops that model railroad materials.
Another oil is Nyoil, a Google search will find it. The oil
is applied with a bit of wire or a very fine brush. Some
sliding parts, mostly speed adjusting rings, etc, sometimes
are lubricated with light silicon grease. If the shutter is
on speed without lubricant I would leave it that way.
  Silicon lubricants have the properties of not wandering,
operating over very large temperature ranges, and not
thickening up with time. All lubricants tend to trap dust
over time.
  Never use powdered graphite in a shutter and never
lubricate shutter blades.

Signature

---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dickburk@ix.netcom.com

Nicholas O. Lindan - 24 Jun 2004 21:43 GMT
> "Heinz Grau" <phtx@bluemail.ch> wrote
> > Does a Copal Press 1 shutter need lubrication?

Not if you use it as an amateur.  It will probably last longer
without: then it wont's jam up and need cleaning again.  If
you fix anything enough times you will break it.

> > If any, what kind of oil would I need to lubricate it?

As Richard suggests, 'Nyes' is the place to go.  They
have a web site.

> Silicon lubricants have the properties of not wandering

Some don't.  Most do, and all 'retail' ones do as they
'penetrate'.  And they will also thicken because they
have a volatile component, allowing them to penetrate,
and that will eventually evaporate.

The ones that don't wander or thicken are the lubes and
greases made for operating in high-vacuum/high-temperature
environments.  Again, Nyes and Corning are the sites to
go to for more info.

> Never lubricate shutter [and aperture] blades

I wish someone would tell Nikon.  They seem to have an 'Auto-Lube'
feature in their 35mm lenses.

Signature

Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Consulting Engineer:  Electronics; Informatics; Photonics.
Remove spaces etc. to reply: n o lindan at net com dot com
psst.. want to buy an f-stop timer? nolindan.com/da/fstop/

Heinz Grau - 25 Jun 2004 16:32 GMT
Thank you, Richard and Nicholas,
so I will leave it as it is, it is doing very well on speed and sounds very
much like a new one. I think the former owner lubricated it with an
unsuitable oil, now that this is washed out, it works o.k..

> > "Heinz Grau" <phtx@bluemail.ch> wrote
> > > Does a Copal Press 1 shutter need lubrication?
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> Remove spaces etc. to reply: n o lindan at net com dot com
> psst.. want to buy an f-stop timer? nolindan.com/da/fstop/
 
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