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     Aphototaker Tinkerer Username: Aphototaker Post Number: 80 Registered: 12-2009 Rating: N/A |
Regarding the mirror foam, I have for now replaced the deteriorated one with foam commonly available from arts & crafts store. However, since I am not sure about the age of any foam, I have been playing around with an idea of replacing that. I am thinking of replacing the mirror damper foam in my FTb with felt or Velour (or Veleur?). The mirror damper needs to be 2~3mm thick and around 2mm deep and as long as the forward edge of the mirror, let us call that W. So, cut a strip of velvet around 4mm x W. Turn it to make loop W wide and 2mm thick. The loop's thickness should be what is required as a thickness of the foam. The loop can be secured by sewing the edges where they meet or using glue. Next, glue that pipe of velvet, which is W wide, in place of the mirror damper foam. Now, if the thickness is not sufficient, once can 'fill' the pipe using a W wide strip of felt. Basically, wrap a W x 1.5~2mm strip of felt with velvet and this 'pipe' gives you your mirror damper foam. All these materials are easily available from any arts and crafts store. Very economical. And besides, the kits that so many people keep mentioning, repair only one single camera for $10. In the same cost using wool yarn, felt and velvet (or even foam), several dozens of cameras can be replaced. But the most important point, however, is that the fabrics have the other extremely beneficial property that they do not degrade with time as foam does! Now, if only I can get some idea how long is the usual foam expected to last, we can do a more specific comparison regarding the ages. |