Help with old camera smell (Page 2): Ditto...

JeffDavidson Loc: Originally Detroit Now Los Angeles

Ditto

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

User ID wrote:

Yowza ... some huuuge plastic bags !

I’d just put the musty camera in an electric oven and set it to Self Clean mode. Twice through should do an exceptionally thorough job.

MDI Mainer

I have found unscented Febreze spray does in fact do a good job removing residual odors, including musty smells, but it will not remove the underlying cause of the odors if still active.

So I'd start with sunshine, and then try the Febreze spray if needed. If sunshine doesn't work I'd try a light spray of Lysol to kill the mold, then the Febreze.

Phil327 Loc: South Florida

I restored a few of the old Kodak AutoGraphic cameras. The outside had a leather covering. I used a product called Lexol. It is a leather conditioner. I also used it on the bellows to soften them up.

whatdat Loc: Del Valle, Tx.

leftj wrote:

Where did you find a plastic bag big enough to fit a car in it?

I was wondering the same thing. :-)

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

drharveys wrote:

I was gifted an old folding camera (Dacora II) that smells like a musty basement. The bellows appears to OK (no obvious holes or torn). I'm not planning on trying to use it but would like to clean it up and get rid of the moldy smell. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Put the camera is a box, open a box of Arm and Hammer baking soda, put it in a couple of bowls filled with Arm and Hammer and place them in the box with the camera, close the box up and seal it. Wait for a week, the more Arm and Hammer you use, the better.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

I'll add: A few hours (more or less) exsposed internal/external to UV-C light / exspose to fresh air and sunshine / and activated charcoal will all mitigate musty/moldy/fungui/smelly devices. I use these methods successfullly with old gear. Personally I stay away for chemical treatments - exception being alcohol for internal cleaning on lens glass and internal/external parts.

The UV-C light spectrum in sunshine and with UV-C light bulbs is a highly effective mold/fungus and virus killer, UV-C lights are used in air conditioning & heat systems/Poo & spa/drinking water treatment/hospitals/homes. etc. Very effective.

None of these methods will damage the equipment. Good luck with the effort!

DaveyDitzer Loc: Western PA

drharveys wrote:

I was gifted an old folding camera (Dacora II) that smells like a musty basement. The bellows appears to OK (no obvious holes or torn). I'm not planning on trying to use it but would like to clean it up and get rid of the moldy smell. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

keep it away from your other camera gear (mold?)

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

relie wrote:

Try putting it in a plastic bag with charcoal. The charcoal should absorb the smell. We used to do this with old cars.

Dave

It works!

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

DON'T SPRAY ANYTHING ON THE CAMERA.

A lot of stuff may damage it.

FastHorses Loc: The Bluegrass

You could try baking soda/water in a spray bottle. Get the camera wet, then scrub w/an old toothbrush. That should kill the mold.
Good luck

Barb

Timmers Loc: San Antonio Texas.

drharveys wrote:

I was gifted an old folding camera (Dacora II) that smells like a musty basement. The bellows appears to OK (no obvious holes or torn). I'm not planning on trying to use it but would like to clean it up and get rid of the moldy smell. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

If you contact an antique/used book seller they will tell you this, get rid of it, it will contaminate everything that it comes in contact with (that is air). Should you insist on keeping it, the only solution that I am awre of is to place it in a sealed container (plastic bin) that has a metal tin with ammonia to fume the object. It will work on certain types of mildew, but not all.

drharveys Loc: Holly Springs, NC

olemikey wrote:

I'll add: A few hours (more or less) exsposed inte... (show quote)

I found that sunlight and fresh outdoor air was effective in reducing smell. Next I'll try baking soda. Thanks so much!

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

drharveys wrote:

I was gifted an old folding camera (Dacora II) that smells like a musty basement. The bellows appears to OK (no obvious holes or torn). I'm not planning on trying to use it but would like to clean it up and get rid of the moldy smell. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Let it set outdoors in a dry stop with sun light directly on it. Rotate so every surface gets exposed to some UV light for a day or so.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

drharveys wrote:

I was gifted an old folding camera (Dacora II) that smells like a musty basement. The bellows appears to OK (no obvious holes or torn). I'm not planning on trying to use it but would like to clean it up and get rid of the moldy smell. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

A couple of old folders I acquired had that odor. Most of those old cameras had genuine leather covering. I got some leather cleaner and conditioner and used it to clean all the leather covered surfaces. It eliminated that odor and made the leather look great as well.

Stan