Help with old camera smell
Dec 22, 2021 08:07:32 #
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.
Dec 22, 2021 08:11:07 #
could you spray the outside with some perfumed deodorant .on the other hand if suddenly the musty smell goes away , hello covid .
Dec 22, 2021 08:19:23 #
I don't know if this would help: http://stevensonridge.net/blog/removing-that-funky-mildew-smell-from-antiques/
Dec 22, 2021 08:26:27 #
leftj
Loc: 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.
I would try putting it some where in a fresh air environment and see if the musty smell dissipates.
Dec 22, 2021 08:34:25 #
leftj wrote:
I would try putting it some where in a fresh air environment and see if the musty smell dissipates.
Fresh air and sunshine?
Dec 22, 2021 08:51:48 #
Try putting it in a plastic bag with charcoal. The charcoal should absorb the smell. We used to do this with old cars.
Dave
Dave
Dec 22, 2021 08:53:32 #
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
Dave
Activated charcoal?
Dec 22, 2021 08:54:38 #
The musty odour is most likely mildew, a kind of mould (fungus) that is often found on old equipment.
There are various chemical cleaners that will clean and deodorize surfaces that have been contaminated with mildew. Here is a link to a company that specializes in those products:
https://www.achooallergy.com/cleaning-products/mold/allertechr-all-purpose-nas-12-cleaning-solution-2.html
There is another product that is obtainable at hardware stores called "Mold Control" that I have used successfully on old cameras. Just small about spearing applied and then whipped off with a clean damp rag and the carefully wiped dry will usually do the job.
Ordinary cleaners and deodorants will not work. They might temporarily mask the bad smell but it will come back.
Some years ago, I inherited a couple of dozen old cameras for the estate of an uncle who operated a studio established in 1922 and still had someof the original gear in storage. The wooden bodieses and leather coverings were the source of the bad odour. The aforementioned cleaners did the job surprisingly well.
There are various chemical cleaners that will clean and deodorize surfaces that have been contaminated with mildew. Here is a link to a company that specializes in those products:
https://www.achooallergy.com/cleaning-products/mold/allertechr-all-purpose-nas-12-cleaning-solution-2.html
There is another product that is obtainable at hardware stores called "Mold Control" that I have used successfully on old cameras. Just small about spearing applied and then whipped off with a clean damp rag and the carefully wiped dry will usually do the job.
Ordinary cleaners and deodorants will not work. They might temporarily mask the bad smell but it will come back.
Some years ago, I inherited a couple of dozen old cameras for the estate of an uncle who operated a studio established in 1922 and still had someof the original gear in storage. The wooden bodieses and leather coverings were the source of the bad odour. The aforementioned cleaners did the job surprisingly well.
Dec 22, 2021 08:57:17 #
Longshadow wrote:
Fresh air and sunshine?
That's what I'm about to try. Thanks!
Dec 22, 2021 09:00:10 #
E.L.. Shapiro wrote:
The musty odour is most likely mildew, a kind of m... (show quote)
I'll check these out. Thanks!
Dec 22, 2021 09:05:35 #
Dec 22, 2021 09:37:04 #
leftj
Loc: Texas
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
Dave
Where did you find a plastic bag big enough to fit a car in it?
Dec 22, 2021 09:40:19 #
At the big plastic bag store..lol
Just use the plastic bag trick with the camera.
Just use the plastic bag trick with the camera.
Dec 22, 2021 09:41:08 #
With the cars, we used to put the charcoal in the car and close all the windows.
Dec 22, 2021 10:02:17 #
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
Dave
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.
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