My old cameras are sticky (Page 2): They were obviously stored in a high heat area.

leftj Loc: Texas

Adam Selene wrote:

Hi! I have a Nikon N80 and an F80 that have lived in a tamrac bag for years. I just took them out and the backs and sides (the pleather parts) are sticky. I tried cleaning them with windex and then with alcohol. still sticky! any suggestions to unsticky them?

They were obviously stored in a high heat area.

lsimpkins Loc: SE Pennsylvania

leftj wrote:

They were obviously stored in a high heat area.

Not necessarily true. I have binoculars that have the same problem and they live on a chest level shelf in my family room. And we do use our air conditioning.

leftj Loc: Texas

lsimpkins wrote:

Not necessarily true. I have binoculars that have the same problem and they live on a chest level shelf in my family room. And we do use our air conditioning.

Still betting I’m right.

peterg Loc: Santa Rosa, CA

The Villages wrote:

WD40 seems to do a lot of similar types of activities.

WD-40 is a much better solvent than a lubricant. Put some on a cloth and gently rub. It may take lots of rubbing. Don't hurry. Don't spray on camera.

SoftLights Loc: New Orleans, LA

I have a D70 I bought new shortly after they came out and I've tried pretty much everything mentioned with limited results. The strange thing is it didn't start to get like that until long after I'd replaced it with a D200. I loaned it to my grand daughter who complained about it and I told her it was a safety feature to avoid it slipping out of her hand. It's been on a shelf in a small closet off of my office where the temp is usually 74-80 degrees. The horn button/air bag module on my 2012 Avalanche is also gummy and sticky just like the camera so apparently it's made from a similar material. Of course it is in the heat a lot but only started showing signs of sticky this summer.

Duane Hanley Loc: Milwaukee Wisconsin

I have film cameras that go back to the late 1800's and I never had any problems like that. I bought and sold tens of thousands of cameras when I worked as a used equipment purchaser and I never had to deal with your problem. Could it be the atmosphere in how it was stored. High heat and humidity?

Ava'sPapa Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

I had the same problem with my N70 years ago. I don't recall where I got the info but I've still got the solution that I successfully used to remove the "stickiness". It's called "All Purpose Cleaner and Degreaser by Zip". I'd be willing to bet that this will do the trick for you. You'll be amazed. My N70 was (and still is) like brand new. Let me know how it worked out for you. This stuff's like magic !!

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

carl hervol wrote:

the big problem is you keep them in a camera bag and they get no air circulation this brake down the rubber I keep my cameras on a bed with a towel over then

I keep mine in bed with me. LOL Kidding....

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

About the only thing you can do is have them replaced if the camera is not obsolete. Even if you get the stickiness off, it will come back.

ephraim Imperio

Adam Selene wrote:

Hi! I have a Nikon N80 and an F80 that have lived in a tamrac bag for years. I just took them out and the backs and sides (the pleather parts) are sticky. I tried cleaning them with windex and then with alcohol. still sticky! any suggestions to unsticky them?

The best product so far that i have used is the 303 AEROSPACE PROTECTANT.

Tea8 Loc: Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.

pwrxprt wrote:

Have you tried "Goo Gone"? I've not used it on my camera, but I have on other things and it does take away the stick feeling. I hope it works.

This was my first thought of something to try as well. Somethings though, if too far gone, I'm not sure that you'll ever be able to get all of the sticky feeling to go away. But it's worth a shot to just keep cleaning away at with the Goo Gone and alcohol and see if it works.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Personally, if I had that issue, I'd contact Nikon, as opposed to the many suggestions you'll likely get here.
--Bob

Adam Selene wrote:

Hi! I have a Nikon N80 and an F80 that have lived in a tamrac bag for years. I just took them out and the backs and sides (the pleather parts) are sticky. I tried cleaning them with windex and then with alcohol. still sticky! any suggestions to unsticky them?

Ava'sPapa Loc: Cheshire, Ct.

jeep_daddy wrote:

About the only thing you can do is have them replaced if the camera is not obsolete. Even if you get the stickiness off, it will come back.

All of the info here is moot. I cleaned my N70 years ago and the "stickiness" NEVER returned. You don't know me and have no reason to believe me but THIS STUFF WORKS!! It doesn't really matter where or when it gets sticky...It just does and this WILL remove it. Once again..."ZEP All Purpose Cleaner and Degreaser".

WayneL Loc: Baltimore Md

pwrxprt wrote:

Have you tried "Goo Gone"? I've not used it on my camera, but I have on other things and it does take away the stick feeling. I hope it works.

I used it and it worked

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

I noted the same thing with a camera that had a leather like surface and that had been stashed away in a closet for a long time. It looked like something had been growing on the camera - like mold. I rubbed a vinegar wettened rag on the camera then clear water. Rag came away looking junky.