I was cleaning shutter blades wrong for almost a year

I always used a cotton swab with a tiny bit of lighter fluid, thinking it was safe. Last month, a Leica M3 came in with shutter capping, and after my usual clean, the issue got worse. The customer brought it back, and I had to really look at it under my loupe. I saw a faint, greasy film on the blades I had never noticed before. Turns out the fluid I was using was leaving a residue that actually attracted more dust. Has anyone else run into a specific cleaner that works without leaving anything behind?

3 comments

3 Comments

patricialee24d ago

That lighter fluid trick is a common old-timer's tip, but you've hit on its big flaw. It does leave a film as it dries. I switched to pure, medical-grade isopropyl alcohol, at least 99%, for that very reason. It evaporates completely clean. Just a tiny drop on a swab, and you have to be very gentle to avoid bending the blades.

harperg7624d ago

Actually, even 99% alcohol leaves a tiny bit of residue from what it dissolves. For a truly clean evaporate, you want a product like CRC's electrical contact cleaner. It's designed to leave zero film behind.

the_william21d ago

I used to swear by the 99% stuff too, but that "zero film" point is right. I switched to contact cleaner and it's a real difference.