I finally gave in and started using ultrasonic cleaning for old shutters

For years I was dead set against ultrasonic cleaners for camera shutters. Thought they would damage the delicate blades or loosen lubricant where it didn't belong. Then I watched a repair video from a guy in Portland who stripped a 1950s Agfa shutter down to nothing. He soaked the whole mechanism in a heated ultrasonic bath for exactly 8 minutes and it came out spotless. No sticky blades, no residue, just clean brass and steel. I tried it last Thursday on a sticky Compur shutter and it worked better than my usual naptha soak. Now I'm wondering if I should buy a dedicated unit for the shop or just keep using the jewelry cleaner I borrowed from my wife. Anyone else made this switch and regretted it later?

3 comments

3 Comments

nancyj111mo ago

Wait till you gum up a Speed Graphic beyond repair.

miles_burns1mo ago

Love that quote about "exactly 8 minutes" - I had the same hesitation till I tried it on a sticky Wollensak.

matthewdixon1mo ago

Sounds like overkill for old junk that works fine with lighter fluid.