Replacing light seals on my Canon AE-1 left a sticky mess.

Tried to fix the light leaks myself. The adhesive won't come off. What cleaner should I use?

4 comments

4 Comments

That "sticky mess" makes me remember the old camera repair guy in my town. He always had the best stories and some weird goo for cleaning that stuff off.

anna_ellis882mo ago

Use rubbing alcohol, the strong kind from the pharmacy. I had the same sticky mess on my AE-1 and it worked like a charm. Dab a little on a cotton swab and rub gently until the gunk comes off. Stay away from nail polish remover because it can hurt the camera body. After cleaning, make sure the area is totally dry before adding fresh seals. Did you get the pre-cut seals or cut them yourself?

jason_lewis32mo ago

Oh man, that old foam turning into nasty glue is the worst. I used rubbing alcohol too, but man it takes forever and your fingers get all sticky. @the_jennifer, that repair guy's weird goo was probably just more alcohol mixed with a lot of patience. I spent like an hour just picking little black bits off my Canon F-1 hinge. Did yours leave any stain on the metal after?

paul_taylor211mo ago

Heard about a buddy who tried to clean the foam off his Nikon with just alcohol and a toothpick. He got so fed up he went and bought a bottle of lighter fluid on a wild guess. Swears it cut through the gunk in half the time, but it made his whole apartment smell like a garage. I'd be too scared to try it on my own camera, honestly.