Old Pentax repair guy at a swap meet taught me a trick with a razor blade

I was at the Rose Bowl flea market in Pasadena about 2 months ago. Found a beat up Pentax K1000 with a stuck mirror. Guy running the booth said $20 as-is. This older gentleman next to me grabs it, pulls out a single-edge razor blade, and flips the mirror back into place in like 30 seconds. He told me the foam bumpers degrade and just stick the mirror down. I asked him how he knew. Said he worked at a camera shop in Santa Monica for 40 years. I bought the camera and the blade. Fixed it right up at home. Has anyone else dealt with sticky mirror foam on those old Pentaxes? What do you use to clean off the residue?

3 comments

3 Comments

kim.zara3d ago

Flip the mirror back" - I use isopropyl alcohol and a q-tip for that sticky foam gunk.

jana_scott3d ago

Used to be nervous about putting rubbing alcohol on old car parts but it really does the trick. That sticky mess doesn't stand a chance.

terryk103d ago

My buddy Dave tried to clean the old tape residue off his truck's dashboard with goo gone and it just made a bigger mess. The stuff got all slippery and the sticky part just slid around. He finally grabbed his wife's nail polish remover with acetone and a rag. That melted the gunk right off but it also took a little bit of the dash finish with it. So now he has a shiny spot that bugs him every time the sun hits it. Rubbing alcohol sounds a lot safer for that kind of thing.