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Post by ianwrites on Oct 21, 2012 22:20:57 GMT -5
Hey All, A friend sent me a Canon QL19e and I just can't get the battery compartment to budge. He damaged it and now it's even more difficult to open. I've tried taking off the bottom plate but to no avail. I'm at a loss. Any help would be much appreciated. Cheers, Ian  |
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Oct 22, 2012 14:27:46 GMT -5
ianwrites,
The battery cover is a threaded disc with a slot for a coin to open it.
The slot is usually damaged and often the disc is cross threaded into its compartment.
I suggest drilling two small holes opposite each other as close to the edge of the disk as you can without damaging it. The size of the holes should be just right to admit a small nail.
Drive the two nails into a board as far apart as holes you have drilled.
You are now a tool maker.
Insert the nails into the holes and twist counterclockwise. That should do it.
I little WD40 dribbled around the perimeter of the disc beforehand might also assist in turning it. You might Also try a little vinegar in case battery corrosion is causing or contributing to the problem.
After you remove the disc try to clean up any damaged threads in it and in the camera base. Rub a little paraffin (candle wax) on the threads and very carefully screw it back the way it should be.
Make the tool small enough that you can carry it with you just in case you have to replace the batteries in the field. It does not have to be large to do the job. Stick the nail points into an old eraser or soft piece of wood to protect yourself and your equipment.
For some reason Canon persisted in using those annoying discs in many of their cameras.
Mickey
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Doug T.
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Post by Doug T. on Oct 22, 2012 15:16:54 GMT -5
Hi Mickey! That is a really good tip about getting those pesky battery covers off  Simple, but an excellent solution! Thanks!! Doug |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2012 17:36:30 GMT -5
Or use a big freaking hammer (BFH)
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Stephen
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Still collecting.......
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Post by Stephen on Oct 22, 2012 17:37:44 GMT -5
Excellent method, but for those who are not toolmakers or engineers, the drilling is best not done with a big Dewalt power drill! but with a small hand drill, or hand powered pin chuck, with a collar around the drill to stop it going in too far!! Best drill slowly till it breaks through, say 2mm drill size, with a piece of electrical insulation sleeve around the drill as a collar to indicate how far it has gone in. Also once drilled, a pair of pliers with fine points will fit to turn it.
Camera repairers have sets of these pliers with re-ground round tips to do just these jobs.
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Post by Randy on Oct 22, 2012 22:24:58 GMT -5
I think everyone should own a Dremel.
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Oct 25, 2012 14:43:25 GMT -5
I think everyone should own a Dremel. I am not knocking the Dremel. It is an excellent tool. But I bought this Foredom Flexible shaft Machine in 1959. In 1996 the inner cable of the flexible shaft broke. Foredom sent me a replacement no charge. The Foredom has a foot operated variable speed control. Mine came with a set of 7 collets and a device to hold the hand grip in a vice and a hook to raise it well above the work surface rendering it almost weightless. Almost all of my small bits were worn out dental drill bits that my dentist gave to me. There are many accessories made for it and it will accept Dremel's excellent bits. The machine gets a lot of use for all kinds of projects. It is very versatile. The speed control makes it extremely useful. Many jewelers use the Foredom. The picture below is of a more recent model.  Mickey |
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lloydy
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Post by lloydy on Oct 25, 2012 18:21:44 GMT -5
I had problems with a Pentax battery compartment recently which refused to unscrew, I only use coins to try and unscrew them and I use the biggest I can find that fits the curvature of the slot.
With the Pentax, nothing was moving. So I soaked the thread with vinegar for a day guessing that a leaking battery had corroded the threads. I don't soak the camera in vinegar, just turn it upside down and drip a tiny bit around the thread, and wipe it off occasionally and put some fresh on.
The next day it came off like it was a new camera.
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lloydy
Lifetime Member
Posts: 506
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Post by lloydy on Oct 25, 2012 18:25:57 GMT -5
I think everyone should own a Dremel. I am not knocking the Dremel. It is an excellent tool. But I bought this Foredom Flexible shaft Machine in 1959. In 1996 the inner cable of the flexible shaft broke. Foredom sent me a replacement no charge. The Foredom has a foot operated variable speed control. Mine came with a set of 7 collets and a device to hold the hand grip in a vice and a hook to raise it well above the work surface rendering it almost weightless. Almost all of my small bits were worn out dental drill bits that my dentist gave to me. There are many accessories made for it and it will accept Dremel's excellent bits. The machine gets a lot of use for all kinds of projects. It is very versatile. The speed control makes it extremely useful. Many jewelers use the Foredom. The picture below is of a more recent model. Mickey I saw one of these for sale recently, I liked it a lot even though it was well used and had no collets or bits. But the price scared me ! Would you believe £150 ? ( UK Pounds )  |
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Oct 25, 2012 20:07:41 GMT -5
lloydy, Foredom is till in business and stocks everything associated with their machines. The Fordom Electric Company 16 Stony Hill Road, Route 6, Bethel, Conecticut USA 06801-1039 They are a division of Kingsley North, Inc. www.kingsleynorth.comsales@kingsleynorth.com Mickey |
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lloydy
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Post by lloydy on Oct 26, 2012 8:29:07 GMT -5
Not such a bad buy then ? it's a nice bit of kit but something I would rarely use, I'll stick with my Dremel.
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Stephen
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Still collecting.......
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Post by Stephen on Oct 26, 2012 10:32:44 GMT -5
They are a bit costly in the UK, dependant on the models about £200+, they use 230 volt motors which are different to the States spec. Popular with Jewellery crafts, and light industrial uses, maybe a bit much for occasional home uses. Dremel offer similar smaller units, as do rival far eastern clones, but nowhere near as well made for heavier work.
As mentioned before, drilling things like battery covers and precision work may be best with a simple hand drill or watchmakers chuck, it may be slower, but greater control, one snatch on the power drill at speed, and it may go in too far.
Stephen.
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Oct 26, 2012 14:50:31 GMT -5
Okay. Here it is. The ultimate battery compartment screwed up screw cap unscrewer.  One cent. (Penny in English). The handle from a throw away foam paint brush. A great British invention, Milliput" which is a two part putty that self hardens when both parts are mixed together. I first tried gluing the penny into a slot in the dowel but the wood kept splitting. The cent was the coin that best seemed to fit the groove in the compartment cap and it cost less than a quarter. I was going to patent this invention but decided to give it to mankind and womankind for free.  When using it one should press down so that it stays in the cap. Mickey |
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lloydy
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Post by lloydy on Oct 26, 2012 16:00:04 GMT -5
I see the American economy is getting some stick again.
( I'll get my coat ;D )
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mickeyobe
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Post by mickeyobe on Oct 26, 2012 16:49:04 GMT -5
I see the American economy is getting some stick again. ( I'll get my coat ;D ) Putty awful joke. ;D By the way - Canada will stop minting pennies at the end of this year so hurry and get yours. Mickey This letter was posted from Canada.  |
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