Konica Autoreflex TC light seals.

[yashica1943]

I have a very clean Autoreflex as above, the previous owner stated that he had bought it new and that only two rolls of film had passed through it, which I can believe.
However, the light seals have perished. I have 1.5mm. and 2mm foam material and can replace the door seals, but I am not so confident about the seal around the focusing screen.
Has anybody experience of replacing these seals on this camera and what thickness foam is needed? Please!

[lloydy]

For replacing light seals I use sticky backed foam and felt that I buy in a local branch of a chain of Hobby stores - Hobbycraft here in the UK.

www.hobbycraft.co.uk/self-adhesive-foam-sheet/571989-1000

and for another 80p I get the sticky back felt as well

www.hobbycraft.co.uk/hobbycraft-black-stick-on-felt-sheets/572837-1000

one of these will cut the foam and felt into 1mm wide strips, much better than a scalpel because it doesn't drag.

www.hobbycraft.co.uk/impex-45mm-rotary-cutter/567485-1000

And one of these will stop the cutter from making gouges in the antique dining table.

The foam is closed cell, very easy to cut with the rotary cutter - I get accurate strips thinner than 1mm without any drag caused by using a craft knife of scalpel. The felt is easily cut with the same cutter.

I clean the old seal out with toothpicks, I like the plastic ones, and some Zippo lighter fuel. I put the fuel in a small hypodermic syringe so it's easier to apply exactly where you want it without drowning the camera.

For the mirror bumper I have used both the foam and the felt, the felt is slightly thinner. And it doesn't seem to lose strands as much as I feared it might, if at all.
A tip for applying the foam or felt to the tiny space in the mirror box, dampen the adhesive backing slightly ( I just lick it ) and it will slide around a bit to get it into position, and the moisture will dry out leaving the foam firmly in place.

I've got a Canon A1 to do in the next couple of days, and I've used this technique and materials on many other cameras with no problems at all, the materials are good quality and very cheap compared to a kit. And the secret lies in cutting it thin enough, use a rotary cutter.
I've got a series of pictures somewhere of replacing the seals on a Pentax, I'll try and post them.

[yashica1943]

Thanks for that, Lloydy I will try using the 1mm thick foam as that seems to be the thinnest available.