DIY painting of beater M3

[joop]

I just got hold of an old beater M3,

which shows lots of brass. I was wondering if it's

very hard to paint paint it over. (would prefer hammer paint).

i know there was a thread recently about painting a M6 black, where

a problem was mentioned stripping the silver,

but I understand with the brass cover of the M3 this should not be a

problem? did anyone here do it? Is it possible as a DIY project? Any

advise on which paint to use? Thanks,

[johnmarkpainter]

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=006KX9

 

http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=0064A9

 

There are LOTs of threads. There is a website where someone shows how to do it (on a

Russian Camera though).

 

jmp

[paul t]

<a href="http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=00BGUE">

recent thread with lots of good links</a>

[joop]

Thanks for the links, guys.

I did search but could not really find so much. Thanks

[a._nakajima]

Hello Joop,

 

This is what your M3 might look like if you repaint it in anthracite hammertone (Tremclad spray paint). Like you I had a beater (not user M3) and decided to strip the chrome and nickel finish. It's quite easy to do if you have the right tools...Good luck

[joop]

Hi A.N., that M3 looks great! Did you really do it yourself? very impressive. What tools did you use?

What did you use to strip of the paint? Where did you get your information from? Thanks, Joop

[andy m.]

A. N. that's one of the nicest M3s I have ever seen. I suspect that you are unusually talented in refinishing ;-) Nice work.

[paul_neuthaler]

P R E T T Y!

[ben_johnson3]

The site about painting Russian cameras referred to above:

<a href="http://www.geocities.com/fzorkis/black.html">link</a>

[jorge]

A.,

 

Beautiful camera! It's really something to behold. What did you use to strip the chrome?

 

Best,

 

--Jorge.

[vick_ko]

To strip the chrome, use muriatic acid, available at the hardware store.

 

That will leave you with a layer of nickel. Nickel stripper is dangerous, but look here for an "at home" nickel stripper: http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/metalx.html

 

Then prime and paint away. It does take a lot of skill, though, especially to re-apply the filling in the lettering.

 

And watch out - there is a plastic lens at the frame counter and possibly a plastic window at the RF illuminator, that can be damaged by chemicals.

 

As with all painting, the painting is the easiest part. The prep work is the hardest part.

 

...Vick

[awahlster]

Next to the prep work the hardest thing to get right is the lettering. The thicker the paint applied the harder it is to get the lettering paint right as the thick paint rounds the edge of the engraving.

 

I'm working on doing a Canonet G-III QL-17 in a OD green I'm going to use a firearms paint sold by Brownells a gunsmith supply the paint is extremely wear resistant as you can well imagine a firearm would require.

 

As soon as I find the time!

[vick_ko]

Fantastic, Mark.

 

Can you tell me the make of the paint? Is it something that can be bought in Canada?

 

I just painted a Leica M4 in NATO green, but I used automotive primer, under Tamiya NATO Green model paint, under automotive clear coat.

 

regards

Vick

[jerry_lehrer]

JOOOP,

 

This may sound stupid, but why don't you use the camera, as is, to

take pictures? If you feel that you MUST refinish it, send it to

Shintaro. Doing it yourself is very time consuming and requires

expertise that you may not have.

 

I do have the expertise, but would not waste my time on my cameras.

They take the same pictures with the black or chrome worn down as they

did when I got them. A CLA when needed, und das ist alles!

 

Jerry

[joop]

Thanks for your advice, i think i'm going to give it a try.

It will be a nice project to make a better looking camera out of this.

[craig_zeni]

Gosh Jerry - is it possible that somebody might enjoy doing the refinishing work himself?