Question about the worst shutter curtain repair of my life

Last Thursday, a guy brought in a 1970s Nikon F2 with a shutter that looked like it had been folded by a toddler. The curtain was not just torn, it was bunched up on one side and the silk was fraying. I spent six hours just getting the old material out without damaging the roller springs. Has anyone else had a curtain that bad, and what's your go-to replacement source these days?

3 comments

3 Comments

gavin_reed26d ago

Folded by a toddler" perfectly sums up some of the horrors we see.

kevinc841mo ago

Did you have to soak the old curtain material in anything to get it loose? I had one stuck with ancient glue and used a tiny bit of lighter fluid on a swab. For replacements, I've had good luck with the pre-cut kits from a seller in Poland on eBay, they fit the F2 rails perfectly.

terrym451mo ago

Wait, lighter fluid on the shutter curtain? That sounds risky for the cloth. I used a tiny bit of rubbing alcohol on a cotton bud to soften the old glue. It evaporates fast and doesn't leave a residue. I'd be worried the lighter fluid could soak in and maybe damage the material over time.