Tried using a heat gun to remove old light seal foam on a Canon AE-1 and it melted into a sticky mess

Honestly, I thought heating up that 30 year old foam would make it peel right off. But the foam just turned into a gooey sludge that got all over the mirror box and took me 2 hours to clean with isopropyl alcohol. The lesson here is stick to wooden or plastic tools and go slow with a solvent, not heat. Has anyone else ruined a part by trying a shortcut like this?

2 comments

2 Comments

kelly.daniel21d ago

Heard a vintage camera repair guy on YouTube mention that heat guns are basically the worst thing you can use for foam removal. Personally I've had good luck just using lighter fluid and a plastic spudger, though it takes patience. Might be worth trying that next time instead of fighting with melted goo.

nina_harris3921d ago

Did you let the lighter fluid sit for a bit first? That’s what did it for me.