Vent: Tried to fix a stuck shutter with a toothpick versus a proper spudger

Had this old Canon AE-1 come in with a shutter that wouldn't fire. First, I tried using a wooden toothpick to gently nudge the mechanism, thinking it was a soft touch. The toothpick just snapped and left a tiny splinter inside. Then I grabbed my plastic spudger from the iFixit kit and gave it a careful wiggle in the same spot. The shutter clicked free instantly with no mess. That splinter took me another twenty minutes to fish out with tweezers. Anyone have a better tool they reach for first on sticky mechanical parts?

3 comments

3 Comments

ericreed10h ago

Remembered @sean_walker45's question while I once used a guitar pick to pop open a stuck VCR.

sean_walker459d ago

Honestly that "soft touch" idea with the toothpick is exactly where I would have messed up too. Tbh I'm curious about that careful wiggle with the spudger though. Was there a specific spot you were aiming for, or is it more about feeling for the exact part that's stuck? Ngl fishing out a splinter from inside a camera sounds like a nightmare, so I really want to avoid that step next time.

rosel509d ago

Yeah, that "fishing out a splinter" step is the absolute worst, I've been there with a tiny screw.