Arriflex SR/SR2 Magazine problem

[Kirk lee]

Hello, this is my first post here. I always enjoy reading everyone’s posts and discussions.

I have a question about my arri SR/SR2 magazine. I’m wondering what these white spots are. The inside where the film runs is clean.

The white spots only appear in the area shown in the photo. Could this be part of the paint? Or could it be mold or some kind of contamination?

Since I’m not sure what it is but if it’s not a serious problem, I’d like to use it.

Does anyone know what this might be?

Thank you!

Edited May 19 by Kirk lee

[Steve Switaj]

There's a specific type of corrosion that affects cast aluminum and (especially) aluminum-zinc alloys. It causes microscopic stress cracks on the surface which then allows air under the protective paint or anodizing. The exposed surface can then oxidize.

It is irritatingly common in old cameras.

It's unsightly, but as long as it's not shedding flakes onto your film, it's fine to use.

The most straightforward, least invasive, thing to do is clean up any obvious corrosion with a little elbow grease and a coarse moist rag with some common dish soap, and when you have a clean surface, apply a little car wax. This keeps the air out without chemically affecting anything.

[Kirk lee]

I can scratch it off if I scrape hard with my nail, but otherwise, it's stuck on quite stickily. It doesn't seem like it will shed any dust or flakes.

Edited May 20 by Kirk lee

[Dom Jaeger]

Yeah that’s very common on older mags. It’s degradation of the rubberised paint they used to help with sound insulation. The white spots are a sort of fungus I think that accompanies the degradation. It makes the paint get soft and sticky, which is more of an issue in the compartment where the film might rub against it. 

I‘ve tried a variety of cleaning agents, leaving the mags to dry in the sun, nothing really works except stripping and repainting. 

[John Salim]

I asked the same question a little while ago, but glad there's been an answer now ☺️

John S

 

[Kirk lee]

7 hours ago, John Salim said:

저도 얼마 전에 같은 질문을 했었는데, 이제 답변이 나와서 다행이네요  ☺️

존 S

 

Looks like the same issue. Are you going to try cleaning it? I’m not going to do it right away either, but I think I’ll have to set aside a day and give it a try. I’m curious too.

[Mark Dunn]

I bet it's different, but in case it isn't, here goes.

Some of the coatings in our car interior went tacky and horrid. I cleaned it off with white spirit (or meths, can't remember which) on a kitchen scouring pad, the mylar type. Another time I would try IPA. The idea wasn't to strip it off with a solvent, just help it off with a light scrub.

Had I had one I would have tried a Brillo pad.

Edited May 20 by Mark Dunn

[Tyler Purcell]

I have a spray bottle with 99% IPA, I remove the pressure plate assembly and simply spray the area and with a QTIP, gently rub until the dots are gone. It works totally fine and won't take the paint off. Sometimes you have to let it sit for a while, but others just rubbing right away is enough. Where it is rare to see mags THIS bad, I do see the same fungus buildup on a regular basis, just in little sections here or there. 

[Hannes Famira]

From what I read, there are no cleaning agents that will solve the problem. The rubber was vulcanized, and that chemical bond is coming apart. Glycerin will supposedly re-stabilize the rubber. You can buy pure glycerin as a beauty product for very dry skin. Apply, leave on overnight and wipe it off in the morning. The person who recommended this to me swears that the rubber is just as new. No more sticky. Hope this helps.