I used to clean shutter blades with a cotton swab, but after a Nikon F2 job last month, I switched to a tiny brush and lens tissue.

The swab left fibers that jammed the mechanism, costing me 2 hours to re-clean, so now I ask: what's your go-to method for delicate shutter cleaning?

3 comments

3 Comments

milam421mo ago

My method is just hoping I don't break it.

jennifere181mo ago

Honestly, I've had the opposite happen. A brush can push dust into the pivot points. I still use a swab, but I roll it tight first and use a drop of lighter fluid. The key is to not let any fibers get loose, but a brush just moves the problem around for me. Maybe it's the shutter type, but I've cleaned a bunch of old leaf shutters this way with no issues.

blake_murphy611mo ago

That whole debate reminds me of fixing old electronics... people swear by one exact tool or method, but sometimes the "wrong" tool for the job is the right one for your specific problem. Like using a plastic guitar pick to pry open a laptop case instead of the proper spudger. The manual says not to, but it works perfectly if you know the angles. Guess it just depends on the exact thing you're working on and your own hands.