Exterior Cosmetic Work Done By a Non Camera Specialist

[denizg7]

Hi guys,

I need some advice on getting some exterior work done on my leica m at a metal works kinda place , since I am planning on keeping my leica m forever and would like to get it personalized a bit.

If anybody got any kinda of work similar to this in the North East please feel free to share. Thanks

-Dennis

First thing is to get a leica engraving on the top similiar to leica m3 or an mp perhaps



The second and the hardest thing is , I want the steep space between the shutter dial and the hotshoe to be smoothed out while going down

Something link this



or this

[Livesteamer]

It would be very custom machine work. I doubt you could get it done for less than $10,000. If you are really lucky you might find a specialist to do it for half that. Joe

PS I was a machinist for 23 years, NC, CNC, manual and tool and die work.

[denizg7]

wow 10,000 dollars. Thanks for the expert tip. Guess I am going to buy a Cosina Bessa R and paint it black and change the shutter dial

[astro8]

I used to do design work and engraving for a place that could of accomplished this.

They were silversmiths and medal makers, but have long gone.

For the plate work, you need to find someone who can work with brass plate....silversmith, model engineer, custom letter maker as in stainless/brass signage etc.

For the engraving, you need someone who will take their time with it, scan and reproduce the Leica script and the fonts properly.

[denizg7]

god this is why I love RFF, so many helpful people who can help me start up my ideas.

Going to search around for silversmith and hopefully i can try to get this job done at a lower cost then 10 grand

[funkydog]

Before you do anything irrepairable to your leica, might i suggest buying a top plate from Tonaya on ebay to experiment on? I did that and later decided it it wasnt worth modding the m body i had then.

[astro8]

I just had a look at my M2. It's not as difficult as it first appears. The way I would go about it is:

Strip chrome from top plate.

I would have a brass piece cnc'd to the shape of the filler piece (there are online companies that will make a part from your supplied file).

Take measurements, make up a cad file (this is probably the hardest part if you are not proficient in cad software) with a bit of extra meat on the part for handfitting the piece. Solder it in. Fill any joins with solder. Find a good engraver that will reproduce the engravings and make sure you see a test piece first. Have them engrave the top plate. Then I would paint the top plate and paint-fill the engravings, otherwise you will need to have it lightly garnet blasted and plated...that's how medals are done when the designer wants a satin finish.

P.S.

Yes, I would buy a top plate to work on, that way you can take your time with it too, not to mention destroying your original.

[HuubL]

Is it a digital or a film M? I wouldn't go through all the trouble with a digital M that will be succeeded by updated Ms several times in the next 10 years!

[V-12]

Greg has it right. Check first it isn't a zinc top plate, but once you get the chrome or paint off working on brass is very easy, so long as you don't plan on any technique that will anneal it because then the only way to harden it again is to work it. Soldering will be OK and the brass won't soften if a moderate iron and low melt solder is used and not a blow torch. When you get the shape you want it can be re-chromed or painted.

Steve