Canon eos 5/a2e

trev · Joined: 30 Jun 2010 Posts: 580 Location: North Wales - UK

What is the best method for getting rid of the sticky hand grip on the 5? Short of buying a replacement (which I cannot find anywhere). Same with the palm door on my eos 1n.
Both very annoying......................
TIA

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9096 Location: Houston, Texas

If the plastic in the hand grip has become gooey/sticky, this is a phenomenon known as plasticizer migration. I haven't had this happen to my older EOSes, but I have an old Metz 60 CT-1 whose battery cable has become sticky. I've just wiped it down firmly with paper towels, but this is a temporary fix. So I tried a search on plasticizer migration just now. Got a hit on a Barbie doll collectors website where this issue is discussed. They recommend washing the doll in warm water with mild detergent, then using talcum powder on the affected areas. This makes pretty good sense to me. It isn't a cure (there is none, far as I know), but it can be an effective stop-gap measure. Just wipe the grip down with a warm water/detergent solution and reapply talcum powder when it starts to get sticky again.

Lloydy · Expire: 2022-01-01

I have read a suggestion that 'Armourall' - the stuff you use on car interiors - works. But I haven't tried it, so I don't know if it's true.

DigiChromeEd · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 3460 Location: Northern Ireland

There is no fix afaik. I had this problem with my EOS5 and I tried everything but to no avail. Eventually I covered the handgrip in black electricians tape which worked but didn't look the best.

trev · Joined: 30 Jun 2010 Posts: 580 Location: North Wales - UK

I am experimenting with covering the sticky grip with clear acrylic varnish (water soluble), have put two coats on now and 24 hours later there is no stickiness. Hope it works

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9096 Location: Houston, Texas

The problem I see with doing that is you're putting a hard coating over a grip that has some give to it. The acrylic may crack and flake off. Instead of acrylic, a thin coating of silicone sealer -- clear or black -- might work. You would probably have to apply it by hand and smooth it with your fingers, though.

philslizzy · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 4744 Location: Cheshire, England

Interesting topic. I have a camera with the same sticky grip problem. I'd thought of peeling it off but I imagine the grip cover would be mechanically locked into the body somehow.

I did acrylic technology as part of my Dental Technicians course and plasticiser migration was never mentioned. But that was probably not an issue in the 70's.

My girls have a few old barbies and the arms and legs went a different colour to the hard plastic body. I can tell them how to fix. I suspect that the plastic will remain the same colour.

Hey Barbie saves the day.

trev · Joined: 30 Jun 2010 Posts: 580 Location: North Wales - UK

Still no problems with my hand grip. Fingers in continual crossed mode tho

Nesster · Expire: 2014-02-20

zanxion72 · Joined: 11 Dec 2012 Posts: 145 Location: Athens, Greece

Try pealing it off in one piece if possible. Use it as a guide on a piece of leatherette to cut and glue it in place. there are many styles of leatherette that will get you the desired looks.

DCB · Joined: 27 Jul 2013 Posts: 4 Location: Florida

I used alcohol...rubbing it one way and it seemed to get rid of the issue on my A2.

Peace

trev · Joined: 30 Jun 2010 Posts: 580 Location: North Wales - UK

My couple of coats of acrylic is going strong, also put some on the so called palm door of my 1n and that did the trick too.
I used MICROSCALE MICRO SATIN (I had it handy) and it is totally water soluble and dries to a nice hard satin finish and its flexible so it wont crack etc.