Once the latch end piece is totally dry (30 minutes or so), press it against the film door to seal
it.
For those of you with first series XA models (XA, XA1 or XA2), you may now replace your
pressure plate. First I slide the left hand slot beneath its retaining button and next I carefully
position the opening over the other retaining button and push gently downward from the top
until I hear or feel it click into place.
~~About the XA film door and the top seal piece:~~
The top strip isn’t a difficult problem at all. Simply cut two pieces. There is a ledge at the
point of the bend. Please look at how I do this:
Now you’re finished and you can re-assemble your camera by reversing the steps above. You may
use the dimensions below to cut your seal pieces.
~~NOTES~~
(1)
If you want to re-paint your film door, a good spray paint is: Krylon #1613 Semi Flat Black.
(you may also use this to re-paint the inside of the door with the pressure plate and all seal
material removed). If your film door needs sanding, 400 or 800 grit wet/dry sandpaper should
be just fine. Be sure to wash the film door in warm soapy water well and/or wipe it down with
Naphtha before you sand it. The oils from your hands and fingers collect on the film door.
Sanding the door before removing the oils only forces them into the old paint more deeply,
making it more difficult to remove them later. Oils will cause “fisheyes” in the paint.
(2)
Dimensions for seal pieces: First series door strips: bottom strip—112mm x 2.5mm. Top
strip—70mm x2.5mm (unless your camera’s strip goes all the way to the end…then it is apx
112mm, cut at the break as shown above). First Series hinge end seal—42mm x 8.5mm with a
cutout of 8mm x 3mm spaced 12mm from the left side/22mm from the right side. Second
series hinge end seal—46mm x 6mm with a cutout of 8mm x 3mm spaced 15mm from the left
side/23mm from the right side. Latch end seal (all models) 2mm x 47mm. Material to use:
First Series door & hinge seal: 1mm fabric seal or 1mm foam. Second series hinge end seal:
1.5mm open-celled foam.
(3)
Lick the adhesive?
Yes! Whether using foam or fabric, this will temporarily de-activate
the adhesive. Then you can position the seal just where you want it to be. When it is dry,
stick it down for good.
Two 1mm fabric pieces set into place
show how to install this piece in the
easiest fashion.
