As usual, I just can't leave well enough alone.
I purchased a little Velostigmat Series II 9 1/2" lens with the softening ring. Lens is in barrel. The aperture, while working, was a tad stiff - as is the case with some of these 100 year old lenses. I was worried that I might damage a blade during use, so I decided to try to damage a blade (or two) by trying to clean it up - success!
I popped the little brass post off the end of two of the blades - *&#!
I tried to epoxy them back on but it would not hold.
I guess I could fabricate two new blades out of a thin plastic or film, and perhaps two little posts from Teflon or some such material, but securely affixing them to the aperture blade...?...I have no idea. And this thing has 20 blades - I can't afford to damage any more.
Anyone found a suitable fix (other than not damaging it in the first place)?
In the meantime, so I can get some use out of the lens, I have made a few (f/5.6, 8, and 11) water-house stops out of black paper, but I have to unscrew the front cells in order to change f/stops - which sucks.
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