Old enlarger lens...sticky aperture ring

[false_Aesthetic]

Hey,

Finally finally finally picked up a totally legit 192mm enlarging ektanon. The aperture ring moves but its pretty sticky. I know that one is supposed to use a specific lube for shutters but is that the case with enlarging lenses as well?

Anything I can clean it up with?

Thanks!

[E. von Hoegh]

Take it apart, clean out the old gunk, relube it with an appropriate lubricant. I use a lithium instrument grease, and I'd give you the name, but the original container is long gone.

[false_Aesthetic]

ok but where does the lube go? certainly not on the blades right?

[John Koehrer]

When you get the old lube out, it shouldn't really need lubricant.
If it's got any I'd suspect inside the aperture ring. Any good wax will do if you want, ski,car, etc.

[E. von Hoegh]

ok but where does the lube go? certainly not on the blades right?

Certainly not on the blades!!

Lube the aperture control ring only where it contacts the barrel. On the inside, three tiny dots of lube should take care of the edge of the diaphragm ring where it contacts the inside of the barrel. Tiny means like this: > . Size of the period.