Empty Bubble

[jb7]

I've got an empty bubble on the back of my Arca-
and perhaps its time I did something about it-

Now, maybe its because I'm a 'tightwad',
but I don't think it should be beyond me to refill it or replace it myself-
However, the main reason is that I don't want to be parted from my camera for such an inconsequential repair-

So, if anyone has already carried out this operation,
I'd appreciate your views-

The bubble appears to be seated in silicone,
so it should be possible to chop it out with a knife?

Anyone?

Many thanks-

joseph

[Walter Calahan]

An Arca camera deserves fine surgery, not chopped out with a knife.

E-mail Arca directly for their advice first. They might suggest a scalpel. HA!

Even a tightwad should recognized that an Arca is an expensive machine deserving the best care and maintenance.

Good luck. All my Arca bubble levels are shipshape.

[Pete Roody]

You could ask Bob Watkins at Precision Camera Works. They service Arca's and sell replacement levels. www.precisioncameraworks.com

[Pete Roody]

You could ask Bob Watkins at Precision Camera Works. They service Arca's and sell replacement levels. www.precisioncameraworks.com

I hadn't noticed you are from Dublin. It might be easier to call Arca direct as Walter suggested versus the US service rep as I suggested.

[jb7]

Thanks Walter and Pete-
I might just do that-
However, when I said 'Knife'
I was thinking more surgical than butcher's-

I've lived with it a long time now,
so I wouldn't be any worse off, either way-

j

[Sheldon N]

I've done it on a couple older Arca model B cameras as well as on an F-Line last year. It is definitely not rocket science.

The bubble levels will pop out easily with a knife, they are typically held in with silicone. You can buy replacement bubbles from Bob at Precision Camera Works for around $12 each (last I checked). You then just glue the new bubble level back in place using a couple drops of black silicone on the back side.

The only critical item is making sure that you set the bubble level so that it shows exactly the right level point. When the silicone is still wet, there is a little play that allows you to fine tune the positioning. Either match it up with the other side of the camera, or use a hand level to level the camera first then set the bubble level in place.

Takes about 5 minutes to do.

[jb7]

That's great Sheldon, thanks for that-

It certainly looks like it should be a simple job-
so I reckon its time to give it a go-

Thanks again-

j

[Jerzy Pawlowski]

The bubble levels will pop out easily with a knife, they are typically held in with silicone. You can buy replacement bubbles from Bob at Precision Camera Works for around $12 each (last I checked). You then just glue the new bubble level back in place using a couple drops of black silicone on the back side.

I am about to replace few bubble levels in my Arca (got them from Precision Camera for about $12 per piece).
My question: is this black silicone the same type as standard one used to seal windows or sink, or any other special silicone.

[EuGene Smith]

Joseph:

You can go to www.mcmaster.com and in their SEARCH box at the upper left of their opening screen type bulls eye level (or you can type tubular level - both types are on catalog page 2240) and it will take you to a whole page of level inserts. Most of the small tubular types as used on cameras and tripods cost less than a doller each in small quantities. The little "troughs" that they mount in cost between 34 to 53 cents each.

While you are at it type in all sorts of stuff in their search box. Those folks sell every type of hardware known to man, like knobs, oddball bolts and fasteners, latches, etc. Probably anything one finds on a view camera is in their catalogue somewhere . . . manufacturers of nearly any type of product (not just cameras) rarely make their own hardware and fittings - they buy them on the open market.

By the way, their PRINT button near the top left of their page prints out a beautiful catalogue page (if you have Adobe). I printed out a gob of them for all sorts of parts and pieces and put them in a quick reference folder. Oh what fun!!

Eu

[jb7]

Thanks very much EuGene-
look forward to that-
my kinda site-

Still haven't had the carriers apart-
not brave enough just yet-

Thanks again-
will have a look-

j