Who can re-cement lens elements?

[Windscale]

Croydon is in Surrey. But London has stretched out so much in the past few years that many would regard Croydon as south London as one can get there by using a London Transport all zone ticket by train.

[Bob-D659]

The dividing line between London and Croydon was hard to find 40 years ago when I lived there.

[kenb]

I have a pair of Mitchell Baltar primes I sold to a man in China that were returned with separation in the exact same element on each lens. The separation was not there when it left and I have a strong suspicion it was induced by the buyer, who seemed to have buyer's remorse upon winning BOTH lenses in separate auctions!

In any event, one of the lenses mounts has a big ding in it, but Paypal refused to accept the auction pictures as before and the returned lens pix as evidence. Said I could have manipulated them, so therefore, I couldn't be trusted...

Now, 3 months later, I am out $700 USD (they issued a payback refund despite my tons of evidence and objections)AND and a pair of Baltar Primes!

What makes me crazy is the lenses were returned with very well defined and heavy separation that looks suspiciously like someone dipped their finger in a mild solvent and ran it around the elements (middle doublet that is VERY easy to remove).

I cannot believe the temperature variations between here and China during air mail caused the separations.

Regardless, I will never use paypal or Ebay again!

I might try that heating in the oven trick and see if it works; I have little more to loose...

I THINK IT HAPPENS WHEN SHIPPED BY AIR IN AN UNPRESSURIZED, UNHEATED COMPARTMENT, SO I ADDED THE FOLLOWING TO THE START OF "MY POLICIES" IN BLACKTHORN AND CURRENT LISTINGS.

LENSES SHIPPED OVERSEAS HAVE SUFFERED SEPARATION OF THE CEMENTED ELEMENTS, ESPECIALLY OLDER LENSES. I SUSPECT IT HAPPENS WHEN SHIPPED BY AIR IN AN UNPRESSURIZED AND/OR UNHEATED COMPARTMENT. THEREFORE, IF YOU BID ON A LENS TO BE SHIPPED OFF THE US CONTINENT, YOU MUST AGREE, BY EMAIL, THAT YOU ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DAMAGE, WILL NOT MAKE ANY CLAIM OR COMPLAINT ABOUT SUCH DAMAGE, AND WILL NOT MAKE NEGATIVE OR NEUTRAL FEEDBACK. WE WILL HELP YOU FILE A CLAIM THROUGH THE US POST OFFICE AND SEND YOU ANY RECOVERED MONEY VIA PAYPAL.

[Mustafa Umut Sarac]

I dont think do it yourself seperation procedure is a good idea. There is a big Leica forum at the web and there is a woman repair person who is trusted with most Leica owners. She said different glasses and their expansion rate in the heat tend to break the lenses. I am not remembering now , did I read here or there but there is special chemical baths which do the seperation without heat.
Recementing is expert business and I dont think you can do it well without a optical setup for this purpose.
Your lens is seem to worthy to pay for repair.

Umut

[suzyj]

Just checking the forum title... This is the camera repair forum, isn't it? Not the "you're not clever enough to do it, so you should send it to an expert" forum...

I successfully separated an eyepiece doublet recently, and after a few false starts successfully re-cemented it using Canada balsam.

The procedure isn't particularly difficult. Sure, some patience is required, and you might need adult supervision as you'll be using acetone and xylene, but otherwise it's not so hard, and can be done in most any kitchen.