From: utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!G:inp
Newsgroups: net.rec.photo
Title: drying out cameras and lenses
Article-I.D.: populi.247
Posted: Wed Jul 21 12:27:38 1982
Received: Sun Jul 25 06:28:00 1982

A kayaking friend of mine published an article describing how
to dry out cameras (and presumably lenses, flashes, etc),
WITHOUT RUSTING things.  Heating them in a low oven would
encourage rusting.  The alternative is to find a vacuum
pump system with a bell jar or other chamber large enough,
and dry the equipment out by lowering the pressure instead
of heating.  He suggested your local high school physics or
chemistry lab and attendant teacher, who might be interested
as well as willing to help.
If the camera was completely soaked, his suggestion was to
boil some water to get the disolved air out, and re-immerse
the camera in that while looking for the vacuum system, to
prevent oxydation in the interim.  This sounds really extreme,
and many newer cameras have enough electronics to be ruined
in any case.  I would recommend removing the battery and
adding no MORE water to the mess.
I would welcome any further discussion, as I still take my
camera out kayaking, sailing, etc, and it MAY happen to me!
	Bob Tidd  decvax!ucbvax!g:inp	U.C. Berkeley