USCamera can help with almost anything to do with foam light seals. We have years of experience cutting, installing, and selling
Light Seal Foam
Polyurethane light seal foam.
Some links to Polyurethane foam products and information on USCamera.com
Polyurethane foam light seals strips with adhesive applied.
Polyurethane foam light seal sheets with adhesive applied.
Polyurethane foam light seals strips without adhesive applied.
Polyurethane foam light seal sheets without adhesive applied.
Polyurethane foam light seals kits with adhesive applied.
USCamera Polyurethane foam light seals installation/removal guide.
If you search “light seal foam” on the web or eBay, you will find many vendors selling foam sheets and seal kits for most equipment made. What is the difference between USCamera and many other vendors? Much more than you would think of when shopping for foam seals. Let me explain.
First, most any seller who sells foam only does just that, make an ad and sell foam. Usually from another vendor since they are very few suppliers who purchase directly from Japan like USCamera. They only know if they list a foam product they may generate some sales. Second, those vendors have little if any first-hand knowledge about installing foam products. As I said, it is just an item or product for them to sell.
I am not going to address using yarn for sealing cameras. From the 1930s thru the early 1960s camera manufacturers tried many types of sealing products, including woven products, to make their film equipment light-tight. When they changed to foam, they never looked back.
The staff at USCamera has been cutting, packaging, and installing foam seals in photo equipment since the 1980s. That is hundreds of thousands of successful light seal foam installations for everything from cameras to photographic paper processors. For years we purchased foam seals directly from all of the major camera manufacturers. However, when digital equipment took over the imaging business, the camera manufacturers started to discontinue parts support of their film products including light seals, due to lack of demand.
So, I started searched for foam suppliers in the US and Internationally. It was by far more difficult than you would think since foam products are used in many different ways.
Foam is used everywhere. The foam required for photo equipment is twofold. The type of foam used and the tolerance in manufacturing. The camera manufacturers used only polyurethane that would, for the life of the material, compress easily and return the original size or thickness if the compression was released.
Tolerance in manufacturing cannot be more than 2-3 %. The foam from Japan is in the 1-2% range. For example, foam 1.5mm thick could be 1.47mm or 1.53mm. However, manufacturers in the US tend to be a 20% tolerance. That same foam of 1.5mm could be 1.20mm or 1.8mm. That may be fine for foam mattresses or your car seat just not photo products. An odd issue with the US is the lead time required. For the most part, that means they are not stocking foam material they schedule a production date when you place the order. That can weeks or longer until you receive an order.
Using the information provided, you should rule out using any foam products other than imported polyurethane foam in your photo equipment. I have purchased from many overseas and domestic foam suppliers. Any foam sheet you purchase should not have any voids or holes in the foam product. Foams like neoprene or EDPM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) are fine products just not made for photo products.
Lastly, 2 types of seals are available. Adhesive foam with double-sided tape applied and foam without the adhesive. Foam for photo products was generally the non-adhesive type. Adhesives like Pliobond was used to keep in place. Much easier to work with but you need adhesive, thinner and an applicator to place it. With adhesive foam just peel off the backing and apply.
This was written to help customers who are not working in the photo equipment service field. I am just trying to share the knowledge I have with you. If you have any questions or comments, please direct them to my attention. I always reply. It helps educate me on what consumers want or need when servicing their photo products.
Kindest Regards,
Gray
uscamera.com
