Question about using a heat gun on old shutter curtains

I was sure using a heat gun to relax a stiff cloth shutter curtain on a 1950s camera would ruin it. Tried it on a Zorki 4 last month with the gun on low from a foot away for 10 seconds, and the curtain smoothed right out. Has anyone else found a weird trick that actually works?

3 comments

3 Comments

brown.gavin20d ago

Read an old repair manual that mentioned using a hairdryer on low heat for stiff bellows, same idea. They said to keep it moving and test a small spot first. Your method with the extra distance seems smart for something as thin as a curtain.

caleb_thomas8520d ago

That old manual probably used thicker vinyl than modern curtains.

lewis.troy18d ago

Honestly, is a hairdryer really necessary for a curtain?