How often does everybody inspect/grease their camera housing o-rings?

[diverrex]

I usually remove and regrease my o ring each day. Running it through my fingers seems to clean off any small particles. I also do a fresh water dunk test each day before diving. At tropical resorts I'll usually use the swiming pool as I walk to the boat. On local charters I use the camera bucket. On a recent charter I could see small bubbles continuing to come up from the housing during a dunk. I quickly pulled it out and saw a small amount of water at the bottom of the housing. After drying out the camera (A620) the only problem is a 1/4" black spot on the LCD screen.

 

[annasea]

I inspect and grease each time I open the housing... usually after a day of diving. I generally remove it, too. I guess this is overkill based on some of the above posts. I find if I do not grease the o-ring after opening, the housing (Canon) is a nightmare to pry open the next time.

 

[acqua_girl]

Then you def want a magnifying glass....I once found a hair off my lab 1200 miles away from home on Bonaire...laying across the oring on my 5050. I doubt I would have seen it without the glass. The cheap $1 ones do fine.

Lucky me: I already got a magnifying glass! Didn't have to spend my $1...

Now I'm afraid to find more than expected on on the o-ring. :errrr:

 

[ScubaSteve]

Lucky me: I already got a magnifying glass! Didn't have to spend my $1...

Now I'm afraid to find more than expected on on the o-ring. :errrr:

Well, if you already travel with a spare o-ring, then you should never be without your camera (unless it floods) due to a bad o-ring. If you do not, this is a good reason to get one before you next hit the water. And remember to treat the spare o-ring with care as well.

 

[under water]

Here's what I do, not necessarily, what I recommend.
I have only used Canon & Fuji cases, they might maybe even be made by the same manufacturer.
I usually store them closed. (I have cats & dogs too). I usually, but not always, inspect the case & grease the o-ring before major trips.
During trips, I never take the o-ring out, just look at it. I check it out maybe every other time that I put the camera back in after card or battery replacement during trips, which usually translates to every other day.

 

[lmorin]

I store my case cracked open so the o-ring won't flatten. Before each trip, I wipe the o-ring clean of grease and use a Q-tip to clean out the groove it sits in, as well as the opposing contact point.

Because of one disaster, I now clean and re-grease the o-ring and the contact points on the case every time the case is opened. The disaster was caused by very fine particulates adhering to the grease on exposed o-ring surfaces, then rotating onto the case surfaces with repeated opening and closing of the camera case.

The "every opening, clean it" approach is probably overkill (in fact, I know it is), but once burned, twice shy, particularly if there is any chance whatsoever of particles adhering to the o-ring.

 

[tlmainer]

I had heard before it is a good idea to leave camera open while storing in a container or pull o-ring out so as not to flatten it out.

 

[DiverLS]

I inspect my o-rings every time I open the case. If the inspection indicates the o-ring needs lubrication, I will do it. I clean the o-ring track with a foam make-up applicator. Q-tips can shed lint.

When I am finished diving I remove my o-rings and place them in a plastic bag. That's because I live at 5,000 feet and dive the blue, 0 feet. If I leave the o-ring in and open the case at home, I can't open it once I get back to diving.

I also carry non lint towels in case of emergency. They are stored in a gallon baggie. Paper towels and cloth towels carry lint.

And where did any one hear Ikelite o-rings do not have to be greased. I thought that was why Ikelite sells o-ring greese. Sealife DC camera o-rings do not have to be greased. Maybe a little confusion?

 

[scuba-s]

another thing not mentioned is when you lube the oring use the lube sparingly and ovoid stretching the oring

 

[tlmainer]

Great advise everyone...Thanks