Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Cleaning your lenses?

Is it acceptable to unscrew the eyepiece to make it fit in the tumbler?

I don't use the smudge remover anymore, found some light scratches on a scope after cleaning and decided it might be a small hunk of grit in the fabric.

How can you tell if you have these tough coatings ?

Easy - see if they degrade.

Well, we all know that super tuff, super hard coating, come with real catchie names like....diamond coat.......


dave

That's a really stupid idea there fish. Just get a bigger tumbler, like I did. Then you can put the whole scope in and do both lenses at the same time.

So should I just put a new scope in the freezer bag I didn't use cuz I didn't bag a deer cuz I was too worried about dirt on the lenses? That should keep it clean.

Basically only for looking. Not for using in the field.

So a lense pen is ok for light dusting or lint. What about the spots from rain water? I can't see them thru the scope only when I look into the objective end. Leave it alone?

Sheesh! You mean you guys actually take your scopes outside??

I an all seriousness, I wouldn't touch anything I own with the chamois end of a lens-pen, and the brush end is stretching it. If your lenses are real dirty, rinse them under a slow running sink or use a can of compressed air or lens brush to remove any sand, grit, dirt, then follow with a microfiber cloth and lens cleaning solution. Zeiss pre-moistened lens cloths work great also and you can buy them at the local Wal-Mart optical center for not a whole lot of money. A tip when using the Zeiss lens cloths is to double them up because the oils from your fingers can bleed through.

Having said that, my theory on lens cleaning is, the less you do it the better off you are.

When removing an oil smudge, the standard is usually acetone but this is done under strict guidelines as excess soaking of acetone can break down the seals and lens glues. Most of the homeowner cleaning solutions contain alcohol which will not damage the seals and glues if over applied. Zeiss cleaner wipes uses isopropyl alcohol. At one time they were using ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol. In a pinch, one of the European companies says to use Vodka. Eclipse is nothing more than a small bottle containing 100% methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, wood naphtha or wood spirits. They sell it to be applied with Pec pads.

In addition, most frown upon using cans of compressed air, unless using specific types under strict guidelines. If done incorrectly, the propellants are at such an extreme low temperature that they can cause permanent damage to the lens.

You are always safe using clean water to flush dirt and mud, while using an air bulb to remove dust. Alcohol applied with a non scratching cloth or applicator to remove oil should be safe. I'd avoid any rubbing if the lens is covered with debris as it could act as a grit to damage the surface. I'd also not soak the lens in acetone, only use small amounts at a time.

Best

I like my Nikon Lenspen. Works for me on my Z5's...

First while wearing safety glasses blow as much junk off of the lenses as you can. Then use 90% or purer rubbing alcohol or Acetone to flush more stuff off the lenses. (Do this outside with plenty of ventilation and away from sparks or flames as these fluids are flamable. Wear rubber gloves and safety glasses too.)

Follow up by using more of these fluids and a pure soft cotton cloth to remove any remaining film. A soft camel's hair brush works ewll too. Finnish with pure soft cottom lightly wiping the lenses.

These are more agressive methods but they work better than cleaning kits from camera shops.

Thank you.

Charlie Sunderlin

Right from leupold customer service. What do you think of that?

I just pour the alcohol in the end bell and light it off with a match. Requires no wiping.