OpticsTalk by SWFA, Inc. Homepage SWFA     SampleList.com
Forum Home Forum Home > Scopes > Rifle Scopes
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - removing fingerprints... I NEED HELP!!
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Visit the SWFA.com site to check out our current specials.

removing fingerprints... I NEED HELP!!

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
lexmark View Drop Down
Optics Apprentice
Optics Apprentice


Joined: January/29/2009
Status: Offline
Points: 64
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lexmark Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: removing fingerprints... I NEED HELP!!
    Posted: March/15/2009 at 00:37
Well this is a bit frustrating....I would normally take windex and cotton cloth to my cheap scopes but im afraid to do much to this zeiss. 
 
I went to a camera shop and picked up a cleaning kit which included some lense tissue and cloth along with "lense cleaning fluid" ,  I also picked up a microfiber cloth at an optometrist but NOTHING seems to be able to pull the oil off the lense!
 
 
I'm afraid to use the cleaning fluid and all i've been able to do is smear my fingerprint around...
 
 
what could I use to remove it without harming the coating?
Back to Top
jetwrnch View Drop Down
Optics Apprentice
Optics Apprentice
Avatar

Joined: July/03/2006
Location: Knoxville, TN
Status: Offline
Points: 294
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jetwrnch Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/15/2009 at 06:55
I use the little Zeiss lens cleaning packets. You can get a large box of them for a few bucks at optical centers.
Back to Top
silver View Drop Down
Optics Master
Optics Master


Joined: November/04/2005
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 2291
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote silver Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/15/2009 at 07:25
You put a small drop of the lens cleaning fluid on the cloth, not the lens, and start making small circles starting at the edge of the lense and working to the center.  And your finger was on the lens why?Whistling
"If we weren't all crazy we, We would go insane."   Jimmie Buffet

WWW.formitch.com

Back to Top
Duce View Drop Down
Optics Master
Optics Master
Avatar

Joined: September/19/2006
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 1231
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Duce Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/15/2009 at 08:03
Nikon makes lens cleaning cloths treated for scopes, some fluids will damage the coatings on the lens, Smilecareful.
duce
Duce
Back to Top
hunter12345 View Drop Down
Optics Journeyman
Optics Journeyman


Joined: November/21/2007
Status: Offline
Points: 470
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote hunter12345 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/15/2009 at 08:33

Use the brush first to clean away the dust from the top layer of the lens.Zeiss makes a scope cleaning kit and go buy Buttler Creek scope covers which would prevent you from touching the lens.

Back to Top
twofer View Drop Down
Optics GrassHopper
Optics GrassHopper


Joined: November/13/2006
Status: Offline
Points: 35
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote twofer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/15/2009 at 08:37
My preferred way to clean a high quality scope lens is:
 
1) demount the scope from the rifle;
 
2) rinse the lens surface under the tap with a strong stream of room temperature wanter (it is a high quality scope, so it is water proof).  This should remove all hard particles that would otherwise scratch the lens surface and dissolve and carry away water soluble liquids/films/residues;
 
3) spray the lens liberally with multiple strong spurts from a bottle of the Zeiss lens cleaning fluid.  Really saturate the surface so that the fluid flows copiously off the lens surface.  This should dissolve and carry away any oils on the lens the water would not remove;
 
4) rinse again with a strong stream of room temperature tap water to remove the cleaning fluid; and,
 
5) gently pat dry with tissue paper (be sure to avoid tissues that have lotions and other oils impregnated into them).
 
6) If 1-5 do not work, I repeat the process but do some gentle wiping with a clean tissue between steps 3 and 4;
 
7)  if 1-6 do not work, I continue repeating 1-6, but wipe more agressively between 3 and 4  each time until the lens comes clean or the stain is so stubborn that I figure I will damage the lens coating befofre I get the stain off.
 
if 1-8 do not work, the lens surface itself has been permanently etched by the finger prints and the marks can only be removed by polishing off the lens' surface coating and recoating - something I have had done with irreplaceable camera lenses.  Of course, it may be cheaper to replace the lens at this point, if component lens elements are still available.
 
I have successfully used this method on many Kahles scopes.  Some residues have been very stubborn and required the application of step 7 multiple times.  but each of my scopes have come clean with this regimen.
 
--twofer
Back to Top
lexmark View Drop Down
Optics Apprentice
Optics Apprentice


Joined: January/29/2009
Status: Offline
Points: 64
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lexmark Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/15/2009 at 10:37

thanks twofer for that detailed responce, i'll give it a try

Back to Top
Al Nyhus View Drop Down
Optics Apprentice
Optics Apprentice


Joined: March/08/2009
Status: Offline
Points: 127
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Al Nyhus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/15/2009 at 11:41
   Leupolds Lens Pen works great..brush off the dust with one end and the small chamois dauber on the other end removes the smudges and prints.  -Al
Back to Top
Roy Finn View Drop Down
MODERATOR
MODERATOR
Avatar
Steiner Junkie

Joined: April/05/2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 4856
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/15/2009 at 12:01
+1 on the LensPen or the Zeiss wipes. Do not use Windex as it contains harsh chemicals.
Back to Top
rifle looney View Drop Down
Optics Master
Optics Master
Avatar

Joined: November/21/2008
Status: Offline
Points: 2553
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote rifle looney Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/15/2009 at 12:14
Can't figure how do you guy's get finger prints on something you are not supposed to be touching in the first place, and if you are then just use cleaning cloths/towelettes made for the job . No need to dismount a scope for cleaning purposes? Keep lens caps on when not in use. While in the field I personally do not use lens caps, should the lens get dusty just blow on it and use your cloth/towelette!     . cheap scopes/high end scopes treat them all the same
Back to Top
twofer View Drop Down
Optics GrassHopper
Optics GrassHopper


Joined: November/13/2006
Status: Offline
Points: 35
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote twofer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/15/2009 at 17:02
Besides the Zeiss lens fluid, a good lens cleaning fluid is Residual Oil Remover:
 
 
Also, there is a lens cleaning product called "First Contact" which is poured onto the lens surface as a liquid and allowed to dry into a flexible film.  During the liquid phase, any oils and residues are dissolved into the liquid, and when dry solid particles (such as dust) adheres to the film.   The liquid and solid contaminates are carried away when the dried film is peeled away.  No rubbing of the lens surface is required.
 
Just some more options.
 
--twofer
 
 
Back to Top
jonoMT View Drop Down
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Avatar

Joined: November/13/2008
Location: Montana
Status: Offline
Points: 4853
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonoMT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/15/2009 at 18:42
Bottom of this page: http://www.opticstalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9913&PN=12. Chris Farris describes SWFA's method. It works pretty well for me. I do also use a Leupold (or similar pen) after first using compressed air. But if I ever end up with severely fouled optic on something waterproof I might try the water and cleaner method.
Back to Top
RONK View Drop Down
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Optics Master Extraordinaire
Avatar

Joined: April/05/2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3199
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RONK Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/15/2009 at 21:34
 I always used warm running water and then a mild detergent on a Q-tip, followed by more running warm water, but the U.S Optics site has a video showing how they recommend cleaning their lenses, and they say no water. They use Acetone!
  Seems harsh to me...but it will remove the oily prints nicely.
 
 If you ever use compressed air, be sure it is from a can or a filtered or oilless compressor!
 
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.01
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.422 seconds.