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Acetone As Scope Tube Cleaner

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    Posted: April/22/2012 at 06:20
I just got a used Leupold matte scope which has what appears to be super glue residue on the tube.  Acetone is the indicated solvent for super glue.  I don't want to risk damaging the finish, though.  Has anyone used acetone as a scope tube cleaner with satisfactory results?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 300S&W Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/22/2012 at 07:19
 
  I've used it (fingernail polish remover) on gloss scopes to remove tape residue and even paint off one I painted but I don't know about matte finishes. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/22/2012 at 11:00
The scope tube is anodized, so acetone will not hurt the tube finish at all.  DO NOT get it on the lenses or any rubber or plastic parts, though.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Blackmore Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/22/2012 at 11:30
Thanks.  I'll take it real SLOW.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/22/2012 at 11:57
Originally posted by RifleDude RifleDude wrote:

The scope tube is anodized, so acetone will not hurt the tube finish at all.  DO NOT get it on the lenses or any rubber or plastic parts, though.
 
You  mean I should STOP using acetone to clean the lenses on my scopes???
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 3_tens Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/22/2012 at 12:16
MEK works faster at removing most anything that has had a solvent base.Big GrinBig GrinBig Grin
NOT Recommended for scopes!!! or wood finishes    Big Grin
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote EAGLE Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/22/2012 at 12:24
Why not play it safe and ask Leupold

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stevey Ducks Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/22/2012 at 22:10
Acetone is extremely volitile and almost explosive and it is my opinion that it is also very toxic both upon skin exposure and inhalation. The reason I say this is that 4 of the people who I worked with that heavily used acetone developed Hodgkin's disease. I would find something else. Generally, as a benign solvent I like to use 91 percent isopropyl alchohol (the same stuff they swab on your skin prior to a flu shot). This stuff cuts thru many soft adhesives reasonably well. Hair spray might also work. 
 
All of my contacts with the folks at Leupold have been helpful.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/22/2012 at 23:20
Personally, I use the Zeiss Spray Cleaner that I get from Chris here at SWFA, but apparently the guys at US Optics use Acetone for cleaning lenses.


Edited by Roy Finn - April/22/2012 at 23:27
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote magshooter1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/23/2012 at 07:23
Burris tech rep told me several years back that they use acetone to clean all scope lenses before they leave the factory.  So that's what I've been using ever since.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/23/2012 at 13:00
I always play it safe with lens coatings.  Acetone may be o.k. for certain coatings, but since I've never needed to use anything other than lens cleaning solution specifically designed for optics to get lenses clean as new, I don't see a compelling reason to take a chance in possibly damaging the coatings.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roy Finn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/23/2012 at 14:01
Originally posted by RifleDude RifleDude wrote:

I always play it safe with lens coatings.  Acetone may be o.k. for certain coatings, but since I've never needed to use anything other than lens cleaning solution specifically designed for optics to get lenses clean as new, I don't see a compelling reason to take a chance in possibly damaging the coatings.
 
That's exactly the way I feel too. Zeiss spray and their lense cleaning wipes are all I've ever needed.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/23/2012 at 14:02
Me too, especially since you can now get the Zeiss lens wipes at places like WalMart.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucytuma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/23/2012 at 16:32
Originally posted by RifleDude RifleDude wrote:

Me too, especially since you can now get the Zeiss lens wipes at places like WalMart.
 
Exactly Ted! Thats what I've been using.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonoMT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/23/2012 at 16:43
For removing that glue, a little acetone is probably fine. As far as lenses are concerned, I just found acetone disappointing...still left streaks. The Zeiss cleaner has worked the best for me.
Reaction time is a factor...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stevey Ducks Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/25/2012 at 00:22
Lens (coated glass) vs tubes (anodized, coated or even painted aluminum)- entirely different.
 
Zeiss lens cleaner sounds like the way to go.
 
Constant exposure to acetone on your job sounds like oncoming health crisis. I don't care how well acetone would work as a solvent on anodized aluminum tubes or coated lenses. How well acetone would do on older magesium flouride lens coatings might be a problem. Acetone will quickly damage stock finishes and painted rifle parts. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/25/2012 at 22:00
I totally agree. 

Acetone will not harm an anodized aluminum scope tube finish, I can say that for certain.  Type II or III hard anodizing used on aluminum alloys is produced by electrochemically forming an oxide layer on the surface that is then dyed and sealed, and acetone will not remove the oxide bond. 

As a lens cleaner, acetone may very well not harm lens coatings either; I don't know and I'm not willing to take the risk on my own gear, none of which was given to me for free.  What I do know for certain is there's a bunch of lens cleaning solutions available that definitely won't harm lens coatings, because cleaning optical lenses is precisely what they were designed to do.  Given that lens cleaning solutions will get even the dirtiest lenses just as spotless as the the day the optic was first removed from its box, and given that the lens cleaning wipes and solutions will also clean scope tubes just fine, why take risks on something else?  Even if an optic company specifically recommended using acetone to clean lenses, I still wouldn't put up with the smell and risk of spilling it and damaging stock finishes when the lens cleaning wipes and chamois lens cloths do such a good job.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stevey Ducks Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/30/2012 at 02:08
A quick look at the MSDS (material data safety sheet) for acetone describes how bad this stuff is.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote budperm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/30/2012 at 06:32
Originally posted by Stevey Ducks Stevey Ducks wrote:

Acetone is extremely volitile and almost explosive and it is my opinion that it is also very toxic both upon skin exposure and inhalation. The reason I say this is that 4 of the people who I worked with that heavily used acetone developed Hodgkin's disease. I would find something else. Generally, as a benign solvent I like to use 91 percent isopropyl alchohol (the same stuff they swab on your skin prior to a flu shot). This stuff cuts thru many soft adhesives reasonably well. Hair spray might also work. 
 
All of my contacts with the folks at Leupold have been helpful.
 
Got news for you Stevey....  Acetone is the solvent thats in Hairspray.  Used to use it to remove the ink stamped prices on can goods in the grocery store. 
 
It sure would go a long way toward explaining Female Logic though wouldn't it!  Wink
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