Preferred Glass Cleaning Tactics

[Rockdoc173]

What is the preferred solution for cleaning the glass on these high end scopes. Or, is a dry cleaning the way to go. I never thought about this until a short time ago when I though my scope was not as clear as I remembered. Actually it was covered in dust lol

 

[CoryT]

Photo grade lens paper and solution. A dust brush first to get the particles off, then a drop of cleaner and wipe in circles from the center. A blower like dust off can be used, but care must be taken not to get propellant on a hot lens.

 

[celltech]

The Lensrentals Lens Cleaning Methods

There are some articles I try hard to avoid writing. Politics, religion, the so-called benefits of UV filters and other things that get Fanboys riled up I avoid like the plague. So for two years, while people have asked over-and-over for me to write an article on how we clean lenses, I've...

www.lensrentals.com

 

[alamo5000]

Get a lens pen. If it's good enough for an expensive camera lens it will work for another type of optic as well. I use them with no problem at all.

 

[JBoomhauer]

I alternate between a rocket air blower and a soft brush meant for lenses. Keep alternating until I am sure there is no debris.

Finish up with some cleaning solution and a microfiber for glass. I throw the microfibers away frequently to avoid scratches.

 

[Rockdoc173]

No alcohol?

 

[alamo5000]

No alcohol?

If you have something stubborn on your lens then maybe. The trick for lenses is to do the bare minimum. Do not just start out full blast.

If someone sneezes on your lens and it gets dried up then use some sort of solution. Otherwise for general maintenance just use the lens pen and that's it.

 

[loveha]

I blow the dust off, then with a cotton ball and some 90%+ isopropyl alcohol I wipe it clean. The higher the concentration the quicker it evaporates and causes less streaking. Can use a microfiber cloth, but use cheap ones you would not care about throwing away. Used to many times they pick up oils and can ruin a lens you almost had clean and back to cleaning. Wash hands before cleaning. But a lens pen for dust is really all you should need unless you got cleaning oils/solvents or finger prints on the lens.

 

[nikonNUT]

Get a set of lens pens. I brush the glass with the included brush to get the chunks off, then blow off the lenses with canned air. After that I use the lens pen to clean the glass. After that another blast from the canned air and good to go. If you are extra OCD like me you can use a strong light to check for smudges you might have missed.

P.S. IF you have water spots I use a new clean microfiber cloth wetted with distilled water. Swab the glass gently and then dry. Afterwards clean the lenses as normal. I do not recommend doing this a lot but if you have water spots it will do the trick and I have done it on my Nikor glass when needed. IF you have to use lens cleaning fluid I recommend Rosco.

 

[DustBun]

I rarely clean my lenses, maybe 4 times a year, I do the following:

For simple debris removal or general cleaning:
I first use a blower brush, similar to this, to remove any debris. Then I use a lens pen working from the center out in a circular motion. I then use Breakthrough Clean Lens Cleaner on a Sensei Lens Tissue and a Q-Tip and polish it with an Otis Lens Cleaning Cloth.

On the rare occasion I have spots on the lenses from rain or a smudge:
I first use a blower brush, followed by a lens pen and then I use acetone on a Sensei Lens Tissue, per US Optics recommendation. Then I use Breakthrough Clean Lens Cleaner on a Sensei Lens Tissue and a Q-Tip and polish it with an Otis Lens Cleaning Cloth.

Note: I store the lens cleaning cloth in a clean container to keep anything from getting on it and only use it about 5 times and then discard just in case there might be any debris embedded in it.

 

[kwityurbeachn]

Opto wipes. You can use Kim tech wipes also. I splice fiber optics and clean the fiber with kimwipes and use opto wipes to clean my machines lenses. Canned air at a distance first, light cleaning with soft dust removal brush. (dust is what is going to scratch the lense), 99% alcohol on moistened wipe and gently clean lense. Never clean with dry wipes and don’t be cheap. They are consumables so dont try to make one last too long. Keep wipes and brush sealed from contaminating dust. FYI Static is your enemy. Some pharmacies will order the higher grade alcohol, think Safeway carries it at times.

 

[brianf]

agree with the above

grab a dust brush and some single use optical wipes (ziess makes them called lens wipes) in the little tear packets

toss a few in a each bag and your done

 

[pmclaine]

Remove gross contamination with a soft brush/blower.

I use distilled water.

I use clean cotton swabs.

I dip the swab in the distilled water.

I wick most of the water off the swab on a clean towel.

Working from the center to the edge I use tight circular polishing to remove dirt.

Each swab only gets used once, I save them for gun cleaning.

Two or three times and everthing is pretty much removed from the lens or pushed to the edge.

I "may" lightly polish a water stain with a dry swab but lightly is the key.

I "may" clean my lenses once or twice a year....if needed.

Camera/binos get same treatment and usually are cleaned more often as finger fucking happens more easily.

 

[Highbrass]

I use a homemade solution for lens cleaning. I use a small Gatorade bottle. Fill 3\4 full with distilled water. Then add a small amount (teaspoon) of alcohol (Isopro) . Be sure to mark the bottle as lens cleaner. Use sparingly with a q-tip and lens cloth.