KOWA SPOTTING SCOPE STICKY
- Thread starter jcm24m
- Start date
I've heard Kowa will refinish it (about $250 back a couple years ago). I've also heard countless alcohol, clenzoil and other things but the sticky usually comes back. I had a sticky issue on another shooting item (not a scope) a long time ago and tried different stuff but the sticky came back after time.
muleystalker
Silver $$ Contributor
I have also heard of KOWA refinishing under warranty. If it was bought from a USA dealer selling US warranty KOWA and not selling over seas product they might warranty it. Some of the EBAY and amazon dealers along with some of the dealers in the back of camera magazines sell product that doesn't have a US warranty. I would give them a call.
I had another brand scope doing the same thing and nothing I tried stopped it. It had come with a package deal I bought for the GearBuggy and the seller disclosed it, I sent the scope down the road to a friend that could really use it. He put some of that stretchy camo sports tape ( that the PRS guys are putting on their scopes to protect them) on it and it works fine.
I had another brand scope doing the same thing and nothing I tried stopped it. It had come with a package deal I bought for the GearBuggy and the seller disclosed it, I sent the scope down the road to a friend that could really use it. He put some of that stretchy camo sports tape ( that the PRS guys are putting on their scopes to protect them) on it and it works fine.
powderbrake
Gold $$ Contributor
I have a Kowa that did the same thing, paint got soft. Kowa recommended sending it back to the factory in Japan to be repainted.
I took a different approach. I scraped off all the old paint with an x acto knife blade. Used rulers and other straight pieces of metal on large areas, and finished up with the x acto.
I was surprised to find the body is plastic. I assume it is some carbon fiber reinforced polymer. It is a dark grey or black. I never bothered to paint it myself, I just use it as is.
I took a different approach. I scraped off all the old paint with an x acto knife blade. Used rulers and other straight pieces of metal on large areas, and finished up with the x acto.
I was surprised to find the body is plastic. I assume it is some carbon fiber reinforced polymer. It is a dark grey or black. I never bothered to paint it myself, I just use it as is.
I think they all go like that. I just kept mine in the Kowa case so I didn't have to look at it.
mtncwru
Gold $$ Contributor
I'd start by dropping a line to the Service Department. I haven't had your issue yet, but for all my other questions Kowa has been great: even when the answer isn't "get a thing from Kowa" they've always pointed me in the right direction.
Contact Us | Kowa | Welcome to Kowa American Corp. LA Branch
Kowa American Corporation produces a wide range of products designed to enhance the visual experience and provide vision solutions and diagnostics for all users.
In the off chance that Kowa can't help you, I had a great experience with Mountain Optics in Oceanside, CA. I needed a definitely-not-in-warranty repair on my 821, and they did a fantastic job for a very reasonable price.
Superior Scope & Binocular Repair Service by Mountain Optics
We service all brands & models of binoculars & scopes - Specializing in high-quality scope & binocular repair service & restoration of WW1 and WW2 models.
mountainoptics.com
Buttstock-TX
Silver $$ Contributor
In Houston, learned that mosquito repellant causes this to happen...
Last edited:
danny
Silver $$ Contributor
Look on Youtube. A guy had this issue with a Jaguar's interior buttons. He went to Walmart (please go elsewhere) and got a bunch of things to clean with. He ended up finding that alcohol worked best.
Danny
Krogen
Gold $$ Contributor
This seems to be an issue with a lot of rubberized or "soft-touch" items. Eventually they get sticky. My TV remote had this coating on it that felt like a silicone rubber cellphone case. Real silicone rubber cases don't get sticky; the TV remote did. Cleaning with alcohol and then dusting it with something like talc or flour may take care of it. Given a choice, rubberized -anything- is off the table for me.
monster300
Silver $$ Contributor
I have one that did the same thing. It is a ongoing problem with the older ones. I called and shipped it in, about 5 years ago (scope was almost 20 years old at the time). It took a month or so but came back looking like new. Didn't cost a dime.
muleystalker
Silver $$ Contributor
I tried alcohol on mine and it kinda worked for about 5 minutes then it was back. I tried everything and nothing worked more than a hour or so. I even tried Talc powder after and again it didn't work. Short of removing it like powderbrake listed above I don't think anything else will work.
Bob in WI
Silver $$ Contributor
This is what i did with mine using rubbing alcohol. Lots of elbow work but got all the coating completely off
danny
Silver $$ Contributor
Somebody else in another video or posting said that gasoline worked. Alcohol worked for me on a guitar tuner that got sticky.
Danny
Some car guys swear by baby wipes on old steering wheels. I don’t know why it works, but they say it does.
muleystalker
Silver $$ Contributor
I tried those to, its like everything else, it works for a day and then its back, at least on the scopes. I think its because the scopes your dealing with a pair type coating whereas the other items your dealing with degrading plastic material.
c3d4b2
Silver $$ Contributor
They informed me they were no longer covering the paint under the warranty
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.