No-touch scope lens cleaning?

[Mike Casselton]

The reason I posted this question is due to a Leupold scope I trashed using one of those lens pens. A tiny piece of grit escaped the brush and then scratched the lens when I used the felt pad end. That was maybe 30 years ago. I haven’t cleaned a scope lens ever since!

Had the same issue. I threw it away when I got home and went back to light brushing, alcohol and Q-Tips.

I do carry the Zeiss lens wipes in my vehicle, mostly for cleaning glasses.
Once in a while I'll use one on a scope or binocular if it's really bad.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Had the same issue. I threw it away when I got home and went back to light brushing, alcohol and Q-Tips.

I do carry the Zeiss lens wipes in my vehicle, mostly for cleaning glasses.
Once in a while I'll use one on a scope or binocular if it's really bad.

I keep the Zeiss lens wipes in my range bag and vehicle.

 

[Downeast]

Remember that you "clean" from the center of the lens to the edge. It's easy for crud to accumulate around the perimeter of the lens that you may or may not even see until it is too late.

 

[d31tc]

lense pen puffer, Q-tips, water, then alcohol watch camera lense cleaning youtube...go in small circular motions with qtip lightly wipe with 100% cotton or Lense cloth...washed cotton inspection gloves are the best 100% cotton

This.

I usually don't have to use the alcohol. The distilled water usually does enough. Make sure it's distilled water.

I saw this youtube video linked on another forum, and this is what I've been doing since. This video doesn't show the lense puffer, but I do that first as well. Clean q-tips. I switch out the Q-Tip after each swipe. Lightly at first to get it hydrated and pick up any big stuff remaining after the puffer. Scope lenses come out very clean.

The Angry Photographer: The BEST & FASTEST WAY to clean your lens or filter streak free!​

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[6MMsteve]

FWIW, Leupold advises, "your riflescope should be cleaned as little as possible, or only when you see a problem."

I would say PRS shooters have to clean some down on ground but I don't clean mine unless can't see

This.

I usually don't have to use the alcohol. The distilled water usually does enough. Make sure it's distilled water.

I saw this youtube video linked on another forum, and this is what I've been doing since. This video doesn't show the lense puffer, but I do that first as well. Clean q-tips. I switch out the Q-Tip after each swipe. Lightly at first to get it hydrated and pick up any big stuff remaining after the puffer. Scope lenses come out very clean.

The Angry Photographer: The BEST & FASTEST WAY to clean your lens or filter streak free!​

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I think it's the one I seen...but hell I don't shoot enough to justify cleaning lenses...

 

[coldboreshot]

Since I have a few older US Optics SN-? TPAL EREK series scopes, here is the cleaning instructions page supplied with each. Interesting the suggestion of water damaging the coatings but ok to use filtered acetone. Maybe specific to the glass US Optics used.
Hope the photo is readable.

 

[ELR LVR]

Since I have a few older US Optics SN-? TPAL EREK series scopes, here is the cleaning instructions page supplied with each. Interesting the suggestion of water damaging the coatings but ok to use filtered acetone. Maybe specific to the glass US Optics used.
Hope the photo is readable. View attachment 1762220

Acetone?!
That surprises me
and
US Optics saying a change of 40F Deg can fog the scope due to overcoming dessicant inside the scope?
Isn't that why scopes are Nitrogen purged?
(plus they spelled dessicant wrong.)
Not arguing with you personally here, just very surprised by what I am reading from US Optics.
---
One thing to be careful of acetone, is for some scopes it can totally melt the paint on the outside
I had some tape residue on a Vintage Bausch & Lomb Gloss Black scope
So I figured I would use some acetone to remove the tape glue
Suddenly, it cut through the paint and started smearing the paint
Must have been a Laquer based paint
---
I have some little spray bottle of stuff for cleaning the lense of my divers mask
That's what I tend to use
I think I would use Windex before using Acetone myself
---
And I have not tried this yet, but I have seen some people use Hydrogen Peroxide to clean glass with very good results (3%) and also kills any fungus that may be on the lense.