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Rifle Scopes Scope lens cleaning question

Maelstrom

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Jan 6, 2007
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Southern Maryland
While attempting to remount my Bushnell ERS tonight using the feeler gauge method I stupidly managed to put an oily finger print on the objective lens. What is the best way to clean the lens? I have several good cleaning clothes that have come with glasses and what not. Are these ok to use on the scope? If so what about water or cleaning solution?
 
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LensPen...

I don't have super expensive scopes, but I used it on my NF 2.5-10 as well as several multi-thousand dollar Nikon SLR Lenses without any problems. No need for a liquid solution, though I am sure you can use camera lens cleaning solution and tissues as well. Just my guess.
 
My owners manual from burris said to use a qtip with rubbing alcohol. Worked great.
 
You can get a 100 count pack of Zeiss alcohol cleaning wipes at walmart for cheap.

I keep them everywhere for rifle scopes, spotting scopes, camera lenses, etc....
 
If and only if i get a bad smudge like your case. I blow all the particulate off the lense with air followed by brush"lense pen". Another short shot of air,THEN bausch lomb lense wipes. The major mistake is sanding your lenses with particulate. I remember standing on deck at a match in summer suuuuper hot looking down and watchin sweat fall directly into the center of my frt objective, i was thinking nooooo. My cleaning process wasnt really that feasable at that moment errrrrr.
 
I saw a friend get a little piece of grit embedded in the pad end of a lenspen and grind swirls into the objective of a Leupold 4.5-14 Mk4.

For that reason I don't like reusable cleaning devices for lenses-- if any contaminants get onto it you're going to have problems. Disposable wipes or q-tips are the way to go IMO.

I use a little hand squeeze bulb air blower to get all the loose stuff off and then follow up with a couple of Zeiss pre-moistened lens wipes loosely bunched up. As mentioned a q-tip and acetone work great too.
 
Skill of the operator, I guess.
I always examine the lenspen pad before I rub it against a lens.
Your friend could have just as easily sanded his lens with a cloth since he doesn't pay attention.

Joe
 
Thanks for the replies. Would using a can of compressed air for a computer be an issue before wiping it with a q-tip or lens wipe?
 
Can air is good. Some people say its too cold yada yada. Used with common sense a few short shots to remove the coarse stuff is about as lightly as you can go about removing said particles.and to further clarify i dont use the pad on the lense pen only the brushes and i blow them out afterwards.