Degreasing before scope mounting

[Tigerbikes]

Noob question here and hopefully in the right forum:

1) Do you degrease BOTH the insides of your scope rings AND the scope tube before mounting?

2) Is acetone OK / adequate?

Thanks in advance for your advice / opinions!

 

[Trigger Monkey]

Yes and Yes. Rubbing alcohol will work too.

 

[...]

I've never degreased a scope or rings before in my life.

This sounds like another one of those made up problems

 

[MDof2]

Why is there grease on the rings or tube to begin with?

 

[Trigger Monkey]

It's good practice to wipe down the rings and the scope tube prior to mounting everything up. Grease and oils on your fingers transferred to the rings and scope as you handle them can attract grit and things. Wiping them out with a fast evaporating cleaner/degreaser makes for a clean mating surface between the two so there's no interference when setting the scope in the rings.

 

[...]

You are mounting a scope, not calibrating the Hubble...wipe it down if you want but don't pretend the reason you miss your target is because of a fingerprint on your scope.

 

[Paqueo]

You should degrease both. And maybe the threads if you apply blue loctite and suspect they are contaminated with oil.
Careful with acetone. Can cause damage to synthetics and painted surfaces.
Better use petroleum ether (benzine - not to be confused with benzene) or some alcohol.

 

[FuhQ]

I've never degreased a scope or rings before in my life.

This sounds like another one of those made up problems

Yep! It's only a problem with cheap or shitty old school style steel rings with a gloss finish, like Leupold dovetails. I don't think I've had to wipe packing/manufacturing grease off a set of rings in nearly 20 years...About the time I stopped using Leupolds and the industry started getting more advanced.

 

[KnowNothing256]

I’m with @mcameron on this. And FWIW, not only have I never degreased either of the scope-to-ring bearing surfaces, I’ve often gone the opposite direction and put strips of Post-It on the inner ring surface to prevent marks (not anymore, I just buy quality rings). Never had a scope slip, nor have I ever worried it would.

 

[Raffy]

I wouldnt use locktite. It acts as a liquid lubricant until it sets and you will over torque your rings.

 

[Rob01]

I usually Qtip the screw holes and wipe the screws with alcohol to get off any packing grease or anything left from manufature with new rings and while doing it hit the inside of the rings also. Doesn't hurt anything and takes a couple minutes tops.

 

[mtwarych]

Instead of using acetone to de-grease, use denatured alcohol. The denatured alcohol will carry impurities as it evaporates. Really.

 

[Tigerbikes]

Thanks for all the feedback!
I recently got my first pair of ARC rings in a trade. I looked up the installation instructions for torque specs and it said "Ensure that both the scope and the rings are clean and degrease the scope tube and the inner surface of the scope rings if necessary." (https://www.americanrifle.com/web/content/30470).
Yes... it says "if necessary".
I just wondered how many folks in the know on this forum make degreasing a standard practice and, if so, what they use.

 

[KnowNothing256]

It’s certainly cheap insurance, agreed with those who said it’s fast, easy, and won’t hurt anything.