Hercules lens scratched? Please help me !!

[Minamoto Kobayashi]

Hi RA_ Pierce!
What You mean with "90% alcohol"?
Do You mean that I must mix 90% of isoprophilic alcohol and 10% of distilled water?
I always used pure isoprophilic alcohol, but I have tried also Canon professional lens cleaner solution (that is more or less the same thing).
I have done Your suggested procedure many many times, with the only difference that I used the cotton with much much liquid inside, but I have removed it with the other side of the q-tip very quickly! I have never touched the cotton with the hands, and I have changed the q-tip for every cleaning!


Richard.

 

[RA_pierce]

Hi RA_ Pierce!
What You mean with "90% alcohol"?
Do You mean that I must mix 90% of isoprophilic alcohol and 10% of distilled water?
I always used pure isoprophilic alcohol, but I have tried also Canon professional lens cleaner solution (that is more or less the same thing).
I have done Your suggested procedure many many times, with the only difference that I used the cotton with much much liquid inside, but I have removed it with the other side of the q-tip very quickly! I have never touched the cotton with the hands, and I have changed the q-tip for every cleaning!


Richard.

If you have the pure stuff then that is ok. The highest percentage I can find locally is 91% so that is why I recommend it.
I don't use any solutions except alcohol for my lenses because in the past I have gotten poor results from commercial lens cleaners.

Try using less liquid. Sometimes if I get the lens too wet it does not clean well even if I dry it quickly. When I do it, I use a small amount so the alcohol evaporates from the lens within a second or two.
From the pictures you showed us, the lens still looks like it has some residue on it (I can tell by the streaks and irregularity of the surface reflections).

What I mean by using the q-tip only one time is that as soon as the cotton comes into contact with the lens, it is contaminated. Applying the same swab to the lens again will only spread some of the junk around.
The way I do it is: dip, swipe, throw away, check beam. dip, swipe, throw away, check again... In a repetitive motion. It also helps to swipe in only one direction on the lens.

For very dirty optics I am usually not afraid to apply light pressure to rub off anything sticky but afterwards I always use the procedure above.

I hope this helps!

 

[Deleted member 16589]

here is an unconventional way I clean lenses ( this only works for residue )
Take a peace of scotch tape and place it one the lens and gently rub it down wait 5 seconds and peal it off.
People say this is a bad idea but i have never had a problem doing this.

 

[Minamoto Kobayashi]

Mmm ... I have tried everything mentioned above, but nothing works.
I have wasted 100+ q-tips and a couple of isoprophilic alcohol, but the things goes worst everytime that I try to do anything on the lens.
In my modest opinion, the AR coating is damaged and time after time is leaving the glass surface.
I have also tried a similar technique that You have just suggested me with teflon tape, but nothing happened. As last chance I will try Your suggested method!

Thank to everyone.

Richard.