Binoculars: refurbish possible?
 

I've got an old (c.25 years) pair of binoculars which are "hazing" due
to age: I'm assuming that the haze is internal -- the four outside lens
surfaces get cleaned regularly.

I've often looked at doing it, but always chicken out when I start to
unscrew things: is it actually possible to dismantle the binoculars and
clean the inside lens surfaces?

Cheers
John

Binoculars: refurbish possible?
 

On 13/05/2020 09:44, Another John wrote:
I've got an old (c.25 years) pair of binoculars which are "hazing" due
to age: I'm assuming that the haze is internal -- the four outside lens
surfaces get cleaned regularly.

I've often looked at doing it, but always chicken out when I start to
unscrew things: is it actually possible to dismantle the binoculars and
clean the inside lens surfaces?

Cheers
John

Well, yes; but there is a risk you will make things worse or not be able
to reassemble them successfully.

A common cause on old optics is the growth of a fungus on the internal
surfaces of lenses and prisms.I believe this can etch the coatings or
glass, and therefore can't simply be cleaned off.

Binoculars are not always easy to dismantle, and it depends on the prism
arrangement. I have not looked on YouTube but since everything else is
there, I assume they will be. That would definitely be my starting point.

At least it is easier to get hold of tools these days.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Neewer-Came.../dp/B0734PH87W

If they were expensive ones, it is probably safer to trust them to a
specialist. Good camera shops would usually be able to point you to someone.

Binoculars: refurbish possible?
 

On 13/05/2020 10:13, newshound wrote:
On 13/05/2020 09:44, Another John wrote:
I've got an old (c.25 years) pair of binoculars which are "hazing" due
to age: I'm assuming that the haze is internalÂ* -- the four outside lens
surfaces get cleaned regularly.

I've often looked at doing it, but always chicken out when I start to
unscrew things: is it actually possible to dismantle the binoculars and
clean the inside lens surfaces?

Cheers
John

Well, yes; but there is a risk you will make things worse or not be able
to reassemble them successfully.

Most binoculars have several lenses and in some cases they are cemented
together so this could cause you some issues, best to google & utube for
more info.

Binoculars: refurbish possible?
 

A chap on the Repair Shop did a refurbish on I think a set of German military ones. He did have to replace a prism but had an extensive selection of recovered ones to try out to get a perfect fit.

Richard

Binoculars: refurbish possible?
 

On 13/05/2020 10:50, Tricky Dicky wrote:
A chap on the Repair Shop did a refurbish on I think a set of German military ones. He did have to replace a prism but had an extensive selection of recovered ones to try out to get a perfect fit.

Richard

I had a Porro prism one apart many years ago, I never managed to get the
prism alignment back correctly (even though it looks simple).

Binoculars: refurbish possible?
 

On 13/05/2020 09:44, Another John wrote:
I've got an old (c.25 years) pair of binoculars which are "hazing" due
to age: I'm assuming that the haze is internal -- the four outside lens
surfaces get cleaned regularly.

I've often looked at doing it, but always chicken out when I start to
unscrew things: is it actually possible to dismantle the binoculars and
clean the inside lens surfaces?

Cheers
John

If the hazing badly affects using them and they dont have a high value,
then you have nothing to loose from attempting to improve things.
Start with removing the lenses and cleaning their inside surfaces.

Binoculars: refurbish possible?
 

"Another John" wrote in message
...
I've got an old (c.25 years) pair of binoculars which are "hazing" due
to age: I'm assuming that the haze is internal -- the four outside lens
surfaces get cleaned regularly.

I've often looked at doing it, but always chicken out when I start to
unscrew things: is it actually possible to dismantle the binoculars and
clean the inside lens surfaces?

Cheers
John

This link describes a successful attempt at this. A superficial scan
of the article suggest that cleaning the prisms alone may cure
cloudiness.

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/3...emblycleaning/


michael adams

....

Binoculars: refurbish possible?
 

OP here -- thanks to all for the suggestions, especially to Michael, who
found the link to the [rather daunting] page which actually discusses
and illustrates the procedu

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/3...emblycleaning/

I already know infinitely more than I did when I asked the question
earlier today!

Thanks again
John

Binoculars: refurbish possible?
 

It should be. Also remember the prisms as well, If they are designed well
you can normally get things back together again accurately. Wear cotton
gloves etc, and check for smears and blooming effects. Make sure you
absolutely know which part went where as they can appear the same but not
quite be the same.
Brian

--
----- --
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Another John" wrote in message
...
I've got an old (c.25 years) pair of binoculars which are "hazing" due
to age: I'm assuming that the haze is internal -- the four outside lens
surfaces get cleaned regularly.

I've often looked at doing it, but always chicken out when I start to
unscrew things: is it actually possible to dismantle the binoculars and
clean the inside lens surfaces?

Cheers
John

Binoculars: refurbish possible?
 

Another John wrote in news:lalaw44-
:

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/3...emblycleaning/

Cleaning any coated lens worries me!

Binoculars: refurbish possible?
 

In article 2,
John Not.responding.@dotcom wrote:

Another John wrote in news:lalaw44-
:

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/3...emblycleaning/

Cleaning any coated lens worries me!

Thanks John and also to Brian (who sounds like he's done this too!) --
the chap at the link above warns against the hazard you mention, and the
solution seems to be (as Brian indicated) to clean the prisms.

I haven't written off this job, but I've put it well down The List
(after repainting the garage floor, and for that matter cleaning the
budgie's cage out)! I would hate to ruin my binocs through my own
incompetence. It's not too expensive, these days, to get a pretty good
new pair, but I hate to see old things thrown out[1], and I would hate
even more to have been the person responsible for making that necessary!

Cheers
John

[1] Not that I would throw them out, of course: I would put the sad
little pile of bits into a box "in case they come in useful". To be
discovered in some years time, when my kids have to get the skip in ...

Binoculars: refurbish possible?
 

Another John wrote in
:

In article 2,
John Not.responding.@dotcom wrote:

Another John wrote in news:lalaw44-
:

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/349597-binocular-
disassemblyclean
ing/

Cleaning any coated lens worries me!

Thanks John and also to Brian (who sounds like he's done this too!) --
the chap at the link above warns against the hazard you mention, and
the solution seems to be (as Brian indicated) to clean the prisms.

I haven't written off this job, but I've put it well down The List
(after repainting the garage floor, and for that matter cleaning the
budgie's cage out)! I would hate to ruin my binocs through my own
incompetence. It's not too expensive, these days, to get a pretty
good new pair, but I hate to see old things thrown out[1], and I would
hate even more to have been the person responsible for making that
necessary!

Cheers
John

[1] Not that I would throw them out, of course: I would put the sad
little pile of bits into a box "in case they come in useful". To be
discovered in some years time, when my kids have to get the skip in
...


Many such devices had a special grease in the focusing mechanism to
provide a smooth friction. See:
https://support.newgatesimms.com/fin...ive-for-rocol-
kilopoise-0868-damping-grease/