An experienced hunter knows exactly what tools to take on a hunt. This issue is well thought out and has long been organized. One of the mandatory attributes you should have with you is the scope of your weapon. This is an indispensable device for hunting, which certainly increases the chances of returning home with prey in hand.
Every hunter chooses this device with special care, considering many factors. Of course, there are many models of scopes of different shapes, generations, and purposes (daytime, night vision, thermal imaging scopes), all of which have other pricing policies, etc. However, no matter what kind of scope a hunter chooses, he or she must understand that the flawless operation of the device depends not only on the manufacturer but primarily on careful maintenance. After all, even the highest quality device will only last for a while if you monitor its cleanliness, integrity, and functional performance.
What Causes Dirt of Spotting Scopes?
In the description of the technical characteristics of modern scopes, you can see statements that indicate the strength of the body, the ability to withstand adverse weather conditions, etc. However, minor scratches or even dust that gets on the lens can affect your aiming ability and prevent you from seeing the target. That is why keeping your optical device clean after each use is essential.
After all, it can get dirty through trivial things. For example, through your hair and skin. On average, a person loses about 1000 hairs daily from the head, arms, body, etc. When it gets on the lens, it can cause contamination. As well as exfoliated skin particles or sweat released by the body due to heat or a stressful situation. Remember not to touch the lens directly with your fingers. This can also cause poor visibility of the optics.
Since such a device accompanies its owner everywhere, it often gets into various troubles with its owner. The scope can end in water, fall into mud or sand, or get caught in a snowdrift. No one is safe from such situations. But if you clean the lens from contamination in time, this will not be a problem.
Not only the riflescope itself but also the case in which you carry it requires careful treatment. It also often gets dirt, so it is important to remember to put a unique cover on the lens or prevent such situations.
Simple Ways To Clean A Spotting Scope Lens
After you return from hunting, it is essential first to inspect your optics. It is only necessary to clean it if the lens is filthy. Any cleaning is a risk of damaging the glass or coating.
Therefore, you should ensure you can avoid such situations in advance. Use cases, special caps before and after use. If you lose them or something happens to them, it is better to buy new ones. It will be much cheaper than buying a new scope.
Also, you should have a particular set of tools to take care of when ordering the scope.
This specialized set will include an air blower for cleaning dust, a special brush, a cleaner, and a microfiber cloth.
Now let's move on to the steps to follow when cleaning dirt from the riflescope surface.
First, you need to remove the dust with air. In no case should you blow on it. This can only aggravate the situation and add extra work. Saliva can get in, and you create excessive moisture on the coating. This is where you should use the pear we mentioned earlier. It is powerful enough to remove excess dust. Why is it necessary to do this immediately before wiping the lens with a cloth? Dust is a micro-particle that can scratch the coating applied to the glass. If you do this carelessly, you risk simply ruining your device. You may not notice it immediately, but these defects will be impossible to fix over time.
After removing dust, wipe the lenses with a clean, lint-free cloth impregnated with a special cleaning fluid. The liquid dissolves organic substances without damaging the solvent-sensitive clarifying coating. The mild detergent in this liquid acts as an emulsifier and reduces water's surface tension, so pollutants are drawn into the cleaning solution. Such cleaning makes it possible to rid the optics of greasy stains, dried water splashes, and other contaminants.
If you don't know which cleaner to look for, then contact Zeiss. This is one of the leading companies in the market for the production of optics of this class. And looking at their many years of experience, they know exactly what is needed to help you keep your lens in constant use.
Instead of lint-free fabric, you can use the latest generation of nonwovens with impregnation. Wipes made of them are often included with optical devices. However, you must be careful that they are explicitly designed to treat glass lenses. Start cleaning lenses from the center, making gentle circular motions, and gradually moving to the frame. This will help to avoid stains and streaks. Do not rub the surface of the lens with a cloth too hard. Otherwise, there is a risk of scratching and removing the clarifying coating.
After you've taken care of cleaning the most vulnerable part of the scope, you need to pay attention to the body. This is relatively easy. There are fewer rules of thumb here. Use a special liquid to wipe the surface and ear sticks to clean hard-to-reach areas.
Do's & Don'ts of Cleaning Your Spotting Scope
We have already talked about the manipulations that should be performed to clean the scope. Now let's talk about the things to avoid and not to neglect.
One of the most common mistakes is to pay attention to the protective cases and covers that go over the lens. Remember that this is small but protects your device from unnecessary damage.
You also need to be careful and check what surface, especially outdoors, you can put the scope with your rifle on. If it is a stone, you may accidentally scratch the body. Avoid contact with the ground because the lens will likely get dirty faster as soon as the wind blows. Make sure your riflescope is protected from water.
We mentioned earlier that a special liquid is designed to clean such optics. Pay attention to this rule. You should not use chemicals, for example, to clean a mirror or window glass. They will only damage the coating of your lens, and then you can safely say that you have wasted your money.
The same caution applies to the cloth you use for cleaning. Sometimes you think you can use your shirt or T-shirt, breathe and wipe the glass, as you can with glasses. But in such manipulations, you will encounter the result we mentioned above.
Under no circumstances should you disassemble the device yourself. Such intervention will affect the warranty, and you cannot prove anything. Suppose you suspect any need for such manipulation. In that case, you should contact professionals who will do it according to all the rules, using special tools for this purpose, and then be able to put it back together without causing additional damage. This is jewelry work. And a table in the garage, even with special tools, will not do.
At first glance, it may seem like much information to memorize on this issue. However, everything is much simpler than you think. After all, when you buy a scope, most manufacturers have a standard set of tools in their arsenal, ready-made for cleaning the area. We have already mentioned them earlier.
If you are still determining if you could do it yourself, it is undoubtedly better to ask someone with experience to show you how. And then it's just a matter of practice.
Be bold and ask questions when you use the advice in the store. In particular, ask how to understand that there is a risk of internal damage and in which cases your efforts to maintain the proper operation of the device may not be enough. What moments may signal that it is time to contact a professional who can intervene to prevent an unpleasant situation?
So these were the basic rules and tips on how to help your scope serve you as long as possible. And all of them are primarily aimed at saving your money and nerves. After all, no matter how expensive your optics are or what company manufactures them, it won't save the scope from neglect.