Best techniques to clean RDS glass?

[flyrodr]

Paper towel and Windex are both a big NO on aircraft windshields and I would be extremely careful about their use on a red dot — especially so on a Shield.

Big this!! There's a bunch of "impact-proof", "shatter-resistant", etc. polymer materials used very successfully in @GJM's example, goggles/face masks, eyeglasses, etc. But impact resistance isn't the same as non-scratching. I've ruined more than one pair of shatterproof prescription lenses by wiping off dried saltwater, using a paper towel, or similar "sins". What you can get away with on glass won't necessarily work on polymers. Microfiber cloths or lens pens are the way to go. But you have to keep the microfiber cloths clean! Toss them in the washing machine occasionally. And keep them in a plastic bag, e.g., Ziplock.

[Tom Duffy]

A lot of good points raised about how to clean a red dot. There’s an old photographic adage about it being better to keep a lens clean than to keep cleaning your lens. Not possible with a red dot so I’m not as careful as I would be when cleaning an old Leica lens for example. After shooting a couple hundred rounds the front element of my dot is full of powder residue and some oil. Best to get the crud off without grinding the abrasive stuff into the element or, as pointed out, letting your microfiber cloth become abrasive. I periodically wash my cloth in mild dish detergent, rinse throughly, and let it air dry. Fortunately, modern lens coatings are extremely hard and resistant to scratching. That said, using paper towels, tee shirts, etc. is going to lead to lots of micro scratches in the longer term which will really degrade the view in contrasty light.

[JRV]

RDS manufacturers need to take a hint from the cell phone industry and make easily-applicable and easily-removable cling-on transparent screen shields a thing.

Make from a micro-perforated material to prevent bubbles. Leave a little tab of extra material on a "corner" so you can get the material off without scraping at your lens.

Get a bunch of powder on the front of your objective? Peel and replace.

If someone is already doing this, or someone can explain a technical reason why this is not doable (coatings and adhesives?), please let me know.

[vandal]

Like the Thyrm product for weapon lights?


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[ArgentFix]

Paper towel and Windex are both a big NO on aircraft windshields and I would be extremely careful about their use on a red dot — especially so on a Shield.

Big this!! There's a bunch of "impact-proof", "shatter-resistant", etc. polymer materials used very successfully in @GJM's example, goggles/face masks, eyeglasses, etc. But impact resistance isn't the same as non-scratching. I've ruined more than one pair of shatterproof prescription lenses by wiping off dried saltwater, using a paper towel, or similar "sins". What you can get away with on glass won't necessarily work on polymers. Microfiber cloths or lens pens are the way to go. But you have to keep the microfiber cloths clean! Toss them in the washing machine occasionally. And keep them in a plastic bag, e.g., Ziplock.

Points taken and thanks. Honestly I didn't expect the romeo1 to last this long but that's no reason not to clean it properly.

Don't do what I said

[JRV]

Like the Thyrm product for weapon lights?


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Basically, yes.

[Duke]

Sometimes I think I just open threads here so I’ll know what the next thing I’m
Supposed to buy is.....

[ranger]

Thanks for all the insights. I ordered a lens cleaning kit of Amazon and cleaned my SRO lens with no issue. Got it dirty again today!

[UNM1136]

RDS manufacturers need to take a hint from the cell phone industry and make easily-applicable and easily-removable cling-on transparent screen shields a thing.

Make from a micro-perforated material to prevent bubbles. Leave a little tab of extra material on a "corner" so you can get the material off without scraping at your lens.

Get a bunch of powder on the front of your objective? Peel and replace.

If someone is already doing this, or someone can explain a technical reason why this is not doable (coatings and adhesives?), please let me know.

I remember 35 yeas ago going with my dad to a dirt track to watch several classes of cars from midgets on up make a mindnumbing number of left hand turns. The race helmets at the time had clear peel away film on on the face, and when they got mud splattered the driver would peel off the outer layer and toss it.

pat

[txdpd]

If someone is already doing this, or someone can explain a technical reason why this is not doable (coatings and adhesives?), please let me know.

Too much curve in the lenses. A glass product would have to be custom ground to that specific lens and correctly oriented at installation. A film would have to molded with the correct curve or perfectly scored to prevent wrinkles and visible lines. Too hard to manufacture and install.

Paper towel and Windex are both a big NO on aircraft windshields and I would be extremely careful about their use on a red dot — especially so on a Shield.

Ammonia, the cleaner in windex, will degrade polycarbonate and cause it to haze and crack. Paper towels hold dirt on their surface, so it’s basically wet sanding, on a soft surface like polycarbonate micro scratches add up after a while. Neither one spell doom from one time use, the damage is subtle and adds up after a while. It won’t hurt glass but Id be wary about the lens coating.

The catch with the disposable lens wipes is that like paper towels they hold dirt on their surface. They aren't lying when they say the wipes won't scratch lenses but they are skipping over some minor details about what really causes scratches.

It’s hard to beat a clean microfiber and a couple drops of water.