09-07-2023 06:38 PM - last edited on 09-22-2023 11:09 AM by Danny
My 10x30 IS binocular coating has just started to noticeably deteriorate. Checking the discussions here it seems the problem goes back to 2013.
There were a couple of proposals to mask it. Has anyone arrived at anything better than spraying with lacquer or buffing with rubbing alcohol?
Shame really I’m a great Canon supporter (probably over £30k of camera equipment) but find this odd. Probably the wrong coating choice when designed.
Solved! Go to Solution.
09-22-2023 10:47 AM - edited 09-22-2023 10:49 AM
It depends upon the coating used but many of these coatings will respond to cleaning with "Purple Power" spray cleaner. Paint thinner is a more aggressive treatment but try Purple Power first and then decide whether the sticky texture is still too bad to use.
A lot of consumer stuff was finished with these compounds in the last 20 years, probably partially a result of the global controls/reduction of VOCs in paint/finishing compounds.
I have a really nice shortwave receiver originally designed by the defunct R L Drake company in the U.S. and intended to be produced by German firm Grundig but due to bankruptcy the radio was ultimately manufactured by U.S. based Eton. It was basically too annoying to use after a year due to the coating but I first cleaned with alcohol and then a few years later with Purple Power. After the second cleaning, the finish has been tack free for years.
Another Eton E1 XM owner reached out to Eton corp and Purple Power was their officially recommended product and they included instructions on how to overcome the sticky finish. The link is here but if it gets removed due to forum guidelines, just do a google search for "Eton's solution for sticky radios" and you will find it:
https://swling.com/blog/2018/08/etons-solution-for-sticky-radios/
Rodger
09-22-2023 12:54 PM
Thank you for the detailed reply. I’ll investigate where I can get Purple Power from
11-23-2023 05:39 PM
I am having the same problem with a pair of 15 x 50 all weather binocs about four years old. The problem is confined to the (actually quite large) eyepieces, but a sticky black goo comes off that gets on everything. This developed on Antigua, in steady temperatures in the 80s. I brought them back to NY to get them fixed, and after a few weeks in cooler temperatures the stickiness is noticeably reduced and the material is no longer liquifying into a black goo.
I think i will apply "purple power" and take them back to Antigua and see what happens.
01-04-2024 10:13 AM - edited 01-04-2024 10:14 AM
Talcum powder works for me, while also preserving what is left of the original coating. I dust it on the affected surfaces and wipe it off after an hour or so, repeating every few months as needed.
03-13-2024 02:23 PM
The answer is to use Denatured Alcohol, the stronger the better, such as 90% for Canon Goo removal. You can also use Everclear or similar grain alcohol which is 190 proof and comes with the added benefit for use at Happy Hour as a reward for all that goo removal work. Do NOT drink the Denatured Alcohol, of course. That would set Canon Goo Removal progress back immeasurably
Get lots of Paper Towels and Q-tips and a trash can. I’ve done this several times with Canon IS bins and other brands with similar coatings. The Canon Goo will be removed to reveal a beautiful, smooth plastic finish, which I like better than the rubber.
The first Canon 10x30 IS I did took about 2 hours.
The grain alcohol is also an excellent lens cleaner. First dust off the lens with a lens brush, then apply the alcohol to a clean microfiber cloth and clean with a circular motion starting at the center and working out to the edge.
06-29-2024 08:06 AM
We love these binoculars but also had they developed the sticky problem. Very creepy to touch. Solved the problem by stretching a sock over it, cutting bottom to open up the lenses. Pulled it right up to the top. You can adjust through the sock or cut a small hole to easily access the focus.
06-29-2024 02:12 PM
An "A" for creativity on that solution! 😃
And the best part is that you can change from argyle to stripes to solid color depending on your mood and/or need for camouflage.
06-29-2024 08:16 PM
Hah! Indeed! We actually recoated them twice but the stickiness wore through again. The sock solution was born out of desperation.
09/26/2024: New firmware updates are available.
EOS R5 Mark II - Version 1.0.1
EOS R6 Mark II - Version 1.5.0
07/01/2024: New firmware updates are available.
04/16/2024: New firmware updates are available.
RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM - Version 1.0.6
RF400mm F2.8 L IS USM - Version 1.0.6
RF600mm F4 L IS USM - Version 1.0.6
RF800mm F5.6 L IS USM - Version 1.0.4
RF1200mm F8 L IS USM - Version 1.0.4
Canon U.S.A Inc. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited.