10 x 30 IS Sticky binocular coating

[arh2]

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.

[arh2]

Thank you

[ramiller]

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.

[SamInPgh]

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.

[nfceast]

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.

[RINGARONI]

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.

[SamInPgh]

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.

[RINGARONI]

Hah! Indeed! We actually recoated them twice but the stickiness wore through again. The sock solution was born out of desperation. 

[SutPut]

Believe in the talc powder! I had tried everything and while this simple solution is a little messy (keep itvoff the lenses!!!), it worked for me. Thx. 

[SamInPgh]

You're welcome! Glad to help.

[paunik]

Butanol as solvent was the best and worked for me with the least effort, not harming underneath plastic. Isopropanol, ethanol and so on did not work, acetone was to aggressive to plastic under.