suep
newbie
Reged: 08/10/08
Posts: 3
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I have recently moved and when I unpacked my binoculars, the outside was real sticky. When I touched it, black came off on my hands. Anyone have any suggestions on how to clean the outside? I have tried soap and water, alcohol, goo gone, clorox wipes, and finger nail polish remover. The inside case is not sticky so I don't know what is making the binoculars sticky. I live in Texas so it could be heat.
Sue
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1660
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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Try some WD-40 on a small area, using a piece of polyester cloth. Spray the WD-40 on the cloth.
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Pentax 12x50mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 16x60mm PCF WP FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 20x60mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Orion 12x63mm Mini Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 15x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 16x80mm Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 20x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 30x80mm MEGAView FMC/JAPAN
Barska 30x80mm X-Trail LW FC
Burgess Optical Series II 20x90mm FMC/WP/FP
Handel's Messiah**Hallelujah! For the LORD God Omnipotent Reigneth
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4421
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people clean the outside of their binoculars
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1660
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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only when it's covered with blackstrap molasses 
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Pentax 12x50mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 16x60mm PCF WP FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 20x60mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Orion 12x63mm Mini Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 15x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 16x80mm Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 20x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 30x80mm MEGAView FMC/JAPAN
Barska 30x80mm X-Trail LW FC
Burgess Optical Series II 20x90mm FMC/WP/FP
Handel's Messiah**Hallelujah! For the LORD God Omnipotent Reigneth
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ronharper
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/14/06
Posts: 1006
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Sue,
Are you still there? I must say that is about saddest, and most perplexing, little post number one that I have seen in the three years I've been here on CN binos.
Nobody is much help (thanks Hallelujah for taking a stab at it) because this is truly weird.
Tell us what kind of material the outside of your binocular is. Does it seem to be a layer of rubber, a leatherette, or what? And how long were they stored, and do you think the temperature got up to like sitting on the dashboard too hot to touch hot?
The fact that nothing seems to clean off the exterior suggests that the exterior layer has completely disintegrated, and may have to be removed altogether and restored, if the binocular is worth that kind of expensive labor. Repair is not cost effective except in binoculars worth upwards of about $500. You may just have to write it off, discard it and get another if it was not really good to start with. Moreover, a really good binocular would probably not have done this in the first place!
If it comes to that, take heart. Helping you select a new bino is one thing, believe you me, that we are really good at!
Ron
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4421
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it has been hot in Arkansas recently, hotter in Texas, so the heat may have melted the covering.
Does this affect the image quality?
Dos it make any difference in use?
edj
I once had a friend who was really into trucks. He defined a "real truck" as one that showed use with scratches, dents, dirt; and a show truck as one that was spotless, shinny, never used. Maybe now you have a "real" binocular with character.
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4421
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Sue,
welcome to Cloudy Nights
edj
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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ronharper
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/14/06
Posts: 1006
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Sue,
Bike repair shops have long rolls of "handlebar tape" that stretches as you put it on, and it grips largely from its tendency to contract. It's nice and grippy to touch. Just a (trashy, huh?) thought.
Ron
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Robert A.
sage
Reged: 01/21/05
Posts: 218
Loc: Milwaukee, WI Northern USA
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This reminds me of the problem that was noted on the rubber of older Fujinon mariner binoculars. If they are left in the windshield to get extremely hot, they will begin to break down and the rubber will get sticky. There is no way to stop the process. In that case, the covering would have to be replaced.
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Oberwerk 11x56, Nikon 12x50se, Fujinon 16x70, Stellarvue 20x85, Oberwerk 25/40 45degree 100mm
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suep
newbie
Reged: 08/10/08
Posts: 3
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Thanks for the help. I will give it a try.
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suep
newbie
Reged: 08/10/08
Posts: 3
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Yes, I'm still here. I'm not sure what kind of material the outside is made of. Maybe leatherette? The binoculars were stored in a camera bag in a box for about a month. The storage facility was suppose to be climate controlled, but one never knows about that. They were on the moving truck for about 4 hours in 90 degree heat though. The binoculars were not real expensive, but they were good. They are not worth restoring for $500. I'll keep trying. Thanks.
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Robert A.
sage
Reged: 01/21/05
Posts: 218
Loc: Milwaukee, WI Northern USA
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Thank you Bill Cook for describing that work you did on the fujinon binocular covering! It was an interesting story.
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rookie
sage
Reged: 01/14/06
Posts: 330
Loc: St. Petersburg, FL
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Hi Sue, Welcome to Cloudy Nights!
It sounds like you have rubber-coated binoculars and the rubber has deteriorated from the heat. It's like a rubber band that's old. It breaks or gets sticky too. I've looked through my books here on "How to Clean Anything". Guess what? Rubber is not listed. The only thing I can think of is Armorall? However, it's probably better at preventing problems. You could try a spot and see if it dries and seals the material. If that does not work, I would throw them away. That stuff can't be good on your skin. The deterioration will get worse.
Has anyone ever tried to remove the rubber housing on binoculars?
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Shirley
Celestron CPC 800XLT~Feather Touch
G0 BT80~45degree; Fujinon 16x70 FMT-SX
Celestron Ultima 9x63 & Regal LX 10x42
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