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groundLoop
journeyman
Reged: 08/30/09
Posts: 6
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An unusual post, perhaps, but I was wondering if any other recent SkyMaster 15x70 purchasers encountered the same problem I am trying to cope with.
Noticing a rare window of opportunity to scan the heavens the other night, I pulled my SkyMaster's down from the loft, hooked them up to my monopod, and headed out. But when I pulled the dual-eyepiece cover off of the two week old binoculars the petroleum like odor that wafted from the eyepieces was so strong that I thought my eyes might start watering from it.
I've decided to park the binoculars on a shelf, sans-covers, for a week now, to see if the smell clears off.
I meant to post the day I received them. Several colleagues at my office were eager to give them a try; we have a fourth floor office with an excellent view of the nearby airport and mountains. The binoculars performed admirably, and no one commented on the odor, but I sure made note of it. It was just terrible. I wonder if the shipping container was parked right next to a tank of marine diesel, or something like that.
Any tips on airing out new gear?
Edited by groundLoop (10/17/09 05:50 PM)
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KennyJ
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 12885
Loc: Lancashire UK
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Hi groundLoop ,
About three years ago I started a thread on this forum about binocular odours , and my breath was almost taken away by the fact that within a week or so the post attracted around one HUNDRED replies !
Many strange smells were reported , including rats , fish , Carl Zeiss , plastic and roast beef and onions , but the most commonly reported was the eau de diesel that you mention .
Perhaps someone from Celestron read that thread and considered the odour to be so popular that it would be a good marketing ploy to introduce it to the Skymaster range ?
I had some Bresser 10 x 50s that emitted more than a hint of it , and in addition to leaving out of cases , although I do not recommend this action at all , repeatedly wiping over the non - optical parts with a particular brand of moist wipes that I use for cleaning my hands with after work / before meals certainly helped to neutralise the unpleasant whiff from those .
That said , in spite of similar actions , the strong odour from an inexpensive rubber covered flashlight I bought a few months ago as emergency back - up at work , continued to dominate my nasal sensations every time I opened the rear door of my work's vehicle until I fitted into it one of those battery operated room fragrance devices that emits a puff of spray at pre - programmed time intervals .
Kenny
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If everyone is thinking the same thing , no-one is thinking - General George S.Patton
Zeiss 7 x 42 BGAT
Captain's Helmsman 7 x 50
Nikon 10 x 42 Superior E
Swift Audubon Kestrel 10 x 50
Helios 15 x 70 Observation
Strathspey 20 x 90
Televue 76 APO
Zeiss 85 Diascope
Helios 102 f5 refractor
Various eyepieces barlows tripods mounts etc.
Panasonic Lumix DMC - TZ5 digital camera
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groundLoop
journeyman
Reged: 08/30/09
Posts: 6
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Kenny,
Thanks for sharing. I might try a few "baby wipes," as I have an ample supply and I doubt it will hurt. Baby wipes are a funny thing; yes they are terrific for cleaning up after the kids, but they are useful for so, so many other chores. I doubt I'll be without a steady supply again.
I am still curious to hear from others who may have recently acquired SkyMaster 15x70s. Did I pick the rotten apple, or is the whole basket spoiled? Perhaps the experience is common, as you say, with inexpensive binoculars. I have two pairs of Minolta 10x50's, with nice multi-coated optics and 25-year warranties. I seem to recall that the Minoltas were only slightly more expensive than the SkyMaster's (albeit with smaller objectives). What I can say for certain is that the Minoltas were not plagued by stenches that would probably warrant a California-esque "warning: this product contains materials known to cause cancer" label.
Perhaps buyers of inexpensive binoculars should be alerted to the unpleasant prospect of finding they got more than they bargained for?
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Rick
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/12/05
Posts: 3044
Loc: Tokyo, Japan
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Perhaps this odor issue is caused by the increasing use of synthetic rubber instead of natural rubber? Putting them out in the sun for a few days to let the UV work its magic might make them more tolerable.
cheers,
Rick
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www.japanastro.com
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F.Meiresonne
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 3359
Loc: Eeklo,Belgium
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I had an eyepieces once that smelled petrol like. I had it for testing purposes. I send it back because optically it was inferior too. I wonder i sometimes the manufacturer uses liquids to clean the glas that smells like petrol..??
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Freddy Meiresonne
Obsession 18 inch #1638
Orion Optics 8 inch F/4.5 -1/8 wave optics -Vixen GP-E
20x80 Helios Stellar Binos
15x70 TS Marine (=Obie Ultra)
10x60 Helios Quantum 4(= Obie Mariner)
10x50 Helios Nature sport plus
8x40 Helios Nature sport plus
Eyepieces in use :Pan 35,24,19, N13T6, Pentax 10 XW, N9T6, Ultrascopic 7.5, TV2, baader ortho 12.5 and 9 mm
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panhard
Mongo
Reged: 01/20/08
Posts: 5191
Loc: Markham Ontario Canada
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Quote:
An unusual post, perhaps, but I was wondering if any other recent SkyMaster 15x70 purchasers encountered the same problem I am trying to cope with.
Noticing a rare window of opportunity to scan the heavens the other night, I pulled my SkyMaster's down from the loft, hooked them up to my monopod, and headed out. But when I pulled the dual-eyepiece cover off of the two week old binoculars the petroleum like odor that wafted from the eyepieces was so strong that I thought my eyes might start watering from it.
I've decided to park the binoculars on a shelf, sans-covers, for a week now, to see if the smell clears off.
I meant to post the day I received them. Several colleagues at my office were eager to give them a try; we have a fourth floor office with an excellent view of the nearby airport and mountains. The binoculars performed admirably, and no one commented on the odor, but I sure made note of it. It was just terrible. I wonder if the shipping container was parked right next to a tank of marine diesel, or something like that.
Any tips on airing out new gear?
I just got a pair & noticed no such odours.
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