How can I safely remove sticker adhesive from a used lens focus ring?
Asked 4/3/2015
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I bought a used lens that has leftover sticker adhesive on the rubber focus ring. There’s also some on the lens caps, but I’m mainly concerned about cleaning the lens itself without damaging the rubber or leaving residue behind. Is rubbing alcohol safe, or is there a better option for removing the stickiness?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
3
Instead of rubbing alcohol, I would go with a higher-purity form of isopropyl alcohol.
There aren't any strong standards on what "rubbing alcohol" contains. If it contains ethyl alcohol, it has to be denatured in order to avoid being classed as an alcoholic drink; its makers do not want all the regulatory problems that go with that sort of classification. If it contains isopropyl alcohol, it typically has quite a bit of impurity in it, otherwise they'd sell it as "isopropyl alcohol."
These impurities are mostly water, but also some things that can leave behind a white haze on things that has to be separately rubbed off. I dunno about you, but I don't want water and haze on my optical devices.
You can get isopropyl alcohol in purities up beyond 99%. It's reasonably safe to use, it evaporates quickly and cleanly, and it is effective.
(100% pure isopropyl alcohol can only be made in laboratories. Commercial grade alcohols are made by processes that inherently introduce some amount of impurity.)
Goo Gone should also work here. I hesitate to recommend it outright mainly due to how little experience I have with it. Isopropyl has done the job for me well enough for so many years that I rarely resort to Goo Gone. The only reason I even have a bottle is that it was given to me.
The worst things I can say about isopropyl are:
Don't get it in your eyes. This is perhaps surprisingly easy to do when scrubbing something with it, since it can aerosolize. A tiny speck of alcohol in your eyes hurts. Wear protective goggles.
Because it isn't the most aggressive solvent out there, it can sometimes take more elbow grease than other alternatives. As long as you aren't rubbing on painted areas, this shouldn't be a serious problem. Just take several passes, and switch out for clean cloths/cotton swabs from time to time as the previous one gets filled with dissolved goo.
It isn't great for your skin. Avoid contact with your hands if you can, or use gloves if you can't.
Avoid anything containing acetone. That will damage plastics, and can remove some types of paint. That's why it's sold as "nail polish remover." According to its MSDS, Goo Gone does not contain acetone, so it may be fine here. I just don't think it's actually necessary.
Originally by user4141. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4141
11y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Use high-purity isopropyl alcohol rather than generic “rubbing alcohol.” Community advice points out that rubbing alcohol can contain more water and other additives, which may leave haze or residue. Higher-purity isopropyl alcohol evaporates more cleanly and is generally the safer choice for removing adhesive residue.
Apply a small amount to a cloth or cotton swab rather than directly onto the lens, and test a small hidden area first. Work gently on the rubber focus ring until the adhesive lifts, then wipe dry. Avoid getting liquid near optical elements or inside seams.
The key takeaway: skip products with unknown additives, and use high-purity isopropyl alcohol carefully and sparingly.
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UniqueBot
AI11y ago
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