Folks,

I have a Zeiss riflescope which had a claw mount ring clamped and glued to the scope objective I have since removed the ring but the glue/epoxy remains. Any idea how to remove the cured glue without damaging the scope objective?

Thanks for your help
Joe

JJP; Every chemical solution used to remove a resine cure glue (like poxipol) will destroy the epoxy paint on your scope unless that it had hard anodized finish like the last Zeiss models or Swaro, A enginer from Swarovski suggest me Acetone, but my Swaroski is Hard anodized aluminium NOT EPOXI paint, be carefull !!!, the Acetone destroy epoxy finish!!! otherwise try slow, with a hard plastic or acrilic tool with screwdriver or chisel shape.Luck, Regards Guille.

Give Lee LeBas a call. If there is any way to do it, he'll know. I have sent you a PM with his phone number.

WAIT ABOUT 2 WEEKS TO CALL HIM, HOWEVER. HE IS SETTING UP AND MANNING THE KREIGHOFF BOOTH AT SCI AND IS GETTING READY FOR THE CONVENTION.

Try putting it in your freezer. A -10 F it shouldn't effect the scope .This method is sometimes used to free an action when glass bedding.

Joe,

My only response is sadly - Ugh!

I've two similar experiences (yes, also Zeiss') a 48,mm & 56 mm objective tubes in Claw Mounts.

One I tried myself (exactly as you've done) and thinking I'd learned from the expereince gave the second to a German Gunsmith.

The job the Gunsmith did ended up with the claw mounts re-installed and a shitty-looking objective bell; so I simply re-mounted the Claw Mounts on project #1 and installed it & the mounts on another rifle.

Having Zeiss (or perhaps another scope expert) re-finish the tube will add SIGNIFICANT costs to your project; since disassembly, re-finishing the tube, re-assembly & purging the scope are all labor intensive & spendy proceeses. At Zeiss the cost they quoted me for re-doing the tube took my breath away.

I have to admit there are some good finishes to be had today; certainly better than when these two projects where undertaken but you still end up with the process noted above.

Good Luck.

For what it's worth...
I got some epoxy on the objective bell of a 3.5 to 10 Leopold. Got it off over time using WD40 applied with a Q-tip. I borrowed the wife's finger nail stick, wooden, and chipped it off.
Jim

I would carefully sand the epoxy while looking through a magnifying glass. Use very fine paper, 800 grit or higher. Then you can use a polishing compound on the scope to remove the sanding marks.

Very fine steel wool combined with oil will remove those glueing spots very well!!!

...and next time try some inner rail mounts - this is the way to go without having trouble when changing a scope ...

Klaus

I just picked up a S&B made scope which appears to have the half rings for claw mounts glued? to the body. S&B used a blued steel tube on this model so I don't have a painted or coated fisnish to worry about. I don't see any sort of solder around the rings os it doesn't appear that they are soldered on this time.

Can I get this rings off by carefully applying a solvent like methyl chloride / paint remover around the ring to tube junction and letting this soak in or is there a better way to do this? Someone mentioned cold tempeeratures; it is getting down to -15 tonight so I could leave it outside if that would help

THANKS!

Zeiss has produced some excellent glass over the years. In all likelyhood, the lens is coated. Many of the above suggests will either scratch the glass or damage the coatings. Get in touch with Steve Grimes. He does large format lens for photography. He should be able to recommend a fix.

http://www.skgrimes.com/products/index.htm
Pete

Not liking to being a nay sayer but if the tube is steel and the rings are just half rings then they are soldered in place.

Just cause they look good, ie cant see the soldering, doesn´t mean it´s not there.

Best regards Chris

quote:

Originally posted by tvfinak:
I just picked up a S&B made scope which appears to have the half rings for claw mounts glued? to the body. S&B used a blued steel tube on this model so I don't have a painted or coated fisnish to worry about. I don't see any sort of solder around the rings os it doesn't appear that they are soldered on this time.

Can I get this rings off by carefully applying a solvent like methyl chloride / paint remover around the ring to tube junction and letting this soak in or is there a better way to do this? Someone mentioned cold tempeeratures; it is getting down to -15 tonight so I could leave it outside if that would help

THANKS!

Joe & tv,


tv.....

What Chris says is most often the case.....

If you've got a half ring w/Claw on your S&B objective bell then the scope IS definately either glued or soldered to the 1/2 ring - no other way to hold it in place. (Just talked to my Gunsmith and he was REALLY suprised that a 1/2 ring was put together with Epoxy - he would have soldered it).

German Gunsmiths have a penchant for using industrial stregnth Epoxies on their scope mounts and believe me when I say these Epoxies are strong enough to glue wings on an airplane.

I've seen rings like this removed with Industrial Grade Hot Air Blowers and it normally leaves the Epoxie a glob that can be wiped off. If it's soldered in place; well, just consider the bond permanent.

I personally wouldn't apply that much heat to my scope - not without having a factory service center at my disposal (I live @ 70 kms from Wetzlar).


Joe,

Since you've already removed the 1/2 ring from the objective and want to remove the remaining Epoxy from the bell - I took the opportunity to speak with my favorite German Gunsmith - he recommends the Hot Air treatment - but then again he also said he only does this with the scope disassembled. He said using Hot Air on the scope with it assembled could result in internal damage. As a last resort without having the the scope to inspect; suggested using a solid piece of brass shaped like screwdriver with the one side/end really sharp. He claims the brass will not damage the blueing or the S&B steel tube and that the epoxy can sometimes be "chipped" off, piece -by-piece.

Good Luck to both of you.