Cleaning lens rubber : Lens repair

Hello friends,
A lens has a lot of rubber elements on the zoom, focus rings, seals and other elements. In time these get dirty with skin oils, dust, dirt, grime, moisture, and so on. Not to speak about bacteria and other nasty things.
If not cleaned off regularly, the rubber will deteriorate and eventually break.
I got this nice lens in perfect operating condition, but with dirty rubber elements, so I decided to show you my method for cleaning lens rubber.
Cleaning solution : distilled water + isopropyl alcohol (half-half)
Some useful stuff
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JIS screwdrivers: amzn.to/3mC06MQ (This set has J0000, J000, J00, J0)
Optical cleaning paper: amzn.to/2HXBgYI
Optical cleaning fluid: amzn.to/323HFci
Rubber tools: amzn.to/3mEcdco
Lens spanner: amzn.to/35VCYSL
(I’ll get a small commission if you order thru any of the links):
paypal: paypal.me/DiyE...
DONATION:
If you find this video useful, informative and adds value to you (and possibly saved, or made some money by repairing the camera or lens), then consider donating to the channel
keywords: clean lens rubber, cleaning lens rubber, how to clean the rubber in lenses, how to remove grime in lenses, Cleaning Rubber Zoom Grip on Lens, Ηow to clean the lens rubber, How to clean lens rubber from white grime, How to clean dslr lens rubber easily, How do you clean the rubber parts of the lens?, How best to clean rubber lens exterior?, How to Clean SLR Camera Lenses, Lens Rubber Ring Turns White, Nikkor 70-300, Nikon 70-300, 70-300 ED, Nikon ED, Nikkor ED

[@roadapple55]

Thank you so much for the video! This worked perfectly on a 10-year-old Nikon 400 mm lens. This is the best cleaning video I have seen on TH-cam so far thank you so much.

[@diyextravaganza]

That's great news, your lens is good for another ten years. Don't forget to share with friends.

[@apwip]

I use Autoglym rubber and vinyl restorer on my faded lenses and this works great. I believe Armorall Protectant and 303 also works similarly. If you are on a budget use Mr Sheen which also works well if you don't won't to spend extra. Most lenses are $/£100's so not worth using washing up liquid or alcohol. Washing liquid has salts which may promote corrosion and alcohol will dry out rubber on the long term.

[@diyextravaganza]

@@apwip thanks for the info

[@anasrida3454]

Thanks for the excellent video. Was looking for a solution to the whitening rubber.

[@diyextravaganza]

Great it helps !

[@davegnarlsson4344]

You don't need the alcohol. The toothbrush with remove the oxidation and oils by itself. If your grip looks old or dry, do not use alcohol on it and you certainly don't need the amount shown here.

[@diyextravaganza]

Thanks for the info.

[@gregnold9190]

Thanks very much!! I appreciate you sharing your knowledge!!

[@jamjamamam4139]

I use silicone oil, easy to get in airsoft stores. Put it on cotton swab an clean. White stuff on rubber is from ageing process, silicone oil renovates it a bit. Under no circumstances don't use regular oil

[@diyextravaganza]

Good to know, thanks

[@JTamashi]

doesn't this make the rubber slick and slippery? I tried 15w silicon shock oil from the hobby store. kind of slippery now (on the small area I rested it on)

[@jamjamamam4139]

@@JTamashi i apply very tiny amount on a cotton swab, like a one drop. I wipe excess after couple minutes. It is not sticky or otherwise deffective. I don't know about an oil you mentioned, probably it has different characteristics

[@JTamashi]

@@jamjamamam4139 I looked up airsoft silicone oil. It's the same stuff - I bought my silicon shock oil for my bb airgun. Airsoft or BB airguns have same components, mainly rubber seals and lubrication. I'll try applying sparingly on larger area and wipe afterwards and see how it goes. Thanks for your reply....

[@jamjamamam4139]

@@JTamashi just remember - less is more :) better apply as little as possible and apply more later, if necessary

[@tmstone835]

I could not understand what the last ingredient was. Would you put the ingredients in the notes for this video?

[@saidanehabib]

isopropyl alcohol

[@diyextravaganza]

@@saidanehabib thanks

[@diyextravaganza]

added to the description

[@tomassantos4299]

Can you make a guide on the Nikon 75-240 disassembly

[@diyextravaganza]

If I get one that needs repair, absolutely.

[@tomassantos4299]

@@diyextravaganza I was modifying mine and I can’t get the aperture right

[@diyextravaganza]

@@tomassantos4299 that's always a game of aligning all elements right, take a step back and analyse how that aperture works

[@tomassantos4299]

@@diyextravaganza not aperture itself but the aperture ring and the lever

[@diyextravaganza]

@@tomassantos4299 check if there is a small lever in between, like the Micro-Nikkor 60mm which is difficult to set right if you don't know the trick th-cam.com/video/PeZER2Hfoic/w-d-xo.html

[@slooob23]

I tried to clean the internal elements of a Nikon afs zoom lens. Dismantling it went well, but I didn't realize that they use plastic for the aspherical element and I got fine scratches on it. Is there any way to polish these out? Or is it a bad idea to try

[@diyextravaganza]

Totally a bad idea unless you can get your hands on polishing slurry and control your geometry perfectly :)

[@slooob23]

@@diyextravaganza well I think I have created myself a very expensive paper weight😂
Thank you for replying, you've got the best lens repair channel on TH-cam.

[@diyextravaganza]

@@slooob23 you can mount it again and make a go to lens for extreme photography situations. I do that with lenses beyond repair, I take them to places where I'd never bring my regular lenses.

[@davegnarlsson4344]

NO, IT WILL RUIN THE COATING AND MAKE THE LENS WORSE.

[@tylou4479]

That's awesome man

[@diyextravaganza]

Thanks a lot !

[@Reza-nz2re]

Alcohol and rubber doesn't work well. It can get dry

[@diyextravaganza]

This is what I heard, but since it is diluted, the risk of that is reduced.

[@rickyzagalo]

Thanks a lot, most useful

[@diyextravaganza]

glad you appreciate

[@cangguek]

Very dangerous to use alcohol on rubber. Same like using acid on metals.

[@diyextravaganza]

thanks for the info

[@ElCid_86]

I don’t think alcohol is the right answer. It can actually dry the rubber. I’ve seen heat from a hair dryer recommended.

[@diyextravaganza]

Hello, this was my impression in the beginning but it does not seem to have that impact in low proportions. Heat from a heat drier? how does that work?

[@D2G10]

Nah I’ll just stick with car rubber cleaner. Alcohol and rubber no way man. Even if it’s diluted. Also, you could have just bought some antibacterial wet wipes to achieve the same effect.

[@diyextravaganza]

Thanks for the advice. Cheers.

[@jeffmarsh4518]

alcohol and water on a lens, lol try armor all

[@diyextravaganza]

well, they do not cost $20 bucks like armor all, and both water and alcohol are available worldwide.

[@Rjeffie]

@@diyextravaganza armor all $6.50 usd

[@diyextravaganza]

@@Rjeffie in Europe is about 20 bucks.

[@Rjeffie]

@@diyextravaganza in the states it’s actually $3.49. I’m opposed to using water on a camera or lens.