Well, Scoot, carbon black is good stuff for cleaning - not polishing -
lenses. It's softer than glass and the coatings used on most
contemporary lenses, so it won't scratch 'em. Newer lenses with high
quality coatings can withstand a lot of "abuse" and pentax coatings
are amongst the most durable in the world. But back to carbon black
... the stuff that's been discussed is not lamp black, per your
explanation of it. Lamp black contains contaminants that pure carbon
black does not contain.
Just to put this in perspective, there's a wonderful little item
called a Lens Pen, which is made/marketed by several companies
(including Kodak) which has a brush on one end and a small tool for
applying carbon black on the other. It's a great way to get crud off
one's lens. I keep one in my Domke bag at all times.
--
Shel Belinkoff
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
"Why should I use a meter? What if the darn thing broke on me
when I was out making a photograph? Then what would I do?"
Scooterman wrote:
>
> I'm coming late to this thread... so excuse me while I catch up.
>
> Why in the world would one want to use this stuff on their $200-$3,000
> lens?? To remove scratches???
>
> It's an abrasive for sure. Sounds like it's finer than Jewlers Rouge or
> 3,000 grit diamond polish (hard to find lately).
>
> But the last time I checked, most folks aren't proficient at
> grinding/polishing glass.... plus it's still in the body, so you'll get a
> falling off on the polish job at the edges.
>
> And how can one get a lens so deeply scratched that they'd attempt such a
> "repair" theirself?? I saw the posts where some people can't touch a
> camera unless they play Rugby with it... but your favorite lens??
>
> For a source of lamp black... what's the problem with getting an el-cheapo
> kerosene oil lamp & smoke the chimney till ya have enough to do your deed?
> (I collect such lamps, & believe me, it don't take but a minute for em to
> smoke the glass). Which is why I have the questions.... I've rubbed the
> glass chimneys & that (cast) glass don't look a whit better for it.
>
> Does it have to be lamp black?? What about the "old trick" of using
> newsprint on your car windows? Granted, it's an old trick because today's
> papers don't have much (if any) residual ink on em ... and the fiber
> content (rag) is probably so low that's it's akin to your old polyester
> pants.
>
> I dunno about some of the stuff I read on here.... usually, I can get by
> with a lipstick brush & a good, clean, cotton handkerchief... & maybe the
> moisture from my breath (not spit).
>
> Scratching his head in Detroit
> Scoot
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