OT- how do I polish out the scratches on my Aimpoint lens?

7918 Views 15 Replies 12 Participants Last post by Hootbro, Jul 23, 2008

jasonb

Discussion Starter · Jul 22, 2008

I was got an Aimpoint M2 with a mount on ebay. It arrived today and I'm pretty happy with it, however, it wasn't mentioned that rear lens was scratched up. They aren't deep, but they are kind of distracting. How can I polish them out myself.
PICS:

My boy turned 2 yesterday, so I thought it was time to start familarization with the AR-15 platform:

Thanks guys!

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synisterrabbit

· #2 · Jul 22, 2008

i'm not familuar with aimpoint lenses, but if its a coated lens then your pretty screwed, if its a glass magnification lens then your also pretty screwed. buy a first thing you should do is buy a lens pen if you dont already have one and if you have any optics you should! use it several times on your lens some of the marks may come off and any that are left my be too deep for the pen to polish out. if so your lens may need to be reground which can get very pricey and should only be performed by a pro. there are lens repair gimmicks out there but they are more likely to make things worse if not used correctly and leave a poor repair at best.

your best bet is to contact aimpoint and see if they will repair it. you may have to pay for the repair, but its cheaper than buying a new one. you can also try camera shops or optometry labs for repairs.

oh and if the lens is plastic your screwed.

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jasonb

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 22, 2008

OK, I'll go to the camera shop tomorrow for a lens pen. I did some googling and metal polish like wenol or flitz were recommeneded for scratches in glass. What do you think about that?

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phreakmode

· #4 · Jul 22, 2008

try to clean it with alcohol and a lint free cloth. If they are all scratches then there is little you can do.

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synisterrabbit

· #5 · Jul 22, 2008

jasonb said:
OK, I'll go to the camera shop tomorrow for a lens pen. I did some googling and metal polish like wenol or flitz were recommeneded for scratches in glass. What do you think about that?

any metal polish is a big no no. they use different compounds that tend to be larger, use these on glass and it will blur or haze the glass permanently. glass polish tends to use rhodite or cerium oxide as a compound with watercooled clay or felt wheels to polish and cut glass. this kind of set up is very costly and takes as much set up as a milling machine. your best bet is to head to your local camera shop and ask the clerk if they do repairs to lenses or know someone who does. the optics in a good rifle scope are very similar to lenses in alot of cameras. look online for shops that can do lens repairs remember that most scopes are nitrogen filled and camera lenses are not, so if the repair guy has to remove the lens then he has no way of putting it back together filled with nitrogen. then you'll have a scope that fogs up. you may want to ask a local smith if he knows anyone that does optics repair. with all the deer rifles out there packing $900 glass someone has to fix them scratches.

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BillSXT2002

· #6 · Jul 22, 2008

I'd contact Aimpoint directly and see if they would do it. You know it would be done right at least.

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joedog

· #7 · Jul 22, 2008

Just a thought - I don't know if the same techniques will work, but if you google on how to polish scratches out of a watch crystal, you will get results out the wazoo on how to do it for every type of crystal: mineral, acrylic, etc.

I had success using these techniques to get a scratch off a watch I love. Watch collectors are a serious bunch. Probably the closest you will come to something that might work. You will need to know exactly what the lens is made of, i am pretty sure.

Good luck, i hope this helps.

joedog

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5thShock

· #8 · Jul 22, 2008

Doesn't even look like glass, looks like plastic.
If the scratches are deep I can't see how you could buff them out without having to re-figure the lens. Aimpoint to the rescue?

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Templar

· #9 · Jul 22, 2008

Definitely contact Aimpoint, they'll take care of it for you.

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56type

· #10 · Jul 22, 2008

+1 .... Talk to Aimpoint ....Mine came with flip up lens covers, is that an older one ?? The rear lens housing looks different.

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JaketheSnake

· #11 · Jul 22, 2008

BillSXT2002 said:
I'd contact Aimpoint directly and see if they would do it. You know it would be done right at least.

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JoeMomma

· #12 · Jul 22, 2008

BillSXT2002 said:
I'd contact Aimpoint directly and see if they would do it. You know it would be done right at least.

Give em a shout. There is little you can do yourself in this matter.

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cmutka

· #13 · Jul 22, 2008

Yes, do contact Aimpoint. I have an M-XD that developed a short in the switch and they repaired it for free. I have had the scope for something like 12-13 years, it did take a while, but they did it. I do not know if lens damage would be covered, however if it is a 'duty' scope, be sure to tell them.

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jasonb

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jul 22, 2008

I bought this for my work gun(future, as we won't qualify again until October). It was $300 to my door :grin: The seller offered a refund, but I don't know what to do because it zero'd so nicely and is so much fun to shoot. He also claimed that he didn't notice the scratches.
I think i may try for a partial refund.
I bought a lens pen today also and even though it's pretty cool, it didn't work any magic. I'll contact Aimpoint, but I'm scared how much it'll cost because it warranty isn't transferrable.

ETA:
The objective lens is pretty much perfect. I suspect a soldier or someone used their shirt to wipe off the lens, as they are pretty fine scratches.

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