Recommend a Lens Glue ???

JohnBar · Joined: 21 Jun 2012 Posts: 581 Location: Liverpool

I have managed to remove the elements for cleaning on some plastic projection lenses using acetone from a fine pipette and by working quickly before it started to dissolve the plastic.

Now I want to glue them back in

Please recommende the correct glue for this

philslizzy · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 4749 Location: Cheshire, England

Epoxy is fine. just keep it away from the lens. If any gets on an acrylic lens surface it will never come off,

Use blu-tac on a match head to hold the lens while fitting it. Be careful as the glue can 'string'.

DO NOT use cyanoacrylate (superglue), the acetone will have created a porous surface and cyanoacrylate prefers an air-free environment to set. Plus it has a habit of creeping over plastic surfaces frosting them.

good luck

JohnBar · Joined: 21 Jun 2012 Posts: 581 Location: Liverpool

Sorry I should have explained better. the lenses are glass but their retainers are plastic

philslizzy · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 4749 Location: Cheshire, England

same rules apply. But don't use cyanoacrylate because it doesn't 'fill' like epoxy.

goodluck

JohnBar · Joined: 21 Jun 2012 Posts: 581 Location: Liverpool

Cheers!

My only concern about epoxy is that it is kind of permanent or difficult to remove at some future date.

philslizzy · Joined: 07 Aug 2012 Posts: 4749 Location: Cheshire, England

Permanent. Why would you want to remove the lenses later? None permanent glues won't hold the lenses in position properly, there will always be a risk of the lens moving.

despite my advice about Cyanoacrylate (superglue) That ought to hold them well enough (if they're glass) but a sharp knock will loosen them. I still think you may get crystalisation (a frosting) creeping onto the surface of the lens if you use it.

JohnBar · Joined: 21 Jun 2012 Posts: 581 Location: Liverpool