Fog testing scopes?????

I

ILoveBigRacks

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Well, I'm seriously depressed now. Pending sale of a scope of mine, I put it through a 'freezer test' at the request of the buyer. Cool with me as I want everyone to be happy with items I sell to them. Anyways, wasn't familiar with the test so asked for direction. Put scope in freezer for 10-15 minutes and then remove and run under tepid water. Dry off and look for fogging inside the scope. Simple enough so off I went.

The scope in question showed fog on an inside lenswhen I dired it off. It disappeared very quickly but regardless, there it was.

Decided to try it on my other scopes and see what I had. Every single scope I own did the same thing!!:eek: :eek: From an older Bushnell Custom scope (which took longer for the fog to clear) right down to a Vari-X II 3-9x40 in like new condition, and a couple of VX-III 2.5-8x36's - one like new and the other brand new!!! :eek: :eek: Also, a new Burris Fullfiled II 3-9x40 I had just mounted.

WTF!!!!

Is this the test that everyone else uses? The older scopes I can see but the brand new Leupies?? I am really bummed now.:(
 
That is some kind of brutal test. Frozen and then warm water!!!!!

I would not suggest doing that again. freeze and then into a warm humid environment maybe, but the change in temperature that you exposed those scopes to is not only totally unnatural but way way to quick for the materials in question. The fact that all your quality scopes experienced the same results should indicate something.

Wonder if the potential buyer ever tried that with his scopes????
 
i put my scopes in the fridge for a few hours then let them warm up on the counter. after a while wipe off any exterior condensation and check to see if the seals leak. most of my scopes have passed the test.
 
^^ what kind of scopes do you have that passed?



I would say this is a good test as when it's almost winter when we go out and hunt. If it is cold out and then you finish your hunt and walk inside, the same thing would happen so I see this test as I good one
 
Cereal you see running a frozen scope under warm/tepid water as a good test???
Think about it for a second. Freezing and exposing to warm air yes warm water definetley no.

This is a potentially destructive test and exceeds the expected stresses of the product.
 
I am not sure what your test is trying to mimic?

It is freezing cold out an all of a sudden there is a tropical rainstorm?:p

Try this:

Place you rscope in a warm water bath for about 30 minutes -hour.

Put it in the freezer for a hour.

If there is any wate rintrusion into the scope, it will appear as fog or frost. That is what you want to know- is the scope waterproof?

Fog showing up for an instant under the condiitons you describe mean pretty much nothing to me, and I woudn't use itr as a tet to decide if I want to buy a scope or not.
 
i put my scopes in the fridge for a few hours then let them warm up on the counter. after a while wipe off any exterior condensation and check to see if the seals leak. most of my scopes have passed the test.
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I have used this test myself.So far none of my hunting scopes have failed.However a friends simmons scope failed.
 
i have used fridge warm air method on weavers, redfield and leups but haven't bothered to try on cheaper scopes. i would kinda expect $50 scopes might fail.
 
some of these are too funny!:eek:
i guess it could happen...
say you're out hunting in the middle of the arctic, and you set your rifle down to take a leak and end up pissing on your gun!
you never know!
 
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i would think giving that if you put a glass in the freezer and then run it under warm water it will crack , this test could end up doing the same thing and ruining your nice scope
i dunno man
 
Lets see - Take an expensive scope that has been serviceable to this point, expose it to a very extreme, possibly destructive test - well beyond the norms of use, on the request of a potential buyer.
Methinks the buyer just bought himself a scope...
 
Scopes are purged with nitrogen when made, nitrogen being an inert, but more important, a dry gas. So, there is no internal water vapour to condense. Unfortunately, a scope is not an impervious tube. There are mechanical fittings which must pass through the walls, as well as joints. Over time, the nitrogen filling will frequently escape. This does no harm, as long as the air which replaces it contains little water vapour. If you want to test a scope for leaks, a warm water bath will cause the gas in the scope to expand, and tiny bubbles will emerge. You don't want to force too much gas out, or traces of the atmospere will be drawn in as the scope cools. If it is necessary to check for water vapour in the tube, chill the scope. If there are appreciable amounts, there will be condensation. But there is no reason to take a chilled scope and heat it. A scope can be easily purged with nitrogen if necessary. Usually, if the eyepiece is screwed almost off (don't force it), a tiny hole will be seen. This is where a hypodermic syringe tip on the end of a tube from the gas supply is inserted. You will note that the exposed threads are coated with a silicone grease; this seals the port when the eyepiece is screwed back into normal position. At any rate, the test this prospective buyer requested is unrealistic. Send the scope off for depot servicing and cross the guy's name off the list of people you would ever do business with.
 
tiriaq said:
. At any rate, the test this prospective buyer requested is unrealistic. Send the scope off for depot servicing and cross the guy's name off the list of people you would ever do business with.
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I agree...Dump that buyer..;)
 
I respect the buyer and will continue to do business with him. We've had good dealings in the past and hopefully will continue to do so, regardless of this particular case. We've talked about the test and have concluded, thanks to you folks' fine input, that it was a bit unrealistic. Thanks for all the invaluable advice, I've definately learned a thing or two. This is exactly why this site is so fantastic - always a wealth of knowledge to draw upon. Now to whom do I send the cheque?? ;)
 
if you want to test your scope try this simple and safe method
put your scope in the door of the freezer of your fridge and let sit for 30 min now turn your shower on with temp just hotter then what you would shower in let run for 5 min with the door closed then turn off now take your scope out of the freezer and walk into your bathroom
its far safer and easier on the scope and comes very close to actual enviroments as far as arctic to in your cabin type situation
 
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