Anti-Fogging Treatments for New Masks. (a comparison of techniques)

[chillyinCanada]

Lately, I have followed the DGX recommendations. I scrub the lens and the inside of the mask several times with undiluted baby shampoo. I then use a commercial defog, usually Mcnett sea drops as I don't like the gel. I do very well with this regimen, If I get any fogging, I repeat the undiluted baby shampoo wash. So this does not seem to include the abrasive component of cleaning.

View attachment 546295 WARNING
Don't use toothpaste on modern dive masks, especially those masks that have vision correction lenses. You will either damage the lenses, or needlessly waste toothpaste since most modern toothpaste formulations are not at all abrasive. The same goes for using a lighter to 'burn' the lens to prepare a new mask. Dive Gear Express will not warranty masks that have been treated with abrasives or burned with lighters. Most new dive masks do have mold release agents in the flexible skirt that during storage will migrate to the surface of the lens and cause fogging. These deposits can be safely removed with an extra application of a powerful surfactant like baby shampoo, SeaQuick or SeaDrops defog.

Those products are removing the mold release agents or are they just creating a barrier?

 

[scubadada]

Those products are removing the mold release agents or are they just creating a barrier?

I think perhaps both

 

[stuartv]

I got some new masks recently. I burned them and then cleaned the soot off with a Magic Eraser. No fogging so far.

 

[wnissen]

yes.
"Chromium mix" based on Potassium dichromate K2Cr2O7
this mix looks ugly, and very dangerous, but as I know - it is THE best glass cleaning liquid.
Important warning: Hexavalent chromium compounds (including chromium trioxide, chromic acids, chromates, chlorochromates) are toxic and carcinogenic.

Unless you are a chemist, I would stay away from any reactive chromium compounds. Using a shotgun to keep squirrels out of the yard is probably effective in the short term, too, but your aim had better be spot on.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Unless you are a chemist, I would stay away from any reactive chromium compounds. Using a shotgun to keep squirrels out of the yard is probably effective in the short term, too, but your aim had better be spot on.

Not positive but think you may have stumbled upon a Russian sense of humour here.

 

[NAUI Wowie]

how does a lighter damage glass? Note I did not say blowtorch.....lighters are perfectly fine and in actual fact the very best way to eliminate everything off the glass.

people say oh noes it will damage the skirt... the little heat there if it DID damage a skirt would be visibly evident.....

 

[lowviz]

I got some new masks recently. I burned them and then cleaned the soot off with a Magic Eraser. No fogging so far.

Try this for storage: Clean them with soapy water and dry with a freshly laundered all cotton fabric. apply a VERY thin coating of your fav defog agent and let it dry out on the lenses.

Unless you are a chemist, I would stay away from any reactive chromium compounds. Using a shotgun to keep squirrels out of the yard is probably effective in the short term, too, but your aim had better be spot on.

Chromium: Health benefits, sources, and potential risks Not all chromium is bad, the highly oxidized states of it are, though. I believe that such drastic measures are not necessary for dive masks.

Not positive but think you may have stumbled upon a Russian sense of humour here.

Could be.

Chromerge was a 'rite of passage' for anyone dealing with clean glassware. Chemists would trade stories of holey clothes and lab coats. The stuff works...


All: I have eight new masks. The more I mess with them the less 'new' they are. Apologies for moving so slowly, but I want the most that I can get from this very rare opportunity.

 

[chillyinCanada]

Try this for storage: Clean them with soapy water and dry with a freshly laundered all cotton fabric. apply a VERY thin coating of your fav defog agent and let it dry out on the lenses.

(,SNIP).

That's not going to be an ideal situation for me.

My defog is my personalized product containing my DNA. I have tried others and don't like them; even baby shampoo irritates my eyes.

But now I'm unsure how to prep my newest mask. Do I do it the way that I always have done or not do that because no longer good for the mask or just what? I shall ponder this.

 

[lowviz]

My defog is my personalized product containing my DNA.

So is mine. I'm working on something at the moment but not ready to post.

The idea is to form and keep the hydroxyl groups (on the glass) intact during storage. Suggestion: Wash whatever storage stuff off before the dive and forget it was ever there.

 

[FreeFlyFreak]

But now I'm unsure how to prep my newest mask. Do I do it the way that I always have done or not do that because no longer good for the mask or just what? I shall ponder this.

Decisions, decisions.

I got a new DGX frameless mask to try a few weeks ago. Its not a perfect fit on my face, but I think it might work. I'll need a few more dives to decide. I do love the field of view though, it is a vast improvement on my scubapro.

However fogging was an issue on my first shallow dive with it. I toothpasted it 3 times when I got it, and used spit as usual, which worked on my scubapro mask, but not on the frameless DGX.

Toothpasted it some more, then yesterday after reading this thread remember I had a Magic Eraser under the sink. Used dish soap and the Mr Clean Magic eraser, scrubbed until it was squeaky clean, rinsed thoroughly.

Hope it works.