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

[Compressor]

Baby shampoo is the right answer.
On new masks, I use toothpaste. Then baby shampoo.
If still fogs, then very fine sand, very very gently scubas the inside (a little water to moisten the sand).

It worked 35 years ago, and it works today. Needless to say, many of the techniques above will work as well.

 

[tridacna]

Was a PDP-11 'destructive read' like the '8' was? I had to come up with 6502 equivalent as a project...

I still have my password from my Compuserve (Brookline, Mass) dialup. Morphed into AOL, screw them...

I was 70732.2166. That became 70732.2166@compuserve.com - they missed that boat big time and AOL ate their lunch. I can still hear the Rockwell modem audio connecting at least twice daily while paying the phone company by the minute.

And yes, destructive read.

 

[stuartv]

I put it in the mask case, wedged it in about halfway so it would stay level and put enough in to cover the glass.

But, did you close the mask case and seal the fumes inside, or leave it open?

 

[chillyinCanada]

Baby shampoo is the right answer.
On new masks, I use toothpaste. Then baby shampoo.
If still fogs, then very fine sand, very very gently scubas the inside (a little water to moisten the sand).

It worked 35 years ago, and it works today. Needless to say, many of the techniques above will work as well.

I was on an lob a couple of years back and grabbed a bottle of a Softscrub equivalent. I put a little dab on on lenses and started to finger rub it around when one of the younger divers exclaimed "what are you doing?! You"ll scratch your lense!" And then as much as grabbed the bottle me. I explained that I didn't have the right toothpaste with me on this trip and wanted to clean my mask. "No no, you mustn't use this product on your mask." So, a bit confused, I set it aside and used normal liquid soap that was available instead, figuring that I didn't really know the product since it was from another country.

 

[Boston Breakwater]

Many, many years ago that argument was totally put to rest (for me). We had contracted for an 'alpha' instructor to polish our C-programming skills. Resume

During the most memorable interpersonal 'ramp-up' to the formal lecture, Rex mentioned to the five of us (in response to a question) that his hardest student/sell/audience was someone who has done something forever and sees no reason for change. I took that to heart.

Why do you think that they are even trying?

Quality Fade in China - HGExperts.com

You would almost think.

 

[stuartv]

I was on an lob a couple of years back and grabbed a bottle of a Softscrub equivalent. I put a little dab on on lenses and started to finger rub it around when one of the younger divers exclaimed "what are you doing?! You"ll scratch your lense!" And then as much as grabbed the bottle me. I explained that I didn't have the right toothpaste with me on this trip and wanted to clean my mask. "No no, you mustn't use this product on your mask." So, a bit confused, I set it aside and used normal liquid soap that was available instead, figuring that I didn't really know the product since it was from another country.

If it had some kind of coating on the lens, like an anti-reflective coating, then you could scratch that. You're not going to scratch the glass itself with Softscrub.

The lenses in these masks are REALLY hard. When Hollis told me recently that they would replace the mask I destroyed because of this thread , they asked for me to destroy it (more) and send pictures. I took it upon myself to not only break the frame into a couple more pieces but also smash one of the lenses.

I set both lenses inside the mask box (to contain the pieces) and propped the end of one up on the edge of the other. I used a small ball peen hammer to whack the lens. I ended up hitting it about 5 times! Each time progressively harder. I didn't even make a mark until I finally hit it HARD. Then it shattered into a million pieces and went all over my garage.... I didn't really think that part through very well.... Note to self: Ziploc bags are your friends....

 

[lexvil]

If it had some kind of coating on the lens, like an anti-reflective coating, then you could scratch that. You're not going to scratch the glass itself with Softscrub.

The lenses in these masks are REALLY hard. When Hollis told me recently that they would replace the mask I destroyed because of this thread , they asked for me to destroy it (more) and send pictures. I took it upon myself to not only break the frame into a couple more pieces but also smash one of the lenses.

I set both lenses inside the mask box (to contain the pieces) and propped the end of one up on the edge of the other. I used a small ball peen hammer to whack the lens. I ended up hitting it about 5 times! Each time progressively harder. I didn't even make a mark until I finally hit it HARD. Then it shattered into a million pieces and went all over my garage.... I didn't really think that part through very well.... Note to self: Ziploc bags are your friends....

Better to wrap in cloth and toss it with the glass.

 

[lowviz]

You would almost think.

Yes, you did say that. My bad. Apologies.

 

[lowviz]

very fine sand

This has become most interesting. It appears that glass-on-glass doesn't leave a simple scratch. On this now...

 

[Daebado]

This has become most interesting. It appears that glass-on-glass doesn't leave a simple scratch. On this now...

Well I can tell you that Scotch-Brite pads will scratch the heck out of the glass!
When I first started diving (about 7 years ago), I bought my first mask and my LDS (who I bought the mask from) said to use a Scotch-Brite pad to remove the factory film from the inside. I didn't know at the time that those pads come in different abrasion levels so I just used what I had at home. Apparently, what I had was much too coarse because when I rinsed the mask and tried to look through it, it was unusable for all the swirling scratches I had made.

Needless to say, I wasn't happy and took the mask back to the dive shop. Of course, they tried to tell me I used the wrong stuff and/or rubbed too hard but after reminding them rather sternly that they hadn't included any of that info in their instructions to me, they finally relented and ordered me a new mask. I was much more careful with that one!