NON-LACQUERED
METAL
Non-lacquered metal can be kept bright with a product called
Nevr-Dull. It's a waterless metal polish made at Freeport, NY
and comes in a blue tin filled with solvent-impregnated fiber
wadding. You tear off a piece the size of a cotton ball and rub
a tarnished scope until the oxidation is gone. Buff with a soft
cloth for a brilliant luster. It's good for non-lacquered silver,
gold, brass, copper, pewter, steel, aluminum, chrome-even glass.You
can also use Nevr-Dull to brighten your mag wheels and remove
tar from your motorcycle. You can buy it at a real hardware store-if
you can find one. The folks at the hardware boutique (where they
sell nails in little blister packs) won't know what you're talking
about.
GLASS
Glass can be cleaned with Windex, Glass Plus, etc. For scopes
we're careful to apply the cleaner to the cloth, not the kaleidoscope.
For Tiffany-method glass with leading, we use Pledge (sprayed
on the cloth). It cleans the surface and imparts an ultra-thin
waxy finish that may repel dust. Our remedy for a foggy kaleidoscope
eyepiece is a Q-tip with one end barely moistened with glass
cleaner.
LUCITE
Lucite, lexan and relatives must be kept well away from glass
and window cleaners. These contain alcohol or ammonia and can
permanently dim the sparkle of some synthetics. Instead, use
Novus Plastic Polish, available from lamp shops and plastic fabricators.
Non-oily, non-toxic Novus leaves a finish that resists fingerprints,
fog, dust and static. Apply with a clean, soft, grit-free, all-cotton
cloth. For restoring surfaces that show signs of wear, haziness,
fine scratches or discoloration, try Novus 2 or 3.
WOOD
Wood, when lacquered or varnished, is fully sealed and needs
only an occasional wipe with Pledge to rid it of dust. Natural
(un-lacquered) wood reacts to atmospheric changes, expanding
and contracting, absorbing or losing moisture. It needs additional
care lest it become dry and brittle. Old English Lemon Cream
Furniture Polish is one of the best treatments we've found. Applied
to a soft cloth and then to the wooden barrel of a scope Lemon
Cream restores color, grain and luster to a degree that may astonish
you.
ALABASTER
Alabaster is a low-maintenance material. Florida scope maker
Ben Ansley advises you not to use water to clean it. Just keep
it dusted with a soft, dry cloth and give it a once-over with
Pledge every five years or so.
LEATHER
Leather needs a treatment with leather cream every few weeks
to keep it from drying out and losing its flexibility. Lexol
or something like it will do the trick.
BRIGHT LIGHT
Bright light is fatal to some scopes. Keep your flower wheels
in the dark as pressed flowers will lose all color in direct
sunlight. Bright light causes wood to fade, so keep it in subdued
light. Not all fluid ampules are light-fast. Keep your scopes
in dim light when they're at rest.
HUMIDITY
Humidity can be critical. Too much moisture makes wood swell
and mirrors fog. When indoor humidity falls below 30%, wood dries
out and checks or splits at the grain. If you can increase the
moisture in your house at these times, your handcrafted wood
will thank you, as will your nasal linings.
GO
TO
OR
To View entire site 
