Are you a lover of outdoor activities? Do you like watching objects from afar? What great fun will it be if you have good condition binoculars!
When lenses, knobs, and prisms are in good working conditions, you will get a clear vision of all the objects at a distance. However, if your device is faulty, you will not enjoy watching nature. Can you repair the binoculars?
You need to know how to repair binoculars at home any time the device is broken. The good thing is that the repair process is easy. You can do it on your own at home. The lens, prisms, and knobs are the most delicate parts of binoculars that can get broken.
Knowing how to repair any or all of these parts will save you money and time. This simple guide will give you information about the possible damages and how to go about getting your binoculars back in shape.
Causes of Damaged Binoculars
There are four significant reasons for binoculars failure: collimation, wear and tear, accidental damage, and faulty manufacture.
Collimation problems are by far the significant causes of your binoculars failing.
Collimation can result from accidental falls, wear, and tear, or, in rare cases, faulty equipment.
A binocular is said to be out of collimation when both halves do not point in the same direction, giving a distorted image.
Any fault within the warranty period that is not accidental qualifies as faulty manufacture.
Your supplier is supposed to take care of it (repair or replacement). So you should take it back.
Wear and tear damages occur during the lifetime of your binoculars.
The more you use, the more its mechanical parts wear and tear. These types of faults are easily repairable at home.
Accidental damages arise from binoculars that are not handled with care.
When the straps are worn out, the binoculars may fall. That makes it damage some of the parts.
Common Causes of Binoculars Failure
- Excessive use and tilting of screws
- Using the binoculars in windy or rainy weather
- Beaming the binoculars directly to the sun
- Lens exposure to moisture
- Repeatedly altering lenses
- Too much pressure applied to the lens
Before proceeding to repair your binoculars, check if it has a warranty. Check also if the warranty is still applicable.
That is important because attempting to or repairing and adjusting binoculars will render the warranty null and void.
Then, it would help if you determined which part is damaged and which tools and materials you will need for
Which parts may need fixing?
- Dioptre knob
- Chassis
- Eyepiece lenses
- Prisms
- Objective lenses
- Focus wheel
One, two, or all of these parts may spoil. However, the most vulnerable parts are the prism, lens, and knob. When any of these are damaged, you should repair them immediately.
The Tools and Materials You Need
- Binocular repair manual
- Scale
- Screwdriver set
- Tripod stand
- Cleaning/wiping cloth
- Tissue rolls
- Soap solution
- Grease
- Cotton buds
- Magnifying glass
Use different tools and materials to fix different parts of the binoculars. There is no standard operating procedure for repairing binoculars.
Each part should be repaired differently using different procedures and tools. All you need to know in the beginning is how to disassemble binoculars.
How to Repair Binoculars at Home- Pro Guide With Step By Step
Follow these essential tips to help you repair various damaged parts of your binocular.
How to Repair Lenses
The lenses are the essential part of the device. They are also the most expensive and the most exposed.
Once damaged, lenses cause focus problems, and you will not get clear images.
You will also spend more money buying new pieces. Follow the steps below to repair damaged lenses.
- Step 1: Use a screwdriver to open small screws found around the lens. Most screws are located at the top right corner of the two lenses.
- Step 2: Remove the lenses.
- Step 3: Put some soap solution on a scale and use a cloth to wash the lens. Ensure you carefully follow the cleaning instructions on the repair manual.
Do not scrub the lines vigorously. You may end up damaging them further by putting scratches on them.
- Step 4: Dry the lens and indicate the center of both lens cups.
- Step 5: Once the lenses dry, put them back and place them at the center. Remember to adjust the positions accordingly. A pair of tweezers adjust effectively.
- Step 6: Once the lenses are in their exact place, tighten the screws.
- Step 7: Calculate the distance from the center of the lenses on both sides using a measuring scale.
If the distance from the center to both sides is equal, then the repair is successful.
If the distances are not equal, repeat the process above until you get it right.
Note: If your lenses are broken or cracked, fixing is not possible. You should start looking around for a replacement.
How to Repair Focusing Knob
Focusing knobs usually damage from too much friction resulting from overuse. Luckily, you can efficiently complete a binocular dioptre repair at home.
- First, you need to open the focus knob using a large screw.
- Second, take a cotton bud, and use it to clean the inside of the knob. Use a magnifying glass to check for any traces of dust particles and rust.
- Third, apply grease on the knob using a separate cotton bud. You should buy grease that is odorless and colorless.
- Last, close the focus knob and tighten the screws. You may need a little more force, as the knobs may be slippery from the grease.
How to Repair the Prism
De-collimation caused by damage in the binoculars is the main reason for repairing prisms.
The following is a systematic guide for repairing prisms.
- Step 1
Take your binoculars out during the day. Mount it on a tripod stand to make it stable and place it on a flat solid surface.
Aim for a big object about 100 yards away with vertical and horizontal lines.
Make sure the position of the binoculars allows you to get a central view of the object.
- Step 2
Rest your eyes for a few minutes and look out for a vertical line on the object. Now close one eye and look with the other for a few seconds.
Can you see a slight shift in the view? Do the same with the other eye too. If the shift is still there, it means the prism is still faulty. You need to adjust again.
- Step 3
Try vertical collimation. Rest your eyes again for a couple of minutes. Then, look out for a visible horizontal line on the object.
Keeping your eyes glued on the object, move your eyes a few inches from the binoculars.
Check if any of the lenses has a line that is not proportional. If the binoculars are in good condition, you should not break the line.
- Step 4
Locate the set screws to use for tilt adjustment of the prism. These should be on the barrels of the eyepiece.
For a binocular covered with rubber, remove the rubber to locate the set screws. Using an appropriate screwdriver, adjust the set screws.
- Step 5
To set the set screws, keep turning the set screws in a clockwise direction on the left barrel.
As you do this, the object image moves to the right and downwards.
When you turn the set screw counter-clockwise on the right barrel, the image moves in the opposite direction (upward left).
The binocular should be expected when the image merges horizontally without any vertical displacement.
Damaged prisms cause double vision. A more straightforward way to repair a double vision is described below.
How to Fix Double Vision in Binoculars?
Double vision in binoculars occurs when there is a disturbance in the way of light, mainly through the lenses and prisms.
To fix this problem, you need to disassemble the whole device.
To repair double vision, you will need cardboard, tape, a marker, and a measuring scale. Pointed pen knife and screwdrivers.
You need to start by determining which of the lenses is damaged, the extent of damage, and then repair.
To know the extent to which the lens is damaged, draw a plus (+) on the cardboard. Each of the crossing lines should be 12 inches, with each inch labeled. Then hang the cardboard on a wall about 100m away.
Standing straight, focus on the plus sign on the cardboard to see if the lines are similar.
If one or both of the lines is distorted, then the lens is damaged. Use the process described above to repair the damaged lenses.
Conclusion
Knowing how to repair binoculars at home is essential. That will save you the trip down to a repair shop every time you get double vision.
Prevention is always better than cure, handling your binoculars with care, and you will not need to repair or replace them.
If one or more parts spoil, follow the steps discussed above to repair the binoculars.
A properly functioning binocular makes your hiking, sporting, nature viewing, and astronomy activities memorable.