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

[Bob DBF]

It will be interesting to see the results.

My quest ended in the '80s, and since then I've done nothing but a spit and rinse defogger, it works well for me and checks my hydration. It seemed like a lot of work to clean the mask and no one seemed to have better results than what I've had.



Bob

 

[lowviz]

Sincere apologies to all on this thread for the overlong delay.

IRL was beating me up pretty badly and I took an extended electronic communications holiday to get my head together. Better now. Got my VIP and O2 cleaning certs in my most fav training facility in Temagami, ON. It is a family thing, PM me.

So, I was ready to wrap up this investigation when I realized that there was something that was seriously confounding the results. It was right in front of my face, pun intended. Sebaceous gland - Wikipedia

I am waiting to hear back from a manufacturer of the active ingredient of a 'water sheeting' compound. I would prefer to use the industry standard, but if I don't get a reply I will continue with J&J baby shampoo as its quality and composition are highly controlled.

I will proceed (as always) in a scientifically appropriate manner.

For those who need cheats: Dishwasher for the mask, wash your face (nose) before the dive, use any defog...

For those who want the whole story, stay tuned...

 

[aviator8]

well well, looks who's back.. Welcome home I'm looking forward to the full report.

 

[Dr. Deep]

I think the mask fogging depends on so many variables.

1. weather conditions/water temp
2. properly prepped mask/cleaned/anti-fogged
3. how much exertion the diver is experiencing (sweat)
4. depth of dive
5. skill of diver

Lighter: I tried the lighter method on my new Cressi mask, was great for a day, then started fogging between my eyes next day, had intermittent fog problems ever since depending on the depth of dive (condensation)

Toothpaste: Bought a new Scuba-Pro Spectra mirrored mask and used toothpaste pretty thoroughly on the inside on the boat before the dive, rinsed in the mask bucket thoroughly, then applied baby shampoo & water (spray-on bottle) and let it dry on the inside of the mask. I donned the mask dry on my dry face (natural reef safe plant-based sunscreen). I haven't had issues since. YMMV

 

[Marie13]

Sincere apologies to all on this thread for the overlong delay.

IRL was beating me up pretty badly and I took an extended electronic communications holiday to get my head together. Better now. Got my VIP and O2 cleaning certs in my most fav training facility in Ontario, CA. It is a family thing, PM me.

So, I was ready to wrap up this investigation when I realized that there was something that was seriously confounding the results. It was right in front of my face, pun intended. Sebaceous gland - Wikipedia

I am waiting to hear back from a manufacturer of the active ingredient of a 'water sheeting' compound. I would prefer to use the industry standard, but if I don't get a reply I will continue with J&J baby shampoo as its quality and composition are highly controlled.

I will proceed (as always) in a scientifically appropriate manner.

For those who need cheats: Dishwasher for the mask, wash your face (nose) before the dive, use any defog...

For those who want the whole story, stay tuned...

OMG, he’s alive!

 

[scubadada]

From DGX:

WARNING
Don't use toothpaste on modern dive masks, especially those masks that have optical quality ultra-clear glass lenses, vision correction lenses or 'optical coatings' on the 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.

 

[lowviz]

...//... These deposits can be safely removed with an extra application of a powerful surfactant like baby shampoo, SeaQuick or SeaDrops defog.

Or a quick run through the dishwasher (with the usual alkaline soaps) before your dive.

 

[scubadada]

Or a quick run through the dishwasher (with the usual alkaline soaps) before your dive.

Top rack or bottom?

 

[lowviz]

Top. Often as you wish until they finally decide to get with the program...

Update: Aculon just blew me off, trying Dow next.

This is a bit of a unique problem. Once one has diagnosed the root cause of a problem (any problem), it usually becomes rather straightforward to solve it. However, if there are two root causes that contribute to the problem, it becomes maddening to diagnose the problem.

I believe that this is what we have here.

1) Clean the mask and keep the skirt from recontaminating the clean glass surface
2) Your bod protects itself with exactly the wrong chemicals for keeping a mask clean.

So, at this moment, I kinda think that one should critically clean the skirt and lens and then remove the natural oils from one's face. Once this is done, apply a surfactant to both mask and face.

Baby shampoo?

We press on...

 

[Marie13]

@lowviz

Hmmm...that training facility seems familiar.