burning the film on your mask

[EnriqueL6]

I'm sure there are many people on SB with different methods, but I've always used toothpaste. Just rub it on the glass and wash it off. I've done that with all my masks and never had a problem.

Prior to diving, I either use some commercial anti-fog spray or spit on the glass and rub it in, then rinse with fresh water. If I don't have fresh water, then salt water. If it fogs up during the dive, then let some water in the mask, defog it and blow the water out.

I've never heard of burning it off, but whatever works....works.

 

[Dewit2it]

I've always used tartar control toothpaste. Use the paste and not the gel stuff. With the mask dry add paste and scrub for a good 10 minutes. Add a couple drops of water if things start drying out while scrubbing. Fingers should squeek all over the glass. Rinse well. Minty fresh mask!

Also recommend Mc Nett's Sea Gold gel. Use a drop about the size of a dime on each side and rub well with the mask dry. Don't be afraid to press it into the corners of the mask between the silicone and glass. Rinse well. The residual gell that gets in the corners will keep plenty of no fog on the lens during the dive, even pool sessions doing mask clearing drills. The only time you want to reapply is when the mask has been allowed to dry.

Knowing how stressed tempered glass is, I wouldn't want to get a flame anywhere near it! It's a good way to get glass all over the deck.

 

[Johnny Mojo]

To the OP.....As you can see there are many opinions on this. Here's one more

Try it. I didn't believe it would work, but it did. The only other thing I would add is that I used one of those LONG lighters for fire places and grills. No lighter was handy, and I think that the longer lighter worked better. Imagine the use of a "pointer". It was simply more precise. I did exactly as described by others.

Invert mask with strap out of the way.

I held it up a little like I was looking under it so that I could see the ring burn away.

Start in the middle of the lens where you have plenty of room to work.

It would be very hard to do permanent damage to the lens unless you just held it there, so just go in brief intervals.

Keep the flame moving over the lens. You will see a gradually increasing ring of a "soot-like" substance.

As you get closer to the frame/skirt area, just move a little more quickly.

Once completed, clean with plain old Colgate white tooth paste.

No more fogging. Use spit, baby shampoo, or de-fogger; it doesn't matter mask won't fog.

For those who say this could ruin a mask, you gotta be smarter than the mask and the lighter.

Let everyone which way you decided to go and what the result was. Inquiring minds want to know.

J.

 

[ptyx]

What a bunch of weenies. We are talking a cigarette lighter not a napalm flame thrower.

One of the local boat captains uses a small blowtorch.
Scary, but it works great.

I tried it on my backup mask, and it was still fog free 20 dives later despite being put underwater, in cold conditions, and without having seen any chemical defogger, spit or shampoo. There was no damage to the mask.

 

[SoccerJeni]

This is freaking bizarre! I've never heard of this (though I'm still new)...but I'm wondering, why in the world would the mask manufacturers produce something you have to take a flame to post purchase? That's just crazy. Though I guess I'll take your word for it that it works...

I guess I always thought my mask was foggy because I exhaled through my nose too much.

 

[ScubaSteve2000]

Get plain old white colgate toothpaste and an el-cheap-o electric toothbrush (or use your wife's toothbrush). Make little circles with the toothbrush all over the inside surface of the mask. Works great and leaves your mask smelling minty fresh. I have prescription lenses glued to the inside of my mask so fire isn't an option.
Make sure you use old fashioned toothpaste. Not the new fangled gel stuff.

 

[diver 85]

I've heard whispers of this practice (holding a lighter under the lenses 'til you burn off the thin silicone film)... however, IMHO, I wouldn't even consider it.

Baby shampoo, or a non-abrasive toothpaste will do the job. After that, a little anti-fog (anything from spit to a commercial brand -- everyone has their personal preferences) before/during a dive day will take care of it.

^^^^^^.....This guy has my vote......^^^^^^

 

[DevonDiver]

Lots of people saying they 'haven't heard of this'. Fair enough.. they haven't. What does that mean? Nothing. So why would they say that they wouldn't do it? See it first... then decide. ha ha ha

Using flame to burn of the film/residue on a new mask is very common within the industry. It is very effective too. I've done this with (literally) hundreds of masks.

Just a few seconds playing the flame over the inside of the glass. Not long enough to burn the skirt or even make the glass 'hot'. Wash and repeat. Then scrub as normal with white toothpaste.

 

[formula1mb@aol.com]

I'm personally a big fan of the lighter method too. I've had masks before where I did the whole toothpaste thing, scrub hard, but even after that I would get regular fogging. Not the end of the world---just let some water in to clear it but pretty annoying.

After losing my last mask, I figured what the hell and try the lighter trick. I used one of the long bbq lighers too, couple of seconds starting in the middle of the lens until I can see the residue burning off and start expanding out to the edges. After that, I have had virtually zero fogging and would much rather use this technique instead of scrubbing it for 10 minutes and still get fogging.

Sounds weird, people get freaked out thinking of using a lighter on a new mask but in reality, both glass and silicone have high heat resistance and as long as you don't hold the lighter in the same place for a long time it'll be fine.

 

[DevonDiver]

This is freaking bizarre! I've never heard of this (though I'm still new)...but I'm wondering, why in the world would the mask manufacturers produce something you have to take a flame to post purchase? That's just crazy.

My guess is that it is a by-product of the manufacturing process. Maybe a residue that gets on the mask when the skirt is moulded? Or it could be deliberately added to the glass for protection in the factory?

I guess I always thought my mask was foggy because I exhaled through my nose too much.

Get rid of the residue, and you'll notice that the mask doesn't fog much at all.

I've used the same mask(s) for over 6 years. I couldn't make them fog now even if I tried...