Is lacquer thinner safe on plastic glasses lens?

Re: Is lacquer thinner safe on plastic glasses len

Clifton C

A big "NO" it will etch them for sure...

On a different note, back in the day, we would send the new guy for some lacquer thinner... Oh wait, we just need a little... here, put some in this cup...

Yes, it was a Styrofoam cup...

Well, we thought it was funny.

Re: Is lacquer thinner safe on plastic glasses len

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

I suppose you sprayed lacquer with your glasses on. There are two kinds of lenses, acrylic and polycarboante. The polycarbonate lenses are more solvent resistant, but may craze with the wrong solvent, pure isopropanol for example. You're probably screwed. The place that made them maybe could re-polish them without changing curvature.

You are correct, Sir.

Barry Irby

More than once. Many times.

Actually, I don't really care, I need new lenses anyway so this will just precipitate action.

Re: You are correct, Sir.

William Duffield

I have been using a mixture of ethanol and isobutanol (trade name Behcol, a slow drying solvent for shellac) for cleaning my glasses. It was definitely not a good idea! It has attacked a thin coating on my lenses which has been peeling off in splotches and greatly increases their susceptibility to glare. So far, I have not noticed any damage from pure ethanol on my other pair. I don't think Windex is a good idea either, but I don't have enough data yet.

Novus *LINK*

Clifton C

I've been using this stuff for years...


Novus plastic polish

Re: Is lacquer thinner safe on plastic glasses len

Don Orr

I got some CA glue on my glasses a few years ago. Acetone is a known solvent for CA. I tested a bit of acetone on a side of my glasses with a cotton swab and had no adverse effects. Same swab took the CA off in a few seconds. Polycarbonate lenses. Acetone should take off lacquer thinner unless the lenses are acrylic in which case the lenses will dissolve.