Is there any point in buying second-hand binoculars that have been owned by a smoker? Will the smell ever go away? I have two experiences to draw on.
1. When I was first married we were given a carpet by my aunt, who was a smoker. We tried everything we could think of to get rid of the smell, but in the end we had to throw the thing out.
2. A few years ago I bought a Mac PowerBook on eBay. It turned out the seller worked in a cigar company and the PowerBoook smelled accordingly. However, after a thorough wipe down, the smell went away. (The box it came in still smells, though - I must remember to throw that out.)
Theoretically, I would expect the binoculars, which are rubber-armoured, to behave like the PowerBook, both being made of non-absorbent material. Am I right? Would you risk it?
Michael.
Michael,I hardly think that one could smoke and look through binoculars at the same time.Also I do not think that bins can absorb the smell of cigarettes,chips etc,as do material and porous objects.So I think you would be okay.A quick wipe around should certainly help.I doubt anyone would leave expensive binoculars lying around without being in a case etc.
[QUOTE=MacGee]Is there any point in buying second-hand binoculars that have been owned by a smoker? Will the smell ever go away? I have two experiences to draw on.
1. When I was first married we were given a carpet by my aunt, who was a smoker. We tried everything we could think of to get rid of the smell, but in the end we had to throw the thing out.
2. A few years ago I bought a Mac PowerBook on eBay. It turned out the seller worked in a cigar company and the PowerBoook smelled accordingly. However, after a thorough wipe down, the smell went away. (The box it came in still smells, though - I must remember to throw that out.)
Theoretically, I would expect the binoculars, which are rubber-armoured, to behave like the PowerBook, both being made of non-absorbent material. Am I right? Would you risk it?
Michael.[/QUOTE]
I remember reading on the Honest John site that it is possible to remove the smell of cigarettes from cars. I cannot recall how, but I imagine the same applies to binoculars. Perhaps a search on that site will find the information.
Leif