cleaning circular polarizers - help

I tried everything I know. I was shooting last week in bright sun light. It was ultra hot. The glue from my circular polarizer spilled all over the filter. not the quality I was expecting from a $200 B&W filter. When I saw it first I thought it was just my finger oil. so I did teh usual. breath + lens tissue. that didn't help, so I did my tiffen lens cleaner + breath + lens tissue. Still nada. So I bought LEE filter cleaner and still nothing. Everything I do, leaves smudges on the filter. How do I clean this stuff off!?
thx in advance,
Marek


EDIT:
its the glue that holds together the two parts of the filter. the twisty one and the rest.

Send the filter back, it is junk. I have used my Hoya Pro 1D and Hoya HD polarizers in all kinds of "hot" conditions. What you describe is unacceptable. I wouldn't clean that filter, I would mail it off for a refund. If you look for another filter, check out the prices of the two I mention at the site, www.2filter.com They are in New Hampshire, 100% legit, and have much better prices than B&H.

DANATTHEROCK wrote in post #10265900
Send the filter back, it is junk.

Ditto...

If it's hot, I don't know what you can do about it. I'd just send it back. But the warranty doesn't cover such extreme conditions, I don't think. Sorry about that. I doubt you can clean off something that melts.

That's odd. I've been using B+W for years (Kaesemann variety) in temperature extremes and never had a problem such as yours. I agree with the others...if its a genuine B+W filter that you bought it from a legit dealer, send it back for either a refund or exchange. If its a fake B+W bought unknowingly off ebay (an incredibly cheap price would usually be a dead giveaway), you're probably out of luck.

Since its not usable, you may want to try using a bit of mineral spirits on a soft cotton cloth such as a t-shirt, or a microfiber cloth, and rubbing with your fingertip.

Frist, where did you buy this filter from (please dont say eBay). And second was it the Kaesemann version?

ben_r_ wrote in post #10266866
Frist, where did you buy this filter from (please dont say eBay). And second was it the Kaesemann version?

Probably from maxsaver on ebay, don't the best circ polarisers avoid using glue for the layers, I would'nt expect B+W to use glue.

Sounds like a counterfeit B+W. If you want to try to rescue the filter, some methyl alcohol on a cotton swab saturated and left in place so as to soften the goop...

Methyl alcohol is safe for cleaning optics, not safe to drink!

You could try something like rubbing alcohol or a product called Goof Off that was designed to remove paint droppings from surfaces. It won't hurt the glass and should dissolve the glue. After that a good going-over with some windex and a microfiber cloth.

Send it back is another good option, if indeed it is a GENUINE B&W, they shouldn't do that.....
If it's a knock-off, well then trying the cleaning process is probably your only salvation.

hey guys, thx for the replies.
its a genuine B&W filter. I bought it from BH. paid close to $200 for it. Its multi coated, slim, circular polarizer. I would take pics but I dont have macro lens and without it its going to be hard to see. On the bit that twists into your camera lens, there is glass, a little space where you can see the white glue and the rest of the plastic that holds the other glass. well that white glue after a hot day was literally pouring onto the glass. When I first saw it, I never thought its the glue. So I tried cleaning it and I think that just made it worse as I'm just rubbing it in now. no filter or lens cleaner works on this

That's nothing I've seen in any of mine. "plastic"? Sounds like maybe someone tried scamming B&H by "returning" a counterfeit Kaesemann in place of a genuine they received.Either that or if you got some Deet on it, that's not good for plastics.

Mastamarek wrote in post #10267060
hey guys, thx for the replies.
its a genuine B&W filter. I bought it from BH. paid close to $200 for it. Its multi coated, slim, circular polarizer. I would take pics but I dont have macro lens and without it its going to be hard to see. On the bit that twists into your camera lens, there is glass, a little space where you can see the white glue and the rest of the plastic that holds the other glass. well that white glue after a hot day was literally pouring onto the glass. When I first saw it, I never thought its the glue. So I tried cleaning it and I think that just made it worse as I'm just rubbing it in now. no filter or lens cleaner works on this

Plastic? You sure? There shouldn't be any plastic, at least to the best of my knowledge. Since its the slim version, both rings should be aluminum (B+W slims aren't available in brass). If its a Kaesemann version, I'm wondering if what you're seeing is a failure of the edge seal (just taking a wild ass guess on this). Either way, get a hold of B&H asap.

hey guys, the twisty part is definitely aluminum ( has a metallic feel to it), the part that screws to the camera might be as well. It just didn't feel like it. sorry ^^ but ya the main point is that space between glass and what ever holds the outer ring. In mine I can see the white glue and its that glue thats on my filter right now

Get on the phone with B&H, tell them youve got some kinda defective one and have them send you another! I really dont think this should be happening. Many of us have that filter (myself included, bought from B&H) and have never experienced anything like that....

Mastamarek wrote in post #10267277
hey guys, the twisty part is definitely aluminum ( has a metallic feel to it), the part that screws to the camera might be as well. It just didn't feel like it. sorry ^^ but ya the main point is that space between glass and what ever holds the outer ring. In mine I can see the white glue and its that glue thats on my filter right now

I don't think it's glue, it's probably thick sillicone grease, used to lubricate the rings allowing the polariser to turn. Still it should not have run onto the filter element.
Now that it has run you have no more lubricant on the rings, I'd return it, as it may bind in the future.