Lens cleaning solution?

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Montana
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Lens cleaning solution?

Post by Montana »

My mission is to clean all my lenses tomorrow (spurred on by Gordon). Before I go into work this afternoon what is the best solution to make up? I have absolute ethanol, 99.9% isopropanol (Propan-2-ol) and ddH2O in my store. What is the best solution to use? TEC state to use Baader cleaning fluid?

Many thanks for your help :)
I am sure Walter gave me a recipe 2-3 years ago but I just can't find it.

Alexandra


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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by solarchat »

Hey you :),

I use Zeiss lens cleaning fluid which is 94% water and 6% isopropyl alcohol.

here is a data sheet for the mixture

http://www.company7.com/library/zeiss/Z ... 2011.p.pdf


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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by grimble_cornet »

Isopropanol is hygroscopic if I remember correctly - it attracts water from the air and causes smearing?
I use Eclipse cleaning fluid (the best I have ever found after 40 years of cleaning microscope, camera and telescope lenses with just about every fluid known to science) which is mainly methanol (causes brain damage but I'm past worrying about that).
Telescope lenses aren't that fussy - as long as you make sure you blow away any abrasive dust before adding the liquid - you can use almost anything. From your 'chemical store', I would be tempted to use ethanol cut to about 80% with your distilled water. Usual warning about putting the liquid on a pad or cloth NOT on the lens where it can 'wick' into spaces between lens elements etc.
I use lint-free Tec Pads produced for photographers but cotton buds (change before they get dirty) work well.
Avoid tissues as they can be quite rough and some are impregnated with oils to make them 'nose friendly'.
Some people suggest finishing off by 'polishing' with a microfibre cloth but........ having seen a very expensive lens with a nice set of circular scratches after this treatment (presumably there was some abrasive substance on the cloth) I personally will give this a miss!
Sorry if I'm teaching granny to suck eggs - just my 2ps worth.


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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by Montana »

Thanks guys, so many different methods :) I'm at work now, I have taken 20ml of each, I'll go and add a 4th and get some methanol too. I can see this being a chemistry morning. I think all my other lenses will get a clean in trial before the TEC. After 4 years the TEC is really filthy and has a big string of something right over the centre. It turned up one day while WL imaging, it is either sap or a spiderweb. It is definitely something sticky as I panicked when it first appeared as I thought the lens was cracked. I think I will go with the most gentle first.

Thanks for your help :)

Alexandra


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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Alexandra

take it easy. A mixture of pure Ethanol, pure isopropanol and distilled water 1:1:1 is perfect. There is no need to get the Methanol.


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by grimble_cornet »

Agreed - your brain is more valuable (as is your eyesight which the methanol zaps before it starts on the brain).


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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Mike

very well written. Prosit Neujahr with ETHANOL absolutus , diluted to about 12-14 % v/v, colored with blue 0.33, green 0.66, red 1.33 ;-)


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by Montana »

No need to worry, I breathe in so much methanol everyday fixing cells and using it in transfer buffer for western blots, it's never done me any harm yet :geek: :shock: (let's not have any rude jokes :lol: )

I'm all stocked up now and ready to go :)
Thanks for the tips :)

Alexandra


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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by solarchat »

Alexandra, go easy and don't push it with the cleaning...:) better to leave a very stubborn spot than to scratch the coatings for good.


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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Alexandra


have fun with the cleaning, looking forward to very contrasty new pics in 2015


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by Montana »

Thanks :)
Stephen, the whole business scares the **** out of me, but I really need to tackle this sticky string before it gets worse ;) I usually prefer to do nothing.

Alexandra


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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by BobW »

Hi Alexandra

I haven't tried this material but it got a good review in one of the astro mags. I don't remember which one.

http://www.photoniccleaning.com/

Bob


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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by Montana »

Thanks Bob, certainly worth a thought if I chicken out today :)

Alexandra


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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by Carbon60 »

Good luck with it all, Alexandra. Let us know which magic formula you end up using.

Have a great 2015.

Best regards

Stu


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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by Montana »

Oh good god!!!! if I ever mention lens cleaning again shoot me.

It has taken me two hours of flapping, using nearly all the lens tissue and cotton wool balls.

The lens was absolutely perfect and immaculate after I spent 10 minutes blowing off the dust and lightly brushing with my sable brush. However it was covered with sap. So 4 years of dust is a pleasure but the sap was a nightmare!

Walters solution was very weak and smeary and left bobbles. Pure methanol didn't touch the sap. Only wipe after wipe with pure isopropanol gradually removed the sap but oh my goodness what a residue! I tried polishing with good old huff and puff, gave up, tried absolute ethanol, gave up. The only thing which gradually shifted it was swab after swab of pure methanol, followed by huff and puff. It is still covered with residue but I have rubbed far more than I ever intended so I am leaving it at that hoping and praying I haven't scratched the lens or made it rubbish for imaging.

Lesson learned, never solar image under a tree, extend dew shield during the day, never get into a situation where you have to clean the lens.

Before
DSC01962small.jpg
After - finished / showing residue (no flash)
DSC01967small.jpg
with flash
DSC01969small.jpg
the aftermath
DSC01972small.jpg
Don't let anybody tell you it is easy! thank you Stephen for the fair warning, but like any lady we never listen.
Alexandra


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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by grimble_cornet »

WOW - not what you wanted :o
You will certainly need some alcohol to celebrate the new year after that experience :roll:

I think I would have gone for a xylene/benzene type solvent for the sap (solvents for good old Canada Balsam from my microscope slide making days - long before you got involved in microscopy I'm sure) but I'm not sure what effect they would have on lens coatings.

The lens looks much better now so I'm sure your images will sparkle :movie


All the best for 2015


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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by Carbon60 »

Phew.....sounds like you had quite an eventful time, but the results look like it was worth while, although it's difficult to see any residue. I'm sure your images will be perfect.

Stu.


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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Alexandra

congratulations and thanks on the feed back about my formulation :( . Did you ever mention we had to deal also with sap ? I would have sent you a mixture of xylene and toluine (1:1), works perfect.

Any how, happy new year to you both, see you 2015 again


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by Montana »

I've just checked it again to make sure it is still alive and it is phew!
Thanks folks for the support, yes sorry Walter, that was the reason for the clean, I didn't realise sap was so stubborn. Your new mix isn't in my stores though, Xylene is carcinogenic and is fume cupboard only and I have never heard of the other ;)

2015 is a sap avoidance year :)

Happy New year to you :hamster:

Alexandra


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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by grimble_cornet »

When I was studying A level chemistry...... we cleaned the benches down with benzene after doing organic practicals.
Then one week, the teacher told us that benzene had been banned as it caused cancer and we would be using xylene from now on :?
Toluene is a member of the same family - used to use that to clean microscope slides :oops:

You can see why I stopped worrying about brain damage from methanol :lol:


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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by swisswalter »

:lol: :lol: :lol:


Only stardust in the wind, some fine and some less fine scopes, filters and adapters as well. Switzerland 47 N, 9 E, in the heart of EUROPE :)

from 7 am - 7 pm http://www.nanosys.ch

from 7.01 pm - 6.59 am http://www.wastronomiko.com some times vice versa ;)
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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by sloth713 »

Random thought for preventing sap reaching the objective lens if you ever have to image under or close to a tree again. What about making about a 8" to 12" paper cylinder extension to attach to the front of the telescope (pretty much just like a dew shield). That way if sap does drip near your lens it will hit the paper and hopefully get stuck and/or absorbed before it gets any where close to your optical surfaces.

Edit: I just want to add that I suggested paper primarily because it has mild absorbent qualities and it is plentiful.
Last edited by sloth713 on Mon Jan 05, 2015 11:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.


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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by grimble_cornet »

Good point John - almost all of my scopes have one built in so I was amazed to find that my new treasure - the LS100 - has the front lens sticking out bold and proud with no protection :o
IMG_2786.jpg

Think I might have to cobble-together a dew shield of some sort one I have to point it more than 15 degrees above the horizon :lol:


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Re: Lens cleaning solution?

Post by GUS »

I might be mistaken, but I think the LS80 comes with a sliding dew shield.


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