#1  
Old 03-08-2013, 05:42 PM
chambinator (Phil)
Registered User

chambinator is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Brunswick Heads
Posts: 1
Dew inside lens?

Hi all!

I've taken out my gear for inspection before an excursion tomorrow night.

Only to find my Meade Series 5000 SWA 24 mm has this strange "rot" covering 1/4 the surface INSIDE the lens' surface.

The lens was stored in a pouch, with both lens caps on, inside a sealed briefcase, ever since I used it a year and a half ago.

Any ideas what could have gone wrong and how to avoid that happening to my other lenses?

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zX-Iapz7K4...Lens+Rot+2.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XbMoiO_lh6...Lens+Rot+1.jpg

I'm quite a noob at this, so any advice will be much appreciated.

Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 04-08-2013, 08:28 AM
mercedes_sl1970
Registered User

mercedes_sl1970 is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Canberra
Posts: 430
That does not look good. It could be fungus/mould but looks like lens separation to me (or both). The only thing would be taking it apart, cleaning and reglueing... It is doable but not a trivial job.

It may be out of warranty but I would still contact the dealer and you may be lucky?

Also, check your other eyepieces, although I would be surprised if they were affected. It is usually age related or a fault.

Andrew
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 04-08-2013, 08:31 AM
casstony
Registered User

casstony is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Warragul, Vic
Posts: 4,493
Hi Phil, looks like fungus growing inside your eyepiece. Any time you store an eyepiece, binoculars or telescope in a humid, confined space you're risking getting fungal growth on the glass.

To avoid the problem you could store optics on a shelf covered with a cloth in an air conditioned part of the house (or heated part of the house in cooler climates) or you can store eyepieces in a sealed container with dessicant to remove moisture.

I store all my eyepieces in a craftright airtight case from bunnings with a rechargeable dessicant pack.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 04-08-2013, 11:30 AM
mercedes_sl1970
Registered User

mercedes_sl1970 is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Canberra
Posts: 430
Quote:
Originally Posted by casstony View Post
Hi Phil, looks like fungus growing inside your eyepiece. Any time you store an eyepiece, binoculars or telescope in a humid, confined space you're risking getting fungal growth on the glass.

To avoid the problem you could store optics on a shelf covered with a cloth in an air conditioned part of the house (or heated part of the house in cooler climates) or you can store eyepieces in a sealed container with dessicant to remove moisture.

I store all my eyepieces in a craftright airtight case from bunnings with a rechargeable dessicant pack.
Forgot to mention the desiccant packs!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 12-08-2013, 04:05 PM
brian nordstrom (As avatar)
Registered User

brian nordstrom is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Perth WA
Posts: 4,374
another good idea is to put a rag that's soaked in Bleach , in a plastic bag that's left open in the case with your eyepieces , the fumes kill any spores that are in there and stops them multiplying .
This smells a bit when you first open the case but 10 miniutes open in the sun sorts that out .
I do that during the wet season up here and don't have a problem with mould .
Mould is a curse ! .
Brian.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 16-08-2013, 09:37 AM
Don Pensack's Avatar
Don Pensack
Registered User

Don Pensack is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 501
When you have it apart, it will take more than alcohol to clean the lenses. Try acetone first (you can get at a pharmacy or sometimes a chemical supply store), and if that's not strong enough, try methyl ethyl ketone (MEK).
Only use these in well-ventilated areas, and well away from any flames.
I helped recondition an old Alvan Clark refractor that had mildew on the lenses, and it took sulphuric acid to clean the glass.

Fungus can etch the glass, so do not let it sit.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 22-08-2013, 01:32 PM
brian nordstrom (As avatar)
Registered User

brian nordstrom is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Perth WA
Posts: 4,374
I just read on Cloudy Nights that Lemon juice is the best thing for cleaning , put some on , leave it over night and rinse off , its up to you if you try this but it cant make it much worse ?
Good luck .
Brian.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 22-08-2013, 03:05 PM
killswitch's Avatar
killswitch (Edison)
Registered User

killswitch is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Western Sydney, NSW
Posts: 537
I had an old camera lens that had partial fungus growth on it and i ended up throwing it away after attempting to fix it. Fungus secretes acids which eat through coatings and etch the glass.

Keep that EP away from your other EP's. If you live in a humid climate, i suggest storing your optics in a powered dry box/cabinet.

Explore scientific sells waterproof nitrogen/argon purged EP's which prevents fungus growth.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
corrosion, eyepiece, mold

Thread Tools
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 09:24 AM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement
Testar
Advertisement