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Old 04-01-2019, 01:31 PM
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FredinBroome (Fred)
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Cleaning Eye Pieces and Telescope lenses

Hi everyone,


I bought some "Laser" screen cleaning kit which contains some fluid and microfiber cloth to clean my eyepieces and telescope objective. It seems to be for computers, LED TVs mobile phones etc with only a single mention of glass. I think that it is my only choice here in Broome (purchased at Harvey Norman).


Just want to confirm it won't do any damage to my telescope.


Cheers
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  #2  
Old 04-01-2019, 02:04 PM
Wavytone
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Personally I wouldn’t use it.

Plenty of older threads here on cleaning optics.
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  #3  
Old 05-01-2019, 02:38 PM
Startrek (Martin)
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I agree with Waytone. Don’t use it
I use a hurricane blower ( 5 to 6 squeezes) to clear the glass of any loose dust and particles and then cotton tips with a small amount of isopropyl alcohol, dab and softly wipe in a circular motion from centre to outside to remove oils etc..
Repeat twice or 3 times and then use the hurricane blower again
I use my Astro torch to check the cleaned surface in a dark room during the day or outside at night.
Never use your breath to blow on the glass
I don’t use microfibre , it tends to smudge than clean
My 2 cents .....
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  #4  
Old 05-01-2019, 06:35 PM
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FredinBroome (Fred)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Startrek View Post
I agree with Waytone. Don’t use it
I use a hurricane blower ( 5 to 6 squeezes) to clear the glass of any loose dust and particles and then cotton tips with a small amount of isopropyl alcohol, dab and softly wipe in a circular motion from centre to outside to remove oils etc..
Repeat twice or 3 times and then use the hurricane blower again
I use my Astro torch to check the cleaned surface in a dark room during the day or outside at night.
Never use your breath to blow on the glass
I don’t use microfibre , it tends to smudge than clean
My 2 cents .....
Hello Martin,


Thanks for your help. I relegated the cleaning kit to the tV and phones. It won't be wasted. I'm happy to get these tips so I can do it right from the beginning. I'm sure others will reference this also. Cheers mate
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  #5  
Old 06-01-2019, 11:53 AM
PhilTas (Phil)
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Gday fred,
I use the lens cleaning solution that Bintel makes/sells.
Have had no issues with it. I've used it on telescopes, eyepieces and camera lenses for several years now.

Be very particular about the cleaning cloth or tissues that you use. I shie away from using a single cloth (microfibre or otherwise), or household tissues, and instead use the Kimtech delicate task wipes.
Lens tissues do the same job.
cheers Phil
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  #6  
Old 06-01-2019, 02:11 PM
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FredinBroome (Fred)
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Originally Posted by PhilTas View Post
Gday fred,
I use the lens cleaning solution that Bintel makes/sells.
Have had no issues with it. I've used it on telescopes, eyepieces and camera lenses for several years now.

Be very particular about the cleaning cloth or tissues that you use. I shie away from using a single cloth (microfibre or otherwise), or household tissues, and instead use the Kimtech delicate task wipes.
Lens tissues do the same job.
cheers Phil
Hi Phil,


Thanks for that info. I'll go on the Bintel website and see what they have.


Cheers Mate
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  #7  
Old 06-01-2019, 05:39 PM
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FredinBroome (Fred)
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Gday fred,
instead use the Kimtech delicate task wipes.
cheers Phil

Wow I just priced a box of these at $168.00 at Officeworks. Money is no object then Phil heheh


Cheers Fred
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  #8  
Old 06-01-2019, 11:17 PM
PhilTas (Phil)
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Whoa, holy smokes Batman,
I had no idea they were that expensive. My box was left over from an optical project I was involved in a few years ago. Only a few tissues were used from the box, and the U.S. crew did not want to take anything back with them.
I will certainly be careful how and what I use them on.
The Bintel solution is $15, and will last you for ages.
Cheers Phil
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  #9  
Old 06-01-2019, 11:30 PM
PhilTas (Phil)
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Aaaaahhh,
The $168 price from Officeworks is for a carton of 30 boxes.
Also just checked amazon.com.au - they list a single box for $12.65 plus about $9 for delivery from the US.
Photographers lens tissues are also ok, but they would be more expensive in the longer term.
Cheers Phil
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  #10  
Old 07-01-2019, 01:15 PM
GAL1LEO
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Some good info on the Televue website regarding the cleaning of optics
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  #11  
Old 07-01-2019, 02:15 PM
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FredinBroome (Fred)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PhilTas View Post
Aaaaahhh,
The $168 price from Officeworks is for a carton of 30 boxes.
Also just checked amazon.com.au - they list a single box for $12.65 plus about $9 for delivery from the US.
Photographers lens tissues are also ok, but they would be more expensive in the longer term.
Cheers Phil
Excellent. That sounds better. I can afford a box now. The local price foir a box of 250 was $85 so I will have to look around. Cheers
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Old 07-01-2019, 10:21 PM
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Outcast (Carlton)
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Hey Fred,

I've looked at them too; I think you will find that is $168 for 30 x boxes of 280 Kimwipes.... probably about 50 lifetimes worth...

I've been trying to find a source of like one box of 280 wipes here in Cairns, no-one seems to stock them...

You can find them online in single boxes, can't remember where or how much though...

I haven't bought any yet...

Quote:
Originally Posted by FredinBroome View Post
Wow I just priced a box of these at $168.00 at Officeworks. Money is no object then Phil heheh


Cheers Fred
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  #13  
Old 08-01-2019, 08:12 AM
Tropo-Bob (Bob)
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Hey Fred,

I've looked at them too; I think you will find that is $168 for 30 x boxes of 280 Kimwipes.... probably about 50 lifetimes worth...

I've been trying to find a source of like one box of 280 wipes here in Cairns, no-one seems to stock them...

You can find them online in single boxes, can't remember where or how much though...

I haven't bought any yet...
I brought some online a few months ago. It was easily done. From memory, 5 boxes cost me about $30; but it is possible to buy a lesser number of boxes.
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Old 08-01-2019, 09:51 AM
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We hear this question a lot, and really lenses, eyepieces and the and telescope objectives are much tougher than you think.

Just go and buy yourself a good quality 12mm Lens pen, I have used one of these to clean Eyepieces, Canon Lenses and My cannon 5D sensor, for ever, and to this day.

You will not damaged anything, the people that sell this sort of stuff are just covering themselves in case of damage.

The Glass and/or the coating can take a beating stay away from any spray on or apply on liquids, IMHO

Leon
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  #15  
Old 08-01-2019, 11:29 AM
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FredinBroome (Fred)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Outcast View Post
Hey Fred,

I've looked at them too; I think you will find that is $168 for 30 x boxes of 280 Kimwipes.... probably about 50 lifetimes worth...

I've been trying to find a source of like one box of 280 wipes here in Cairns, no-one seems to stock them...

You can find them online in single boxes, can't remember where or how much though...

I haven't bought any yet...
In Broome I tried Blackwoods but when they did a search for "Kimwipes", Scotts wipes came up so perhaps they don't deal with that product anymore. I'm feeling this is getting delegated to the too hard basket
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  #16  
Old 08-01-2019, 08:03 PM
PhilTas (Phil)
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Buy the carton, Fred,

You take two.

I'll take two.

Only 26 to get rid of.........

cheers Phil
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  #17  
Old 10-01-2019, 11:46 AM
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FredinBroome (Fred)
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Originally Posted by PhilTas View Post
Buy the carton, Fred,

You take two.

I'll take two.

Only 26 to get rid of.........

cheers Phil
Hahaha. I could charge $15 each including postage and make a bundle here lol
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  #18  
Old 04-04-2019, 09:10 PM
StephenV (Stephen)
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I second the advice on the lens pen. I have never had any trouble using them, they're easy and convenient to use.
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  #19  
Old 04-04-2019, 09:50 PM
Ukastronomer (Jeremy)
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I use this by Zeiss

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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  #20  
Old 04-04-2019, 09:51 PM
Ukastronomer (Jeremy)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by leon View Post
We hear this question a lot, and really lenses, eyepieces and the and telescope objectives are much tougher than you think.

Just go and buy yourself a good quality 12mm Lens pen, I have used one of these to clean Eyepieces, Canon Lenses and My cannon 5D sensor, for ever, and to this day.

You will not damaged anything, the people that sell this sort of stuff are just covering themselves in case of damage.

The Glass and/or the coating can take a beating stay away from any spray on or apply on liquids, IMHO

Leon

I agree sorry but people do worry too much, a good spray and micro fibre cloth, I have lenses in their thousands of pounds I use in my work, I use this spray on my 14-24 Nikkor, 70-200 f2.8 and my Esprit 120 triplet and I am NOT light handed


https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1




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