EP's cleaning hints

[ianB]

Hi,
O.K i understand now how to clean a corrector lens but what about ep's? Is there a certain method to cleaning them or can i just use a little lens cleaner and microfiber cloth, or is there something i should know?
A very basic question i know but i want to do things correctly and not damage any coatings on the expensive eyepieces.

Thanks
ian

[Amaranthus]

Use a lens pen, they work really well and are very simple and safe.

(Niggle: The plural abbreviation is EPs, not EP's, i.e., the eyepieces don't own anything! :P)

[RB]

:lol:
They sometimes own their owners.

:P

[ianB]

I have seen them on ebay but was not sure about them, but i will order one now, you guys have obviously used them so ill go with your experience on this.

Many thanks.

[barx1963]

Ian
My procedure is as follows. Firstly I only try to clean the objective lense as that is the one exposed to the air so get condensation that can trap dirt as well is muck from you eye and skin.
1. Use an air bulb (Eg this http://www.bintel.com.au/Accessories/Cleaning/Lenspen-Hurricane-Blower/514/productview.aspx ) to remove any loose dust etc.
2. Get a very clean cotton bud and spray some spectacle cleaning fluid (you can buy at any opticians) on the end. Make sure it is soaked.
3. Gently use that to swirl around the lense surface. Don't rub, just try to spread the liquid over the surface.
4. Leave it for a minute or so
5. Gently wipe with a very clean microfibre cloth (again you can often get these from opticians) until dry. Again don't press hard!

This has worked with all my EPs.

Malcolm

[ianB]

Thanks for sharing that Malcolm, i actually brought a puffer today, just one thing, when you swirl the liquid around on the lens surface is there not a danger that some could get behind the lens?

[ianB]

:D Me vely solly Barry, i will relember in tuture EPs not EP's

( I appreciate the correction )

[barx1963]

That's why I do it that way. All my EPs have concave surfaces so the liquid will tend to run to the middle. By actually applying it with the bud (BTW I only use good quality buds, not homebrand style ones!) it helps keep on the surface. If I sprayed it directly on the surface I am sure some would get behind it.

Malcolm

[ianB]

Understood, thanks.

[Renato1]

I use a blower in the first instance to get rid of any grit/dust. Then I used to use a drop of camera lens cleaning fluid, and lots of camera lens cleaning paper (comes in a little folder, use one piece to gently apply fluid and gently get rid of any grit, then use either the dry part of the paper or another paper for the final clean). One can fold the paper into little triangles to clean around the edge of the glass.

Later on, I bought the Orion cleaning kit which used their special fluid and slightly softer paper pads. I couldn't really see any difference between using the standard lens cleaning kit I bought in camera stores, and the one I bought from Orion - but I felt happier using the Orion stuff.

That said, I had some discussion with people on US forums who were adamant that when using the same kit, one doesn't press and clean, one just uses the paper's own weight and gently pull it across the eyepiece - else the multicoatings are damaged according to them. I never understood how much patience they must have had, nor how they could possibly have cleaned the edges properly. And I'm pretty sure one should be able to see some evidence of multicoatings being damaged using my method.

I've acquired several lens pens, but have never been game to use them - fearing the rubbing of faint grit into the glass.
Regards,
Renato

[ianB]

Thank you Renato,
I have some of that paper you described, i will be having a go at cleaning the EPs tomorrow or Wednesday, i will also need to remove two smudges / finger marks from my corrector lens ( 6" ) not looking forward to that but must be done, i will exercise care and take my time, if i ruin the lens i can always take up train spotting :-)

[Renato1]

Hi Ian,
When I clean the corrector plate on my C8 I use lots of those little papers and what the manual recommended - low pressure strokes from the centre out, do not rub in circles.

It then says one can use commercial cleaning solution, or that a good cleaning solution is isopropyl alcohol (not rubbing alcohol) mixed with distilled water, in a ratio of 60% alcohol and 40% water. Or one can use a couple of drops of liquid dish soap in a quart of water.

I was fortunate to get hold of a big bottle of the proper isopropyl alcohol from the chemical laboratory where I used to work, and use that method - since it has a nice glidey feel to it, and drys up nicely without leaving drying stains.

But I just drag one end of the wet paper across the corrector plate, I don't rub (except very gently on some spots).
Regards,
Renato

[ianB]

Thanks for that advice.

[MortonH]

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3cqvBK36se0


worth a look.

[Suzy]

I never clean my eyepieces - even with a lens pen- unless I've first used the blower. Then the brush. Then the blower again. Then as Malcolm said using the cleaning fluid on a cotton bud. If there's dirt on the edges that's still there, the lens pens gets there nicely. And I always start cleaning with the fluid in the middle and work my way out (less chance of excess leaking into edges).

If there's still a smudge there- breathe on it (pure oxygen) and wipe away which I find quite effective. Also the lens pen is good at getting out persistent smudges I've found.

When I first started cleaning them, I was so nervous, shaking like a leaf lol. And then I realised, hey like glasses, they can't be *that* sensitive to cleaning surely. And if I damage it, I just buy another one :P:lol:. It's amazing after realising that, how much confidence I have now and I actually now get to enjoy eyepiece cleaning day- having special one on one time with my babies :D.

Read this, it's a great article:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-344-0-0-1-0.html

I use this (http://www.bintel.com.au/Accessories/Cleaning/Bintel-UHTC-Cleaning-Solution/508/productview.aspx)from Bintel- they make it up especially.

[Suzy]

Malcolm, thanks for the tip of keeping the fluid there for one min. I will try it next time. Won't it dry on tho? I guess put more on before wiping?

[barx1963]

The reason I leave it there for a minute is just to let the cleaning action of the fluid do its thing. The fluid I use doesn't evaporate very fast so it is OK and it seems to work!

Malcolm

[knightware]

Here is a short article on another procedure: http://knightware.blogspot.com/2012/05/spring-cleaning-part-2.html

I share Suzy's anxiety about damaging coatings and glass. I learned while mirror-making that bad things that happen to optics happen quickly. Good things that happen to optics happen very slowly. Be careful!

[janoskiss]

Televue have a page on this topic (that horrified me initially, but they are correct). Most important thing with modern EPs (even cheapies) is not to scratch them by scrubbing bits of dirt against the glass/coating. Blow gently (with a blower, never from your mouth), gently brush, repeat; dab windexed cotton wool, soak up same way (see televue's advice! dab on - dab off - BE GENTLE ffs!). Easy slowly gently does it. Common sense really.

It's easy to get impatient under great skies with dirty optics. If you cannot take your time, it's better to put up with dirty optics on the night than ruin it for good.

Another fave solution is to have a few cheap but alright EPs (e.g., GSO plossls) and clean them the same way you'd clean your corner-store sunnies (exhale and rub with cotton T-shirt - but still BE GENTLE: rub over scrub). Lens pen has been mentioned. I'll only use the business end for cheapie EPs unless the pen is brand new. The brush end is good though.

[Renato1]

I clean all my sunglasses with the liquid detergent method advised by Celestron for my C8, and a bit of tissue paper - I've got one pair still going strong and unscratched after 24 years.

I am always horrified when I see people using their clothes to clean sunglasses and regular eyeglasses.
Regards,
Renato

[Renato1]

I guess the best eyepiece cleaning hint is to always keep the eyepieces with covers on them or in little zip lock bags when not in use, so that they don't get very dirty in the first place. It can't be helped with the very narrow eye relief eyepieces, where one's eyelashes will eventually make them somewhat grotty - but at least that isn't gritty, and there is little danger in cleaning them apart from floating dust particles.

My worst eyepiece for cleaning is a 12mm University Optics Konig I bought years ago. It gave superb 60º views, but with such tiny eye relief that it needed cleaning half way through every viewing session. I remember finding it in the grass one day, just as I was about to run my mower over it. I'd accidentally left it outside for four days. Curiously, it didn't need any cleaning.
Regards,
Renato