Cleaning of telescopes SAFELY??

[CHRISZ]

Just wanting to know how to clean the outside of my telescopes corrector plate.
Condensation built up on the outside of my SCT on viewing nights through the cooler months and little bits of dust and stuff stuck on. HOW DO I CLEAN IT SAFELY WITHOUT SCRATCHING THE CORRECTOR PLATE??

Here is the information off celestrons instruction manual for cleaning SCT's

If dust has built up on the corrector plate, remove it with a brush (made of camel’s hair) or a can of pressurized air. Spray at an
angle to the lens for approximately two to four seconds. Then, use an optical cleaning solution and white tissue paper to remove
any remaining debris. Apply the solution to the tissue and then apply the tissue paper to the lens. Low pressure strokes should
go from the center of the corrector to the outer portion. Do NOT rub in circles!

I dont have a can of pressurized air (unless an air compressor can be used) and I dont have a camel hair brush.

Any Tips appreciated

cheers

[KenGee]

My tip is to buy something that has been designed for the job. You could stuff up your telescope using anything else.

[Blue Skies]

Don't use air-in-a-can, the propellant can come out and spit all over your optics, just making things worse!
Oh, and don't blow on it, you'll spit on it too! I guarantee it, I do it all the time even though I know better!

The dont rub in circles point is pretty important. Do as they say and only wipe from the middle out.

[gregbradley]

Bintel sell a bottle of cleaning fluid that is fantastic.

First use a blower bulb to get the loose stuff off.

Spray it on, then wipe off with one sweep on one 1/4 of the corrector with clean white unscented tissues.

If you have grit on the corrector or a lense of a refractor. Spray on the cleaner then daub off the grit with lots of cotton puffs. Keeping using fresh ones and then clean it as above once the grit is removed.

Do it this way and you get it to new easily.

Greg.

[CHRISZ]

Ive got that bintel bottle of cleaning solution. I just wasnt sure with what i should apply it with or clean it off with.

Does anyone know if there is a specific cleaning cloth designed for this job??

[TJD]

i went to a camerra shop and they sold a speicial lens paper that i use on my celeston nexstar 6 se all the time i mostly use cloth that you use to clean glasses with and sock it in water for 24 hours then sock it in the cleaning fluid for 6 hours you only have to do it when its new or about 6 months old and ive been doing that for about 18 months now and it dosnt scratch or hurt the optics.

my mum not knowing any thing about telescopes clead it with her hands and water and its still fine only the in side is breakable with my scope.:thumbsup:

i find if you clean the stuff off every month so it dosnt stickit wont scratch the corecter plate.

good luck with what ever you use try not to do what i do i probly took 5 years off its life.:D

[Paul Haese]

The coatings on correctors are pretty hard so using something like the bintel product is fine. Use a fine brush to wipe gently off most of the big chunks. Then get a clean cotton wool ball and give it a spray with the fluid. Work a small section of around 2" by 2" and then immediately wipe this area dry with a clean unscented tissue. Work your way around the corrector until you have done the whole surface.

I have never has a problem with this technique.

Hope this helps.

[Robert9]

Whatever you do, DO NOT use your compressor - it would be like sand-blasting!
Robert

[NCRAW]

I'm going today to buy the Giotto cleaning pack for my refractor , EPs and diagonal. The Celestron came with the lens cloth which i used lightly (dry) on one of the EPs cause I noticed there was some dust but thought i better stop since it might still scratch it. Looked good and no scratches at all but just in case.

The Giotto pack has the medium Rocket, cleaning solution, cloth, and ear buds all for 30 bucks so definitely worth investing in one. Maybe for SCTs and bigger boys u need the large rocket wihich is a fairly sizable one!!

As for blowing, i did it and worked well, i just made sure my mouth was dry hehe.

[Roger Davis]

1. Use a puff of air to clean the dust off first. Compressed air is fine in a can, just don't shake or agitate it whilst you are using it.
2. Never clean a lens dry, almost use moisture, even if it's the "huff" of your breath.
3. Really any type of solution can be used, it's just that some are better than others.
4. Should you manage to get spittle on your corrector plate and it dries up, seek help from someone who knows how to get rid of it. WARNING: Acetone is the best to remove this and it is not an easy clean for someone who hasn't used it before.
There is heaps of information on cleaning optics on this site, go read it thoroughly for tips and correct courses of action.

[TJD]

dont use a sand blaster the image blers after cleaning it:D