How do you clean an eyepiece lens?

[davidpretorius]

Hi,

I have two barlows, a 2x and a 2.4x.

Barlows, by design, must be more open to collection of dust etc than eyepieces.

I noticed last night processing the videos, the image distort from the dust and stuff.

How do you go about cleaning a barlow?

Thanks

[asimov]

Well, I don't actually recommend it. Are you sure the dust is on the barlow rather than the camera sensor??( Never cleaned an EP or a barlow in my whole life BTW)

[davidpretorius]

without the barlow, no disturbances.

also, i can see dust inside the barlow.

If i strongly de focus with the toucam, i can see disturbances etc on the cd's ie on the ccd etc, but these ones are new

[asimov]

I see.

Well It's a touchy subject for most I would reckon....Got a camera blower brush? I'd start with one of them...take the brush bit off & blow across the face with the puffer to get rid of the loose stuff first. Not sure I should be the one to recommend what to do after that stage though..(EEK!)

[iceman]

You can unscrew the barrel from the barlow and get at the lens that way. Just use a normal blower brush to blow then brush the dirt off.

It's the same as cleaning an eyepiece, and they're pretty robust. I've never done anything while cleaning my eyepieces that has damaged them.

Like mirror cleaning, it has to be done and it's not that scary.

[asimov]

It's scary to me Mike! lol....I have 1 EP that REALLY needs cleaning...but I cannot get hold of any pure isopropyl (is that the right stuff for the job?)

[gbeal]

I treat it like any other costly optical surface. Only clean it if absolutely necessary.
If so, thensame as a camera lens, some lens cleaning fluid, and lens tissue.
I have of late been using a micro fibre cloth, and anti static lens fluid.
Biggest job will be getting into the interior, unless it dis-assembles easy.

[acropolite]

I use Dr Clay's cleaning recipe for SCT corrector plates for everything. If it doesn't harm the UHTC coatings on my LX then I assume it's OK for everything. Asimov, pure Isopropal alcohol can be ordered from your local chemist and will be more cost effective if you buy it by the litre. Dr Clays cleaning mix recipe is at http://www.arksky.org/asoclean.htm

[ballaratdragons]

I can't speak for the whole of Victoria but in Ballarat NO chemist will sell Isopropyl Alcohol by the litre. They will however sell you a box of those little Alcohol wipes and you squeeze the alcohol out of the little paper swab, or they will clean the item if you bring it in (shudder!) :scared: .

[beren]

I do the same as Phil but i brought some of the Dr Clays mix {sold as UTHC cleaner} from Bintel.As for technique i use a blower brush first , then a gentle brush with one of those lens pens-one direction -{they have a camel hair brush and cleaning pad at either end} then if the eyepiece lens requires further cleaning i use a cotton pad/swab dampened with the UTHC cleaner via a little pump spray bottle-one direction again-.A barlow is going to be a little bit more tricky

[h0ughy]

I also use the Bintel Snake Oil, it's pretty good!

BTW Beren, the avitar has improved somewhat, your scope again?

[davidpretorius]

thanks guys!

[acropolite]

I think that's something to do with it's classification, but if you explain to the chemist they should get it for you. We buy IPA for cleaning telephone handsets and once a valid explanation is given they supply no problem. There may be laws governing it's use in your state. If you want to mix up a brew Dave, I have all the ingredients. PM Me...:D

[davidpretorius]

will do phil,

might even catch up during next few weeks, so i can take some to star camp.

[asimov]

I approached our local chemist here about a month ago looking for the 95% pure Isopropyl. They had the 65% on the shelf but I've been told to stay clear of that as it will smear EP elements (low evaporation rate) Here in SA there was no problem ordering the 95% by the litre, once they knew what it was for. (optics cleaning) $60 per Lt.

[ballaratdragons]

Actually, I just remembered something and went and checked. I have in my hot little hand right at this moment a small bottle marked 'Isopropyl Alcohol' from a Video Head cleaning kit I bought at the Reject Shop for $2. It is 3/4 oz (15cc).

Does anyone know if this is 65% or 95%.? If it is 95% it would be excellent as it is readily available.

[acropolite]

I payed $35 for a 500 ml bottle 99.5% I doubt the head cleaning stuff would be of sufficient purity. Apparently it's not that good an idea to use pure IPA either; it's worth reading Dr Clays notes as what he says makes sense, he uses IPA, Windex and distilled water to dilute the stuff together with Kodak Photo Flo to minimise any streaking. Everything's filtered before mixing. I scaled down the measurements and made up a small batch only. :einstein:

[Ron Garrett]

I've used CD cleaner spray for cleaning microscope lenses in a lab situation with success. Cleaning of CD's does require a good product.

But someone talked of cleaning mirrors. Thats a much more frightening subject. I have some ATM mirrors I need to clean. Any advice other than 'DONT"

[iceman]

Hi Ron!

:welcome: to the forum!

There's a great thread discussing some various techniques about cleaning mirrors, and how scary (or not) it is.

Find it here: http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=4496

[xrekcor]

I use Isopropyl Alcohol (99.5% v/v) on al my ep's barlows and filter when needed,
along with 100% natural (scent free) cotton buds and balls. Works a treat mirror
finish everytime. But there is a lil bit of a knack to it, and some ep's are easier than
other. IE: my pentax xw's are a far easier to clean than my 30mm SV, due to the
fact that the top section of the eyeguard is easily removed.

I start from the centre and work out, changing the cotton bud or ball with every
wipe. I also use the moisture in my breath along with the Isopropyl Alcohol in the initial wipes.

I brought a 500ml bottle from a chemist in town for $30.00 from memory. I half filled
one of those eye dropper bottles and have cleaned my ep's several times and still have
close to half a eyedropper bottle full. One word of warning when I cleaned my
Meade #140 apo x2 barlow. Just the fumes are enough to damage the high quality
and durable printing that is so easily removed. I have never had this problem with
Vixen, Uni Optics, Pentax or Astronomiks.

Al Nagler has a good dscription on cleaning ep's
http://www.televue.com/engine/page.asp?ID=143

regards,CS

[xrekcor]

I think you might be right there, I remember walking in stating I was after isopropyl alcohol to clean optics and the chemist handed it right over.

regards,CS

[fringe_dweller]

Ken, I used the old audio tape head cleaner from pro audio shops for ten years on my eyepieces and camera lenses on stubborn greasy stains with no ill effect that i can see - they are the same as they were in the beginning. The bottles usually stated their contents and percentage - usually 96-98% IPA or something like that.
Hi-fi audio Tape heads are very sensitive and cant afford to have residues left on them after cleaning - same as optics.
It is important that you do a breathe clean/pure cellulose free cotton swipes after you used the isa anyway - so that would remove any residue left you would think? with windex i thought its main active ingrediant was kerosene?
why dont camera shops sell pure ipa? all they sell are those detergent containing mixes - dumb!
but i cant vouch for video head cleaning fluid personally - but i cant see why its not the same???
also i bought a bottle of ipa 70% from chemist after much explaining and trying to prove i wasnt a terrorist or whateva (they were shocked and dumbfounded and said they had never had a request for pure IPA eva!!!) - it says on the bottle its untinted - what does that mean - impurity free? - so the other 30% is just pure distilled water? so if dr clay can water down his ipa isnt this the same thing!!??

[asimov]

Do we now have a new re-seller for 'Doctor Hoff-Kearn optic cleaner fluid' mate?? I'll take a bottle!! (you know my adress):)

[acropolite]

Kearn Wrote Unfortunately the stuff that's less than 99% has all sorts of other impurities as well.

[fringe_dweller]

hehe sounds like we are back to square one John from what Phil said - i was thinking it was only 70% now, but once was pure and then watered down to its present 70% perhaps :doh:- but the chemist shop i went to didnt seem interested in any further business on the subject either - they only had that one bottle in the whole shop - i think it had been there for years maybe?
people that make it sound easy to get hold of from chemists dont go to the chemists the rest of us go to ;)

[asimov]

Yeah. I have one EP to clean. The minimum amount of 99% is 1 litre @ $60. It's only an LV vixen....I'll just rub her on me pants leg like the clone 500 series I own shall I??

[fringe_dweller]

yer its a joke - i only want a little bit too - but nup a whole ltr i must buy.. the rub the pants thing sounds like "dr asimov's rub"
i guess if it wasnt classed a dangerous chemical you would be able to buy it mail order in smaller bottles by the dozens from hundreds of sellers - its a business bonanza dream for someone if they could ever figure out a way around it

[asimov]

I know! I could sell the EP rather than fork out for the 99%!?? With the proceeds, buy a litre & then I have it for when my other EPs get dirty!

(then pour it down the sink when I move to America, cos' I can't send it thru the post) Could always have a go mixing it with orange juice & drinkin' it I guess..:drink:

[fringe_dweller]

I wonder why i didnt think of that - its brilliant! :thumbsup: Ill drink to that too :drink:

[asimov]

I have the answer! put EP/s in pocket. Get knife, make small cut on shin. smear on dead-horse. Take trip to hospital. Ask (nice friendly nurse)<:wink2:...to please disinfect with.....99% PURE alcohol (insist upon 99% in case of infection)....& while she's at it, pull out your EPs...."here, while your down there love?"

Sound like a plan!?

[fringe_dweller]

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :bowdown:

[RAJAH235]

Anyone been to the Optometrists lately? Why not try their cleaning solution & lens cloth/wipes? Works just fine..... + they're cheap..... About $5.00 ea. :D L.

[asimov]

Thanks Laurie, good idea mate!

[fringe_dweller]

Laurie Thanks :) , but if that cleaning fluid is anything like the cleaning mixes that camera shops sell - than I have had nothing but bad results with that stuff - the times i have used them i needed isa just to clean up the mess it leaves behind - ie detergent streaks - i can see the irradescent look of detergent in water when i have used them

[asimov]

Referring to the stuff that Bintel sells on their site for 10 bucks per bottle: What's in that stuff?
& how can they send it to you if it's classed as a dangerous/explosive/flammable substance?

[RAJAH235]

The optical cleaner that I have does not leave marks/streaks or any kind of film AFAICS. E/Pcs. look clean & clear with no rainbows. :thumbsup: :D L.

[davidpretorius]

went to the glasses shop and bought some eyewear cleaner containing isopropyl and also some wipes containing isopropyl.

bit scared to use them on my series 500, what happens if i do something wrong and i am up for thousands of $ to replace them..............

so i tries mikes barlows first!!!

they are now my barlows!!!!!!

actually, it went well, one barlow screwed off and i could get at the lens easily. the 2.4x didn't screw off and so i had to spray it in there and wipe with cotton buds and let dry.

would love to see if they are now better by imaging mars, but the clouds won't GO AWAY!!!!!

[asimov]

Yes, but what % isopropyl did U get mate.

[RAJAH235]

Davo, Check if there's a 'WARNING' on the bottle. Mine has, stating 'DO NOT APPLY DIRECTLY TO LENSES', apply to cloth only.
Bit late, I know, but............ :shrug: :D L.

[davidpretorius]

a mist sprayer bottle for applying direct to lens and a backup up 500ml bottle.

doesn't say what % it is.

Everything looks fine, not sure what to check for to see if things are stuffed up. They look clear anyhow and marks are gone.

I am bringing to star camp and my 40mm needs cleaning and that can be a group effort. If the 40mm dies then so be it. I need to look at two really good ep's planetary and wide view in 1.25" soonish = $$$$$

So the series 500 can be a test case!

[xrekcor]

huh!! spray bottle, I'd _never_ spray any cleaning fluid directly onto an ep. It's better
to apply with an applicater like cotton wall buds and/or balls. You dont want cleaning
fluid finding it's way down the side of the lens element groups and contaminating the
space between the elements.

regards,CS

[davidpretorius]

thanks, makes sense.

I was spraying the cotton bud with the applicator and then wiping from the centre out.

[Starkler]

Im 100% with Rob on this.
Fluid at the edge of an eye lens can wick its way inside the eyepiece by capillary action and cause problems such as internal fogging. This happened to me once with a plossl eyepiece.

[fringe_dweller]

YAY!! :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: finally found a chemist that would sell me a SMALL bottle of IPA without having to order and fork out for a ltr (after explaining what i wanted it for) :love: :love: :cool: :cool: :jump: :jump: mind you it was only the fourth chemist I tried :P
99.5% pure 60ml (10 - 20 years worth for me) cost me 90 cents!!!!!! what a sweet man - nicest chemist i have ever met - chemmart ttp - he couldnt of been more helpful for a 90 cent sale - old fashioned service isnt dead!!

he said how much do you want - i said as small as possible please - and he found a 50ml bottle for me and filled it brimming -
Tried two big optician shops beforehand - they didnt carry the solutions that contain IPA
thnx for all the tips guys :) :cheers: