Lens cleaner
- Thread starter kochie
- Start date
How to Clean Microscope Lenses | Microscope World Resources
Microscope World shares tips on how to keep your microscope lenses clean and working properly.
www.microscopeworld.com
Putting a liquid cleaner on the lens and rubbing with a tissue is disaster. You will get scratches.
The attached article method:
1. blow dust and particles off with a rubber bulb. A dust off spray can may have a chilling affect or deposit chemicals?
2. Brush remaining particles off with a fine camel hair brush
3. Lens tissue with the proper lens cleaner. Don't spend a lot of time with the lens tissue.
Use lens caps to minimize dust and dirt and only clean if you think it's necessary. I wouldn't try to get the lenses super clean, your just rubbing small dirt around.
Frequent cleaning may produce an accomulation of slight damage. A moron I worked with cleaned expensive microscope lenses with acetone and he remove the anti-glare coating on 5 lenses. If the lens has a slight color to the surface it has a delicate coating that improves the performance of the lens.
Ok thanks good information
Since I kept getting asked elsewhere, my overall advice:
centralwargaming.blogspot.com
Expedient:
At home:
How to Clean Optics
We use optics of all sorts every day. Well, most of us. Glasses, sunglasses, etc. are optics. But often we go to the range or the field, and...
centralwargaming.blogspot.com
Expedient:
At home:
- https://www.amazon.com/Kimberly-Clark-34155-Kimwipes-Delicate-Tissue/dp/B075L9ZTPB
- Wood stick Q tips, not sure what brand I have as they are decanted into an Akro bin
- Generally any lens cleaner bottle that I get from the optician every time I get new glasses, but if I had to buy it, this https://www.amazon.com/Zeiss-Lens-Care-Pack-Microfiber/dp/B00GPVQVCO/
- https://www.amazon.com/Giottos-AA1900-Rocket-Blaster-Large/dp/B00017LSPI/
Turbulent Turtle
F-TR competitor
There's a good article on that at March scopes.
muleystalker
Silver $$ Contributor
A DUST OFF Can is Bad News, its not the deposits you have to worry about its that it can drastically change the temp of the lens real fast and cause them to crack. I use a Rubber bulb blower for camera lenses. I believe it's called a Rocket Air Blaster and then I pretty much do what you listed. I even carry one of the blowers in my hunting pack and range bag.
With fine optics, I have a beautiful pair of Swarovski 8x30 SLC binos, less is more when it comes to cleaning the lenses. My lenses look just the same as they did 25 years ago when I purchased them for $699.00 out the door. Lol. A bellows type blower for the bigger dust, flush with lense cleaning solution, gently and minimally wipe with a good clean lense cloth. Less is more! Carry on, very carefully.
Paul
Paul
Thanks good information
jepp2
Gold $$ Contributor
I'm in the same camp as @boltfluter . Don't over clean. That said, I rarely buy a new rifle scope, I much prefer the cost advantage of purchasing used. My hope is the previous owner never cleaned the lens, but took reasonable good care of them. And usually that is the case.
But that said, most I purchase are in need of cleaning. I spent a lot of time reading advice on lens cleaning. Mostly on photography cleaning since there are more articles. And there are specific steps to follow.
1. remove any loose particles on the surface. I found the typical blow-brushes inadequate since they lack volume you need to accomplish this. The bulb type "hurricane blower" offers much improved effectiveness at this. When I am hunting in dusty condition like most days on a prairie dog hunt, I use the blower every night when I finish. Don't wait for days to let it accumulate.
2. a lens brush should be the next step. Don't scrimp on this, you want a quality brush. And if you ever use it on a lens that has had some oil residue present on it, throw it away. It will be contaminated, and spread that on any lens you clean in the future. And this is fairly common on rifle scopes. Folks use spray bore cleaners without using lens covers in place. And after lubing your bolt, the first few shots can atomize the oil into small droplets and can wind up on the lens.
3. When I have material on the lens that must be removed, and steps 1 & 2 haven't done the job. I use ROR (Residual Oil Remover). I've tried all the other recommended liquids and some of my own, and they all leave a residue as they finish drying. ROR is excellent for removing oil, and other materials from the surface of the lens without attacking the coating. I buy the spray bottle dispenser (also available in a dropper bottle) and very lightly mist a virgin cotton ball. I clean the lens with that, and use several virgin cotton balls to keep wiping the lens until it is dry. DO NOT drop liquid or spray liquid on the lens directly! This has always removed any foreign material on the lens and never leaves any residue. But once I clean a lens this way, I keep it protected so I avoid the future need to do so. The oil on your skin can contaminate the cotton ball, so be careful about how you grip it, where you set it down when you are using them.
And ALWAYS avoid breathing on to the lens to moisten it for cleaning. You will expel liquid and other particles you don't want on your lens. And of course never use your shirt tail to wipe a lens.
There are many methods to clean lens, some listed above, so you just have to decide what method works best for you. This is what I have found works best for me.
But that said, most I purchase are in need of cleaning. I spent a lot of time reading advice on lens cleaning. Mostly on photography cleaning since there are more articles. And there are specific steps to follow.
1. remove any loose particles on the surface. I found the typical blow-brushes inadequate since they lack volume you need to accomplish this. The bulb type "hurricane blower" offers much improved effectiveness at this. When I am hunting in dusty condition like most days on a prairie dog hunt, I use the blower every night when I finish. Don't wait for days to let it accumulate.
2. a lens brush should be the next step. Don't scrimp on this, you want a quality brush. And if you ever use it on a lens that has had some oil residue present on it, throw it away. It will be contaminated, and spread that on any lens you clean in the future. And this is fairly common on rifle scopes. Folks use spray bore cleaners without using lens covers in place. And after lubing your bolt, the first few shots can atomize the oil into small droplets and can wind up on the lens.
3. When I have material on the lens that must be removed, and steps 1 & 2 haven't done the job. I use ROR (Residual Oil Remover). I've tried all the other recommended liquids and some of my own, and they all leave a residue as they finish drying. ROR is excellent for removing oil, and other materials from the surface of the lens without attacking the coating. I buy the spray bottle dispenser (also available in a dropper bottle) and very lightly mist a virgin cotton ball. I clean the lens with that, and use several virgin cotton balls to keep wiping the lens until it is dry. DO NOT drop liquid or spray liquid on the lens directly! This has always removed any foreign material on the lens and never leaves any residue. But once I clean a lens this way, I keep it protected so I avoid the future need to do so. The oil on your skin can contaminate the cotton ball, so be careful about how you grip it, where you set it down when you are using them.
And ALWAYS avoid breathing on to the lens to moisten it for cleaning. You will expel liquid and other particles you don't want on your lens. And of course never use your shirt tail to wipe a lens.
There are many methods to clean lens, some listed above, so you just have to decide what method works best for you. This is what I have found works best for me.
I use a Leupold Lens pen to get off dust then a cotton ball with alcohol. I definitely don't want to win you over to my way of thinking that is the way I have always done it.
Clancy
Silver $$ Contributor
DO NOT USE COMPRESSED AIR.
Other than that, I blow them out with a mouthful of air, dust lightly with a soft brush then wipe with a Zeiss lens wipe.
If it’s a workin scope light a nightforce, nothing beats whatever shirt I’m wearing at the time. I bought it for the tracking, not the glass.
Other than that, I blow them out with a mouthful of air, dust lightly with a soft brush then wipe with a Zeiss lens wipe.
If it’s a workin scope light a nightforce, nothing beats whatever shirt I’m wearing at the time. I bought it for the tracking, not the glass.
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.