Cleaning coated optics

[f22warzone]

Jack at http://www.optotronics.com/ Sent me this and it works great on my RPL, my 30x Beam Expander and any front surface mirro i could fiend even my optic kit. and their both coated optics

" Here is my lens cleaning procedure.------------------------The best way to clean it is with one of those bulb w/ camel hair brushfor camera lens, they can be found at any camera shop.The less contact that is made with the lens, the better as even a veryminor scratch that the eye cannot even see can affect beam quality.Never use a cloth of any kind, (not even a "micro-fiber" cloth) unlessit is designed for lenses and it is new...i.e. you just opened/brokethe seal of the bag containing the cloth. The mistake most people dois that they get a cleaning cloth with some item, then it getsused,which picks up the dust and then reused which takes this dust itpicked up and scratches the lens.Never reuse a cloth for something that you don't want to get scratched.If the camera brush doesn't do it.Go to this site and get eclipse cleaner and some pec pads. Spray orput a drop of the eclipse on the lens and then use a "PEC" pad andlightly wipe the lens in one pass. If needed, you can do it again byputting on more eclipse and use a new PEC pad or a portion of the oneyou just used, just make sure it didn't touch anything else like yourfinger. After this, if needed you can use your breath to make a littlefog on the lens and use a new pad to wipe it one last time. IF thisdoesn't clean it then just give up as at this point you're going toend up making it worse by scratching it.After you open the pec pads bag and use them, put opened bag into aziplock bag to keep the dust out and be sure to never use the same pada second time.http://www.2filter.com/prices/products/eclipse.html
"

Worked great for me

[tocket]

Since I'm a chemist I have access to pretty much any solvent. Unfortunately methanol is both toxic and highly flammable, so shipping it would be a nightmare.

Regarding your choice of quality for the methanol I should say that reagent grade is pretty much the lowest you can get, short of technical of course. In the lab I use HPLC grade methanol for everything. It's fairly cheap - I think about $30 per 2.5L bottle.

Here's a little comparison between different methanol qualities:
http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/chemistr...omparison.html

[300EVIL]

Since I'm a chemist I have access to pretty much any solvent. Unfortunately methanol is both toxic and highly flammable, so shipping it would be a nightmare.

Regarding your choice of quality for the methanol I should say that reagent grade is pretty much the lowest you can get, short of technical of course. In the lab I use HPLC grade methanol for everything. It's fairly cheap - I think about $30 per 2.5L bottle.

Here's a little comparison between different methanol qualities:
http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/chemistr...omparison.html

Thanks For the info Tocket.
I found another possible solution that may make more sense than shipping Methanol all over the world. It turns out that Airgas sells HPLC methanol and their are distribution points all over the US. Maybe some local members can go in on a couple liters together and split up the stuff locally.

http://www.airgas.com/browse/product...9&WT.svl=72619

I'm gonna call Airgas on Monday to get a price and details.

[sugeek]

Thanks For the info Tocket.
I found another possible solution that may make more sense than shipping Methanol all over the world. It turns out that Airgas sells HPLC methanol and their are distribution points all over the US. Maybe some local members can go in on a couple liters together and split up the stuff locally.

http://www.airgas.com/browse/product...9&WT.svl=72619

I'm gonna call Airgas on Monday to get a price and details.

I know you can get spectrophotometric grade methanol from sigma adrich for fairly cheap. http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/ProductDetail.do?lang=en&N4=M3641|SIGMA&N5=SEARCH_ CONCAT_PNO|BRAND_KEY&F=SPEC

I didn't fill out the form to get pricing buy my catalog I think it was around $22 (correction: M3641-1L @ 35.20). But knowing Airgas has it is a good thing to know...

-Adam

[Brendon77]

I'm curious what is recommended for properly cleaning coated optics. Normally I use 91% Isopropyl alcohol and a soft microfiber cloth for lenses and mirrors. I need to clean the dichros in my RGB setup and I don't want to hurt the coatings.. any advice would be great!

I like your advice, i try this, thanks for sharing info.

[dsli_jon]

I like your advice, i try this, thanks for sharing info.

Apparently you did not read anything in this thread?? For the 'record' - isopropyl alcohol is *not* ideal for cleaning optics / dichros.. Methanol / Acetone is best, grades without any 'additives', if spectro-grade is not available..

Here's a great article in the PL Wiki (..heads-up: requires reading.. http://www.photonlexicon.com/wiki/in...ptics_Cleaning - In-particular, see the last-section, entitied: "Why to not use drug store IPA on your optics"

cheers!
j

[swamidog]

i don't use drug store IPA because it's too hoppy.

Apparently you did not read anything in this thread?? For the 'record' - isopropyl alcohol is *not* ideal for cleaning optics / dichros.. Methanol / Acetone is best, grades without any 'additives', if spectro-grade is not available..

Here's a great article in the PL Wiki (..heads-up: requires reading.. http://www.photonlexicon.com/wiki/in...ptics_Cleaning - In-particular, see the last-section, entitied: "Why to not use drug store IPA on your optics"

cheers!
j

[Laser Wizardry]

" 15 characters"

[hakzaw1]

Guess Brandon ALSO did not see the dates on those or that EF is banned..
All I have to add that i KNOW is solid advice- Some kinds of Q-tips have the cotton GLUED - solvent dissolves glue and you get whats left (residue) on your optics.

'First Contact' is cheap compared with ruined optics in the trash..

just sayin'

[JohnYayas]

Not suggesting using it, but have any of you heard of or tried some stuff that your pour on a piece of cheese cloth that's on top of the optics and then lift it off after awhile? I think people use it or used it at one time for cleaning big telescope mirrors and things like that. I think it starts with "co". Sounds like it works sort of like the first contact stuff but its cheap. I used to have a link but lost it.