Posted by
Deron Walters on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/cleaning-of-filters-tp3783387p3784196.html
The most common Q tips have both a binder to hold the cotton together
and a glue that attaches the cotton to the stick. Either of these could
dissolve in solvents and redeposit on optics. However, there is a
glue-free, binder-free swab that you can special order, the 869-WC from
Puritan:
http://www.puritanmedproducts.com/search/search_4.asp?id=336&item=869-WCI've used these with success on antireflection-coated singlets and
doublets, although I haven't tested them on exposed filter coatings.
One objection to these is that (lacking binder) they shed cotton fibers.
In my experience those can be blown away with a stream of pressurized
air.
No financial interest.
Deron Walters
R&D Scientist, Physics
Asylum Research
> On Behalf Of Martin Wessendorf
>
> Dan Osborn wrote:
>
> > However, some grime does come off better in aqueous solvents, and it
> > is OK to use a good breath of air on the filter surface and either a
> > Qtip or wipe to clean it. A water dampened Qtip or cloth followed
by
> > a dry wipe should be fine as well.
>
> I had always heard that Q-tips have starch in them as a binder, and
were
> thus unsuitable for optics--that we should make our own with cotton
wool
> and an applicator stick. Not so?