Re: cleaning of filters

Posted by Craig Brideau on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/cleaning-of-filters-tp3783387p3784968.html

I still swear by lens tissues over cotton swabs, mainly because the
lens tissues won't leave fibers behind.  Most of the major optics
companies sell their 'house brand' of these and they're all usually
fairly good.  I've used Edmund Optics and Thorlabs brands with good
success.  Edmund even sells large 'sheet-sized' pieces in packs.

Craig


On Wed, Oct 7, 2009 at 2:40 PM, Dan Osborn <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Martin/ Deron,
>        We use several of the Puritan products on protected coatings and
> mirrors: the same product as Deron listed, and 806 and 826 WC item numbers.
> The 869 was called out as the preferred product.  And it true about the
> fibers, there is tendency for some to be left behind after cleaning, but
> usually a circular swabbing motion from the inside out can reduce this.
> There is also a fine polyester cleaning wipe used by some, but I do not have
> the catalog number on that.
> Best,
> Dan
>
>
> Dan Osborn
> Product Marketing Manager
>
> Omega Optical, Inc.
> Delta Campus
> Omega Drive
> Brattleboro, VT 05301
> Phone: Direct line: [phone]  or Toll Free: (866)-488-1064
> Fax: [phone]
> Email: [hidden email]
> Web: www.omegafilters.com
>
>
>
>
>
> Celebrating 40 Years
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On
> Behalf Of Deron Walters
> Sent: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 4:02 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: cleaning of filters
>
> 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-WC
>
> I'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?
>