Re: Help! Streaks Form Cleaning my Mirror


"Jan Owen" <janowen1z@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:FqQoe.4084$qr.3598@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> "Bill Cross" <cross@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:EGOoe.14512$M36.7238@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> > "Chris L Peterson" <clp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> > news:1e57a1p3ecnjtoaqc5mev6h4m85pj8n4jr@xxxxxxxxxx
> > > On 05 Jun 2005 20:05:46 EDT, rsiegel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> > >
> > > >I had a feeling when I posted the question, that this would spin off
> > > >into another thread. But I am still faced with the probelm. To get
> > > >back on the subject, what can I do now to get my mirror in shape?
> > >
> > > Start by doing an immersion cleaning. If what you have are deposits,
> > > they will probably clean off. But if you've created
> > > sleeks/microscratches, you'll need to get your mirror recoated.
> >
> > I agree with Chris, best to immerse while cleaning. I definitely DON'T
> > agree with Jan's suggestion to use alcohol. Several years ago I used
> > alcohol to clean the corrector on my SCT and it completely stripped the
> > coating! While I can't speak for mirrors, I definitely wouldn't try it
> just
> > to be on the safe side.
> >
> > Bill
>
> We weren't talking about corrector plates here (I use a solution made for
> cleaning multicoated optics on my corrector plates). This discussion is
> about mirrors.

I realize that which is why I made the distinction. However, as sensitive
as correctors are to being stripped from cleaning, it is logical to assume
that mirrors would equal or exceed this sensitivity which is why I used the
example.

> And if you had read my posts in this thread, you would note that NOWHERE
> did I recommend anyone use alcohol to clean their mirrors. I agreed with
> Chris Peterson on the cleaning process. Ditto, was the term I used.

Ok, I stand corrected then. Sorry.

> What I DID say several times was that I have used alcohol many times in
> the past (as a final rinse to avoid spotting, NOT to wash mirrors) without
> any harm to any of a number of mirrors over nearly thirty years. I said
> that in response to another poster who said alcohol would harm aluminum
> coatings... I also said I don't use alcohol any more in this process,
> because it's really unnecessary, if you use distilled water as a rinse
> instead.

Ok, not actually cleaning with alcohol but rinsing with it. Got it.
However, I have to agree with other posters that I wouldn't even be using it
as a rinse. It's difficult to find the proper kind of alcohol for this sort
of thing anyway and the wrong type could be just as damaging as cleaning
improperly. And, many times, this damage can occur over long periods of
time: perhaps you don't notice it a year down the road, but 5 years later.
Using distilled water is best as others have suggested and as you do now.

Overall though, I think it's best to NOT clean mirrors or anything else
unless there really is no other choice. A little dust or even some water
spots here and there isn't going to do near the harm as even one cleaning
might. And when dirt does start building up appreciably, a sorce of forced
air over spots can do wonders. For that purpose, I use expired ink kit
refill syringes, cleaned out and dried first of course.

Bill

> --
> Jan Owen
>
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>


.

Relevant Pages

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