Re: Grease on an old microscope


"Trond Kvitvik" <dnort.kivtivk@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:dalc2b$cr3$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>I recently bought an old Reichert Zetaplan, where the focusing screw was so
>hard I had to use both hands to move it. However, using rather much of
>"sewing machine oil" It is now working fine.
>
> Also the microscope was equipped with an Apochromat 45 /0.90 Korr with a
> correction ring that was stuck. I was able to unscrew the front lens,
> remove the correction ring and make it work (I have compared it with a
> another Reichert Iris 40 / 0.90 and the performance is rather similar).
>
> The original grease was very hard and I replaced it with the "grease" used
> for lubricating a water-tap (gel-like in consistency and colour), since I
> was afraid any ordinary grease (e.g. the grease used for a fishing-reel)
> would sweat out to the glass surfaces. (I have successfully used this
> "water-tap grease" for a Nikon SLR lens focusing thread before, and this
> has worked fine for many years.)
>
> But, now I'm a bit worried still if it was the right thing to do, can this
> special "grease" meant for a totally different purpose (heat and water
> persistent), destroy the lens surfaces or the cement holding the lenses
> together? Should I try to remove as much as possible of the new
> "lubricant".
>
> Any other advises how to use (and add) grease & oil in a correct way to a
> microscope.
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> --
> Trond

I use Nye synthetic lubricants for a bunch of reasons. However what really
matters is a good brush and a decent grease, I just about never use an oil.
The brush should be a no. 2 short handled artist brush. Go to a good
hardware store or to Grainger and get a tube of Dow-Corning 111. If I had
to use only one grease and cost was an issue I'd use 111. Clean the part
with alcohol and acetone (don't use on plastic) then gently use the brush to
put on just the right amount of grease. The grease is a bit thick so it
works quite well for this purpose.

What you did wasn't all that wrong, the above is just better and real cheap.

Kevin Cunningham
SMS


.

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