Re: Use of kimwipe to clean lenses


"Alan" <lngndvs@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1153314171.320891.174060@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Oops! Answering my own message, I found the following online brochure
from Zeiss, "The Clean Microscope", which recommends NOT to use
polystyrene, and does recommend the use of kimwipes! IT's a good
resource:

www.zeiss.com/C1256F8500454979/0/C6357CD1145CCC34C1257052004248CE/$file/thecleanmicroscope.pdf

I apologize for stepping out into the deep end of the pool without due
care.

Alan Davis


Alan, Thanks for the great cites! I had a friend, a pro, who at one time
tried the stryrofoam method. He'd take a packing peanut and break it in
half so it would be untouched then he would clean the lens as you wrote.
There was a problem though, the static build up was horrendous. The glass
would attract everything in the air, I mean everything. He decided that the
experiment ended there.

Thanks!

Kevin Cunningham
SMS

Alan wrote:
In my memory, I have seem a recommendation from Zeiss to use foam to
clean fine microscope lenses. I don't remember the reference. The
internet is an excellent source of advice on cleaning microscope
lenses, too numerous for me to assemble a list. Google is my friend: I
found these tidbits just now, for example:

(iii) Other variations used sometimes following the latter, include a
Q-tip. The "Cotton Bud" is discouraged and should be replaced with
synthetic Q-tips on a wooden swab. The abrasive nature of cotton has
led some favour the use of swabs with urethane foam heads. If this
method is used a small amount of xylene is placed on one end of the bud
which is gently worked in a spiral fashion and allowed to evaporate,
the procedure is repeated with the opposite clean end. Slowly turning
the lens and applying gentle pressure in the centre and working
outward, this pulls dirt off the lens instead of redistributing on the
surface. It is important not to use plastic Q-tips. Tipped applicators
have advantages over lens paper. They work better on small, concave, or
recessed lenses, they are not touched by fingers, and so do not
transfer skin oils. They prevent contact between skin and any toxic
solvents (xylene) used. Practice techniques using an old lens; time and
patience are key attributes.


[http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artfeb04/cdclean.html]


or:

I was recommended to clean any gunked up lens with a knob of
polystyrene
foam - no chemicals, just the dry foam rubbed in a circular motion onto
the
lens. Over the years none of my Zeiss lenses has suffered any damage
from
this.

http://www.biotech.ufl.edu/EM/data/immsoil.html]


I have seen the use of cotton recommended many, many times. Once a
camera repairman boasted that he uses toilet paper on Ariflex movie
camera lenses.

I'm not going to make any recommendations, because I don't know...

Alan Davis


Bryan Heit wrote:
Kevin Cunningham wrote:
I have never, ever seen or heard of damage occuring from the correct
use of
Kimwipes.


That may be the catch. Multi-user facility, and we have had troubles
in
the past with improper use of the scope (i.e. oil contamination of a
water objective, among other things). It wouldn't surprise me to find
that someone did something else to the lens.


I work routinely on high end industrial and scientific
instruments and I just don't damage them. The core point is how to
use the
Kimwipe or tissue successfully. The key issue is to have the wipe
wet with
a usefull solvent. I use windex, heptane, alcohol and acetone
depending on
what I think is on the lens.


Our standard is to dab excess oil off with lens paper, then use a
cotton
swab whetted with isopropanol to get the rest. We went away from
ether/benzene due to health concerns; the iso works well but takes a
bit
longer to evaporate.

Bryan



.

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