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Pages: 1 BobRoss super member Reged: 12/31/10 Loc: Bay Area How do you clean the ETX optics?       #5261324 - 06/08/12 03:50 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The front of my ETX90 looks like it has some spots and dust on it. I'm guessing I could get the dust off with a ultra fine photographers brush but what about the spots on the front glass? Is even trying to clean it a no-no? Is there a special technique/liquid solution that is best? Thanks, Bob Post Extras:       Chris Erickson Carpal Tunnel Reged: 05/08/06 Loc: Waikoloa Village, Hawaii Re: How do you clean the ETX optics? [Re: BobRoss]       #5261356 - 06/08/12 05:06 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   It takes a lot of dirt before the view through the eyepiece is impacted. A camel's hair brush would work okay if it really bothers you. Post Extras:       *skyguy* Pooh-Bah Reged: 12/31/08 Loc: Western New York Re: How do you clean the ETX optics? [Re: BobRoss]       #5261572 - 06/08/12 09:33 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Bob, I've used the homemade cleaning solution recommended by Meade to clean the corrector plates on my SCT and MAK scopes for many, many years ... and they all still look factory new. In a pint bottle mix: 1-part pure isopropyl alcohol (97% - 99%) 2-parts distilled water 1-drop of biodegradable liquid dishwashing soap First, remove as much dust as possible using a forced air "rubber bulb" or a camel hair brush. Next, use white Kleenex tissue (non-scented) rolled up into pillows ... heavily "wet" with cleaning solution ... to clean the corrector plate using a very light radial motion (center to edge). Finally use dry tissue ... with as little pressure as possible ... to clean up the wet corrector. Jim Post Extras:       Tempe member Reged: 08/08/11 Loc: Moscow, Russia Re: How do you clean the ETX optics? [Re: *skyguy*]       #5261598 - 06/08/12 09:50 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I advice to use a Lenspen. Search by this keyword over the web, this one is sold under numerous brands. It's a "dry cleaner", looks much like a pensil with soft capped tip. The cleaning agent is ultra-thin graphite powder contained in the cap. I use one for couple of years, for photo and astro optics. Works perfect, no damage to anti-reflective coatings. Besides, there is Baader optical wonder fluid (sounds something like this),also for optics cleaning. Clear skies, Serge Post Extras:       blb Post Laureate Reged: 11/25/05 Loc: Piedmont NC Re: How do you clean the ETX optics? [Re: Tempe]       #5261887 - 06/08/12 01:03 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   In the seven and a half years that I have had my ETX-125 I have not had the need to clean the optics. A soft camels hair brush, Lenspen or a bulb to blow off the dust should be all that you need for a long time. Edited by blb (06/09/12 12:13 AM) Post Extras:       tomatohead member Reged: 11/21/10 Re: How do you clean the ETX optics? [Re: blb]       #5262676 - 06/08/12 11:44 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I'm sorry, but how much is a "part" as compared to a "drop"? A drop is quantity but a part is not. Post Extras:       blb Post Laureate Reged: 11/25/05 Loc: Piedmont NC Re: How do you clean the ETX optics? [Re: tomatohead]       #5262721 - 06/09/12 12:28 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I'm sorry, but how much is a "part" as compared to a "drop"? A drop is quantity but a part is not. Tomatohead, Surely your not serious are you? Quote: In a pint bottle mix: 1-part pure isopropyl alcohol (97% - 99%) 2-parts distilled water 1-drop of biodegradable liquid dishwashing soap A part is a ratio NOT a measure. A pint bottle holds two cups of fluid. In that pint bottle put 1/2 cup of pure isopropyl alcohol (97% - 99%), equals one part, with a whole cup of distilled water, equals two parts, together with one drop of biodegradable liquid dishwashing soap. You could use a quart bottle too. then you would add a half pint of alcohol with a pint of distilled water. One part equals a half pint while two parts equals a whole pint. Post Extras:       BobRoss super member Reged: 12/31/10 Loc: Bay Area Re: How do you clean the ETX optics? [Re: blb]       #5263373 - 06/09/12 01:00 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: I advice to use a Lenspen. I read these should be avoided. I don't know why but I remember reading that....? Quote: In the seven and a half years that I have had my ETX-125 I have not had the need to clean the optics. A soft camels hair brush, Lenspen or a bulb to blow off the dust should be all that you need for a long time. When a white light is held up to the ETX it looks pretty gnarly through the eyepiece, I think it needs a cleaning. Quote: You could use a quart bottle too. then you would add a half pint of alcohol with a pint of distilled water. One part equals a half pint while two parts equals a whole pint. I'll try the solution Jim suggests. Those are the correct measurements? Post Extras:       Stew57 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 05/03/09 Loc: Silsbee Texas Re: How do you clean the ETX optics? [Re: BobRoss]       #5263406 - 06/09/12 01:34 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Try http://www.arksky.org/asoclean.htm Post Extras:       tomatohead member Reged: 11/21/10 Re: How do you clean the ETX optics? [Re: Stew57]       #5263847 - 06/09/12 06:42 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Honestly, I was preoccupied and didn't read the whole post. I apologize to the poster! It won't happen again. Post Extras:       blb Post Laureate Reged: 11/25/05 Loc: Piedmont NC Re: How do you clean the ETX optics? [Re: tomatohead]       #5264004 - 06/09/12 09:26 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: You could use a quart bottle too. then you would add a half pint of alcohol with a pint of distilled water. One part equals a half pint while two parts equals a whole pint. I'll try the solution Jim suggests. Those are the correct measurements? If you just add two drops of dishashing sope to the mix it is the same thing, just twice as much as the amount that Jim gave. I would have thought that you would have recognized that this was only giving another illustration of one part and two parts. Even so it works the same if you double the amount. Post Extras:       blb Post Laureate Reged: 11/25/05 Loc: Piedmont NC Re: How do you clean the ETX optics? [Re: blb]       #5264009 - 06/09/12 09:31 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Quote: In the seven and a half years that I have had my ETX-125 I have not had the need to clean the optics. A soft camels hair brush, Lenspen or a bulb to blow off the dust should be all that you need for a long time. When a white light is held up to the ETX it looks pretty gnarly through the eyepiece, I think it needs a cleaning. BobRoss, There is such a thing as over cleaning, which can and has damaged the coatings of many scopes. You would be surprised by how much dust it takes to degrade the image and that can be simply blown off or brushed with a soft camels hair brush without any liquid applications. A flash light can show stuff that you will never get off and does not hurt the image. That's not a real good way to tell when it needs cleaning. Still it is your scope, do what ever you like. I am sure if you are careful and follow the instructions, you can clean the corrector plate safely. Just do not be surprised if the bright light still shows stuff in your optics. Post Extras:       *skyguy* Pooh-Bah Reged: 12/31/08 Loc: Western New York Re: How do you clean the ETX optics? [Re: blb]       #5264128 - 06/09/12 11:29 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   While over cleaning can be an issue ... the cleaning of optical surfaces, if done correctly and carefully, should not be something an owner should fear to tackle on a regular basis. Today, contaminants like pollen, tree sap and "acid" dew are far more likely to damage coatings than a careful cleaning. It's important to remove them completely as soon as they are discovered. If not, they will quickly "etch" optical coatings ... a type of damage that cannot be owner repaired. Jim Post Extras:       *skyguy* Pooh-Bah Reged: 12/31/08 Loc: Western New York Re: How do you clean the ETX optics? [Re: Stew57]       #5264170 - 06/10/12 12:08 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: Try http://www.arksky.org/asoclean.htm After reading about Doc Clay's "ASO fine optics CLEANING SYSTEM" ... I would think anyone not familiar with the simple chore of cleaning optics would be absolutely scared stiff to give it a try. In my opinion and my experience, he has gone way overboard in his recommendations. For the past 15 years I've been using the homemade cleaning solution and procedures recommended by Meade. I use it to clean my SCT, Mak, Schmidt-Newt, several refractors, binoculars and eyepieces. The cleaning solution costs pennies to make, lasts indefinitely, leaves my optics completely clean of all contaminants and free of any spots or streaks. It takes me only 5 minutes or less to clean the corrector plate on my 12 year old 12" SCT and it still looks factory new ... along with all my optics. There is no reason to fear cleaning your optics ... its not rocket science! If they need cleaning, follow the simple recommendations from Meade ... and get 'em clean. Post Extras:       sanluis21 newbie Reged: 11/12/08 Re: How do you clean the ETX optics? [Re: *skyguy*]       #5269872 - 06/13/12 04:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Something came loose in my ETX-90 and I now have grease from the center slide tube on the mirror. I need to remove the back cover to remove the entire assembly for repair and cleaning. Does anyone know how to remove the covers from the rear or front. I'm sure they are threaded but are so tight that I'm concerned about them breaking. I already have the corrector lens and the rear focus assembly removed. Thanks, lyn Post Extras:       Chris Erickson Carpal Tunnel Reged: 05/08/06 Loc: Waikoloa Village, Hawaii Re: How do you clean the ETX optics? [Re: sanluis21]       #5269905 - 06/13/12 04:48 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Do you have grease on the primary mirror? If so then be careful, the mirror coatings are incredibly delicate and easily-scratched. The blue tube should unscrew from the back plate and baffle tube assembly. Post Extras:       Pages: 1

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