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Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all) ILoveKnowledge member Reged: 06/25/12 What do you guys use to clean your telescope lens?       #5313512 - 07/11/12 10:42 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   So, what do you guys use to clean your Nexstar telescope lens from time to time? How about the front of your eyepieces? Any special wipe I should use? Post Extras:       Midnight Dan Postmaster Reged: 01/23/08 Loc: Hilton, NY, Yellow Zone (Bortl... Re: What do you guys use to clean your telescope lens? [Re: ILoveKnowledge]       #5313541 - 07/11/12 11:00 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I use the Dr. Clay's ArkSky solutions and techniques: http://www.arksky.org/asoclean.htm -Dan Post Extras:       Smittty692k4 scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 07/05/11 Loc: East Bernard, TX Re: What do you guys use to clean your telescope lens? [Re: Midnight Dan]       #5313567 - 07/11/12 11:16 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I use a camera lens pen. Use the fine brush end 1st then the cleaner end (not sure what its called exactly) but works great for taking off a spot or two every now and then. $12 at walmart by the cameras Post Extras:       joetattoo member Reged: 04/29/12 Loc: Long Island, New York Re: What do you guys use to clean your telescope lens? [Re: Smittty692k4]       #5313731 - 07/12/12 03:52 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I also use a lens pen, but I first use an air blower to dislodge any small grit that could scratch the lens. Post Extras:       Amith member Reged: 06/03/12 Loc: Durban, South Africa Re: What do you guys use to clean your telescope lens? [Re: joetattoo]       #5313835 - 07/12/12 07:49 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Doesn't the Lens pen have chemicals in it that may damage the starbright coating? I just used a compressor and then a microfibre cloth to gently wipe it up. Took a very long time to get rid of all the marks but it worked and I could not see any damage done to the corrector plate or Starbright coating. I used the telescope a few times already with no problem but would really like to get a lens pen if it doesn't affect the coating and it seems to be easier than what I had to go through. Post Extras:       brianb11213 Postmaster Reged: 02/25/09 Loc: 55.215N 6.554W Re: What do you guys use to clean your telescope lens? [Re: Amith]       #5313894 - 07/12/12 08:49 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Lens pen is a "last resort" IMHO. Non contact (hurricane blower) is best, a drop of lens cleaning fluid used with a brand new lens tissue if you manage to get sticky finger prints on the lens should be tried before resorting to anything which depends on pressure. The "chemicals" (carbon) in the Lens Pen will not damage the coatings but the scrubbing action will scratch them, affecting performance even if the surfaces appear pristine. Post Extras:       Peter9 Post Laureate Reged: 10/30/08 Loc: Yorkshire - Born & Bred Re: What do you guys use to clean your telescope lens? [Re: brianb11213]       #5313931 - 07/12/12 09:07 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I use the lens cleaning fluid that comes with most photographic cleaning kits, along with the lens tissues provided. I always blow off any loose material with a large bulb blower before cleaning, as I think if there is any chance of damage being done, it would be caused by any leftover sharp dust/grit particals scratching the lens during cleaning. I also clean the corrector this way Regards. Peter. Post Extras:       RodgerHouTex Pooh-Bah Reged: 06/02/09 Loc: Houston, Texas, USA Re: What do you guys use to clean your telescope lens? [Re: Midnight Dan]       #5313984 - 07/12/12 09:58 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Dr. Clay's cleaning method works the best for me also. Post Extras:       Midnight Dan Postmaster Reged: 01/23/08 Loc: Hilton, NY, Yellow Zone (Bortl... Re: What do you guys use to clean your telescope lens? [Re: RodgerHouTex]       #5314048 - 07/12/12 10:34 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   There have been many discussions about this topic in the equipment forum. Lens Pens are always a great debate-starter. Some feel that they are very handy and do a good job, but most are concerned about how they can move a dust mote around the surface and scratch it, as well as picking up grit over time with the same effect. In general, compressed air is not a good idea either. Most compressors use oil that can be carried along in the air and contaminate the surface. The high speed of the air can also send dust particles from the air impacting the coatings at high speed and potentially degrade them. If you read Dr. Clay's site regarding cleaning, he (as well as many others on the web) recommend: 1) Clean as little as possible. A surprising amount of dust can be on a lens or mirror and have little effect on the views. 2) Start with a bulb-blower to try to gently blow off dust and contaminants with low pressure air if possible. 3) If contaminants remain, use a high quality lens cleaning solution and soft cotton balls to gently clean the surface, using them only briefly before throwing them out. That keeps contaminants that may be picked up on the cotton ball from abrading the coatings. Dr. Clay has instructions on how to make your own cleaning solutions very inexpensively. If you want store-bought convenience, this page has solutions you can buy, in addition to a good blower bulb. http://www.alpineastro.com/optics_care/optics_care.htm#Wonder%20Fluid -Dan Post Extras:       Peter9 Post Laureate Reged: 10/30/08 Loc: Yorkshire - Born & Bred Re: What do you guys use to clean your telescope lens? [Re: Midnight Dan]       #5314232 - 07/12/12 12:36 PM Attachment (19 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   The blower show at Alpine (thanks Dan) is similar to the one I have. The small ones with the brush on the end which come with some of the cleaning kits, including mine, I found to be more or less useless. The large one, used carefully, does the trick. Regards. Peter. Post Extras:       Skip Starlifter Driver Reged: 01/23/08 Loc: Fort Worth, Texas, USA Re: What do you guys use to clean your telescope lens? [Re: Peter9]       #5314253 - 07/12/12 12:48 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yeah Peter. But you don't have the cool rocket fins on yours! Post Extras:       Peter9 Post Laureate Reged: 10/30/08 Loc: Yorkshire - Born & Bred Re: What do you guys use to clean your telescope lens? [Re: Skip]       #5314284 - 07/12/12 01:07 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   And I so wanted those Rocket fins Skip. I wept when I found out they were not available here in the U.K Regards. Peter. Post Extras:       Midnight Dan Postmaster Reged: 01/23/08 Loc: Hilton, NY, Yellow Zone (Bortl... Re: What do you guys use to clean your telescope lens? [Re: Peter9]       #5314591 - 07/12/12 03:33 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   What a shame! The rocket fins make them work soooooo much better! -Dan Post Extras:       ILoveKnowledge member Reged: 06/25/12 Re: What do you guys use to clean your telescope lens? [Re: Midnight Dan]       #5314656 - 07/12/12 04:15 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Great replies I am still in my one-year warranty with Celestron so I am thinking of just taking it in as my collimation is slightly off and have them fix it and do the cleaning. I won't have it for a month but I think it might be worth it. Post Extras:       katie sage Reged: 11/06/11 Loc: Southern Maryland Re: What do you guys use to clean your telescope lens? [Re: ILoveKnowledge]       #5314689 - 07/12/12 04:31 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Dr. Clay's cleaning and rinsing mixes using his methods. Best I've ever used. And...I have enough photo-flo left to make a about a hundred more gallons of solution. Post Extras:       Peter9 Post Laureate Reged: 10/30/08 Loc: Yorkshire - Born & Bred Re: What do you guys use to clean your telescope lens? [Re: katie]       #5314715 - 07/12/12 04:51 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   You could volunteer to clean the "Hubble Telescope" Katie. That should take care of a drop or two. Regards. Peter. Post Extras:       katie sage Reged: 11/06/11 Loc: Southern Maryland Re: What do you guys use to clean your telescope lens? [Re: Peter9]       #5314739 - 07/12/12 05:10 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: You could volunteer to clean the "Hubble Telescope" Katie. That should take care of a drop or two. Regards. Peter. Well, I just finished cleaning Keck 1 & 2 and the Big Binos at Mt. Graham. So, lets see. Its 353 miles to the Hubble, I've got a 3/4 bottle of Photo-Flo, a half-pack of cigarettes, it's dark and I can wear sunglasses. I am on a mission from God. So, If Branson is willing to give me a lift I will clean the Hubble too....no charge. Post Extras:       brianb11213 Postmaster Reged: 02/25/09 Loc: 55.215N 6.554W Re: What do you guys use to clean your telescope lens? [Re: Peter9]       #5314741 - 07/12/12 05:10 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Quote: And I so wanted those Rocket fins Skip. I wept when I found out they were not available here in the U.K Look here Post Extras:       Skip Starlifter Driver Reged: 01/23/08 Loc: Fort Worth, Texas, USA Re: What do you guys use to clean your telescope lens? [Re: brianb11213]       #5315121 - 07/12/12 09:53 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks, Brian. So, there you go Peter! Post Extras:       Peter9 Post Laureate Reged: 10/30/08 Loc: Yorkshire - Born & Bred Re: What do you guys use to clean your telescope lens? [Re: Skip]       #5315530 - 07/13/12 07:50 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yes, thanks Brian. Don't like the colour Skip. Regards. Peter. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all)

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