----- Original Message ----- From: "Bogdan Karasek" <bkarasek@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, December 27, 2006 1:42 PM
Subject: [pure-silver] Re: Purosol Optical Lens Cleaning Fluid
HI,
Edward C. Zimmermann wrote:
I'm under the impression that the Zeiss cleaner is just pure alcohol
(Isopropanol)--- the same stuff that Ralph found Nikon to be using.
I get my IPA from Kremer Pigments in Munich at a cost of 4,25 EURO (plus
Tax) for a 1 litre can.
I don't use, however, just pure IPA but often dilute it with (deionized
or "distilled") water and add a drop of wetting agent (Agfa Agepon).
What kind of dilution are you talking about?
Cheers,
Bogdan
Most of the commercially prepared lens cleaners are either
Ammonium carbonate diluted with distilled water or Isopropanol.
Perhaps a better cleaner is mixture of butyl alcohol of the type
sold as "streak free" window cleaner. The standard solvents used in
lens assembly are chemically pure Acetone and pure Isopropanol. 99%
Isopropanol (Isopropyl alcohol) can be bought at some drugstores
and as a cleaner at computer parts houses, I've found it at Long's
Drugs and Fry's. Not expensive. Industrial grade Acetone often
leaves a residue. Acetone will attack many kinds of paint and
plastics so should be used as a last resort and with great care.
Ordinary window cleaner seems to leave streaks. Most of it is
Ammonium hydroxide. In theory at least Ammonium Hydroxide can
dissolve small amounts of glass but I've never seen any indication
that it can damage lenses or coatings.
The proprietary cleaners on the market appear to be no more than Alcohol.
Another point: I am very much against using anything on a lens
which is re-used. That includes microfiber cloth or leather. The
best material is something like Kimwipes. I have confirmed with the
manufacturer that they are free of abrasive particles and it is
lint free. Use each ONE TIME. Kodak Lens Tissue is also good for
making one-time-use brushes. Kimwipes can also be used but the
Kodak tissue feathers better. The tissue is rolled up and torn in
half, the two torn ends are folded together and used as a brush.
Regular lens brushes may be soft enough not to do any damage
themselves but can pick up and hold grit which can scratch.
Any cleaner which leaves a residue will screw up lens coating
function. Please DO NOT use silicon treated tissues meant for
cleaning spectacle lenses. In fact, don't use them on coated spectacles.
---
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles, CA, USA
dickburk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
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