Cleaning microscope mirrors

Have questions about the equipment used for macro- or micro- photography? Post those questions in this forum.

Moderators: rjlittlefield, ChrisR, Chris S., Pau

Andy Davies
Posts: 142
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2014 3:25 pm

Cleaning microscope mirrors

Post by Andy Davies »

Any recommendations for cleaning the internal mirrors?

lothman
Posts: 958
Joined: Sat Feb 14, 2009 7:00 am
Location: Stuttgart/Germany

Post by lothman »

I´m happy with the film method, although I use cheaper alternatives than this ;-)
http://www.photoniccleaning.com/default.asp

Andy Davies
Posts: 142
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2014 3:25 pm

Post by Andy Davies »

Wow! That looks good but a tad on the expensive side :(

What do you use?

lothman
Posts: 958
Joined: Sat Feb 14, 2009 7:00 am
Location: Stuttgart/Germany

Post by lothman »

Andy Davies wrote: What do you use?
sometimes first contact provides free samples.

I use collodion scar fluid, but beware of Plastics because it seems to have some strong solvents.

just googeld one source
https://www.amazon.com/Mehron-Collodion ... B00247XQS0

Andy Davies
Posts: 142
Joined: Tue Dec 09, 2014 3:25 pm

Post by Andy Davies »

Do you just paint it on, wait for it to dry and peel off?

The telescope guys clean their mirrors by washing with detergent and then dragging cotton wool pads over the surface and then rinsing with a 70:30 distilled water/isopropyl alcohol mix.

I can't take the mirrors out so this is not easy!

Would a buildup of dust just have the effect of reducing brightness or would it have an other optical effect? Loss of contrast etc?

lothman
Posts: 958
Joined: Sat Feb 14, 2009 7:00 am
Location: Stuttgart/Germany

Post by lothman »

Andy Davies wrote:Do you just paint it on, wait for it to dry and peel off?
yes that`s what I do, but before peeling off i blow out the surrounding area. I keep the film on as long as possible as a protector and dust shield.

Of Course if you can rinse the mirror this would also be fine. Avoid mechanical stress on the mirror Surface since those coatings seem to be delicate and after a while the mirror could get some dull spots where you accidentally damaged the coating.

if the film does not come off completedly redo another film application. Glue a small piece of paper with some fluid to the boarder of the mirror and after drying use ithe dried paper as film zipper.
Last edited by lothman on Wed Jun 26, 2019 12:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.

NikonUser
Posts: 2693
Joined: Thu Sep 04, 2008 2:03 am
Location: southern New Brunswick, Canada

Post by NikonUser »

I have used Sensor-film to remove dust and water spots from my camera's sensor.
No idea if it will work for mirrors
Paint it on as a liquid, peel it off when dry.
price for 15mL was reasonable, likely all you would need

https://www.sensor-film.com/cleaning.html
NU.
student of entomology
Quote – Holmes on ‘Entomology’
” I suppose you are an entomologist ? “
” Not quite so ambitious as that, sir. I should like to put my eyes on the individual entitled to that name.
No man can be truly called an entomologist,
sir; the subject is too vast for any single human intelligence to grasp.”
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr
The Poet at the Breakfast Table.

Nikon camera, lenses and objectives
Olympus microscope and objectives

Post Reply Previous topicNext topic