Cleaning Your Microscope

Starting out in microscopy? Post images and ask questions relating to the microscope and get answers from our more advanced users on the subject.

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Bill D
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Cleaning Your Microscope

Post by Bill D »

Is it OK to blow your objectives and eyepiece out with "canned air"? The kind you use on computer equipment. How about every-long-once in a while cleaning the lenses with lens cleaning solution? I would never use either of these on my digital camera bodies or lenses. But, microscopes don't seem to have the small, easily damaged parts camera equipment does. How do you keep your microscope clean and the dust at bay? Any tips or advice would be much appreciated.
Bill

Ken Ramos
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Post by Ken Ramos »

Using canned compressed air is fine if it is gently released. The nozzles of these things can harbor small particulates though, particulates that may come loose from the nozzle or tube can be propelled like a bullet bouncing off of your lenses, I suggest prior to pointing the nozzel towards your lens, release a bit of the compressed air first to dislodge any hazardous particulates. Find someone you just can't stand and point it at them. :lol: As for cleaning fluids, I recommend distilled water only. Things like glass cleaners or even some of the stuff you get from optical supply stores contain solvents that may remove the optical coatings from your lenses and thus ruin them. Never use cotton swabs, the ball of cotton on the end is raw or unfinished cotton and it will act like an abrasive. :shock: As for cleaning cloths, I have used and still do, a piece of clean white cotton tee shirt and I rub it gently over my eyepieces and objective lenses when they require cleaning and the piece of cloth is kept in a clean plastic sandwich bag and it is used for absolutely nothing else and by the way, never "dry" clean a lens. Always lightly moisten the lens by breathing on it or applying a bit, not a lot, of distilled water. Then gently rub dry. :D

Bill D
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Post by Bill D »

I had not thought of distilled water! And I would have thought cotton swabs would be great for cleaning objectives. Thank You very much!
Bill

Ken Ramos
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Post by Ken Ramos »

I only read somewhere that the ball of cotton on the end of those swabs was abrasive, raw cotton contains silica, I believe, and the article said that it would scratch surface coatings and possibly glass lenses. :roll: Anyway, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure they say and microscope optics are expensive. :wink:

rjlittlefield
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Post by rjlittlefield »

An excellent publication can by found by Googling for "Carl Zeiss" "The Clean Microscope". Copies are posted at several places on the web.

The "official" one at zeiss.com is currently at this url.

--Rik

Image

Ken Ramos
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Joined: Thu Jul 27, 2006 2:12 pm
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Post by Ken Ramos »

An excellent resource Rik, I have seen this before but did not think of it in relation to Bills question. I noticed the advocated use of cotton swabs :lol: Zeiss may recommend them but I don't and I never use them on my Axiostar...cost too much. :roll: Thanks Rik. :D

Bill D
Posts: 118
Joined: Mon Nov 27, 2006 4:51 pm
Location: Raleigh, NC
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Post by Bill D »

Thanks Rik! This will be very helpfull.
Bill

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