Posts: 5468
From: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Registered: Jun 2003
posted October 11, 2015 08:36 PM
I understand the golden rules NOT TO TOUCH the halogen bulb. Our finger prints will burn the bulb straight away once it is on.
But I just received tens halogen bulb (NOS) covered with dust.
I believe there is away to clean them. Do you have any clue how?
Posts: 1061
From: Burnsville, MN, USA
Registered: Dec 2009
posted October 11, 2015 10:25 PM
Blow off the loose dust with canned air. On what remains, wipe off with a clean micro fiber cloth. You are correct, don't touch the glass with bare fingers.
Posts: 1060
From: Cottage Grove OR
Registered: Dec 2010
posted October 11, 2015 11:41 PM
Use disposable gloves and with a cotton ball and alcohol, you can clean off every part. You can also do this for incandescent lamps, only be careful not to wipe off the printing on the top of the bulb.
Once it's dry, you can use it immediately. You want to be careful not to put oil from your fingertips on glass, it can make the lamp explode. If you do get anything on there, just wipe it off with the alcohol.
Posts: 1060
From: Cottage Grove OR
Registered: Dec 2010
posted October 12, 2015 06:04 PM
Yes, 70% alcohol should be fine. What may cause the lamp to explode (glass breaking, not like a projector bomb) is dirt, grease or oil of any kind on the glass -- if it heats up from the light output, it could cause the glass to shatter.
This happens often on old dusty projectors that have not been used in decades. There is a smell of dust burning and then "pop", the lamp explodes from excessive soot. So, it's a good thing to clean off the lamps before they are used or sold.