8mm Forum: Lens Cleaning

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Topic: Lens Cleaning

Tony Milman
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1336
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 06, 2006 02:25 PM

Guys,

This may be whacky sounding but I assure you that I have seen it work.

Cleaning a lens, my brother showed me how effective Blu-tak is at removing all signs of dirt and grease. You need to ensure that your hands have not contaminated it but if you just gently dab it on the lens you will be amazed. Obviously keep changing the bit of blu-tack that faces the lens.

Try it yourself on a mirror-put a sticky fingerprint on oit and then use the blu-tak to get it off. It make take a bit of practice!

Patent Pending-My Bro.

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Tony

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Jan Bister
Darth 8mm

Posts: 2629
From: Ohio, USA
Registered: Jan 2005

posted August 06, 2006 02:59 PM

What is Blu-Tak, is that like Windex?

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Call me Phoenix. *dusts off the ashes*

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Tony Milman
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1336
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 06, 2006 03:05 PM

Blu-Tak for the un-enlightened

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Tony

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Jan Bister
Darth 8mm

Posts: 2629
From: Ohio, USA
Registered: Jan 2005

posted August 06, 2006 03:48 PM

Ah, those thingies. Now that's kind of a clever idea... basically "dab" the dirt & dust off the lens. Neat... I'd still rather just use lens cleaning paper, though...

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Call me Phoenix. *dusts off the ashes*

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Tony Milman
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1336
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Jun 2003

posted August 06, 2006 04:58 PM

Jan

The honour of my 1000th gob-shite post is all yours.

I would never use lens cleaning paper- always make me thing of sand paper [Eek!]

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Tony

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Jan Bister
Darth 8mm

Posts: 2629
From: Ohio, USA
Registered: Jan 2005

posted August 06, 2006 08:39 PM

*chuckle* I, uh, appreciate the honor (I think) [Big Grin]

And no, lens cleaning paper is actually super-thin and velvety-soft... yet more "papery" than, say, a tissue... you see it's hard to really put into words, I'll just say this much, though: Kodak sells lens paper so it must be something to take seriously [Wink]

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Call me Phoenix. *dusts off the ashes*

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David Kilderry
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 963
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Registered: Feb 2006

posted August 06, 2006 10:43 PM

Blu-tak will clean a lens, but can be harsh on the blooming (the purple color coating) on the outside elements. The blooming assists with light transmission through the elements so your lens is much more efficient if the blooming is not worn off.

Lens tissue is only ever meant to be used with a liquid lens cleaner - a few drops on each sheet. Never use them dry, they will scratch. Start from the centre of the lens and swirl outwards, repeating a few times.

Kodak produce both and I also use Roscoe lens tissue and cleaner. This is what the professionals in cinemas and production use. Each pad and bottle are only a few dollars each.

If you have not recently, or ever, cleaned the rear element of your projection lens (the one nearest the gate). A good clean with tissue and solution will transform the sharpness and colour of your projected images.

The rule for how frequently to clean lenses: only when it needs it! Too often and the blooming will rub off, not often enough and the image will suffer.

David

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David Brooks
Junior
Posts: 16
From: League City, TX, USA
Registered: Jun 2006

posted August 09, 2006 04:27 PM

I use lens cleaner made by Edmund Scientific (they have a website). I use Q-tips and/or clean soft cotton cloth to clean the lens followed with compressed air to blow off dust (before cleaning) and aftewards to assure the lens is dry again.

I have found that regular cleaner made for an individuals glasses also works good on regular lenses. The cleaners are now much better than before as they are design to not damage coatings on the people's glasses.

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Dave Brooks

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