Cleaning Optics

Sev

Right, well my telescope has been sitting around for a while, and gathered plenty of dust I'm sure. Want to start observing again, but would like to get the mirror cleaned up good first. Is there anybody in Dublin that specialises in cleaning telescope mirrors, optics etc.?

albertw

Originally posted by Sev
Right, well my telescope has been sitting around for a while, and gathered plenty of dust I'm sure. Want to start observing again, but would like to get the mirror cleaned up good first. Is there anybody in Dublin that specialises in cleaning telescope mirrors, optics etc.?

Dont think anywhere does. Some folks make mirrors themselves, but other than that I think people send them to the UK for resilvering.

However try the scope before you clean it, you may not need to unless its really covered with dust. And even then you might get away with just brushing off the dust GENTLY with a good camera lens brush, or blow it off with a hairdryer on a low power or from a distance. Cleaning optics can really degrade their performace, especially if there are any coatings, so you may not gain anything by having it cleaned.

Also have a look at http://www.arksky.org/asoclean.htm. Its written for lenses but some principles still hold for mirrors:
* cleaning coated optical surfaces is the single-most damaging action that will be done to them
* CLEAN ONLY WHEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. In most cases, dusting alone will lead to tremendous improvement in performance and overall light transmission.
* Never clean optical glass without gently dusting first!

If youre intent on having it cleaned professionally then I'm sure someone in Andromeda Optics, A&S Ltd., North Down Telescopes etc. will be able to give you a quote or a reputable contact to get it done.

Cheers,
~Al

Sev

Yeah it really does need a cleaning methinks, and I don't have the equipment, know-how or daring tp attempt it myself so I would like to get it professionally done. Will phone a few places, thanks for the reply.

halenger

Give A&S a call as well while you're at it. I remember people calling about getting cleaning done when I worked there last summer. Again the number is (01) 847 0777 if you need it.

bartificer

On a very much related note, how should one go about cleaning eyepieces.

I recently ruined one by folloing bad advice. Do not under any circumstances clean a Celestron eyepiece with alcahol! The second it touched the lense it turned bright purple as it completely removed one of the coatings! (I am never taking advice from chemistry lecturers again!)

How should eyepieces be cleaned when they need to be?

Bart B.

halenger

There are lens cleaners that you can get.

I personally would probably just use what I use to clean my glasses. Those special swab thingys. I don't think it's bad for them and it does clean pretty well.

Don't take what I say for gosphel though cause I'm not hugely experienced with eyepiece cleaning.

I'd guess lens cleaner is the way to go. Celestron do one and I'm sure lots of others do also.

I'd suggest a camera shop but I'd be unsure if they would have lens cleaners that wouldn't do the same as the alcohol! :-p