I love these free-reigning discussions with lots of assertions. Here are mine:

I suspect there are a few don'ts for cleaning those lenses and the rest does
not matter.

Pouring xylene all over the lenses and using abrasive papers are no-nos.

Lens paper works, but is less absorbent than Kimwipes are. A few years ago the
local university's microscope maintainer returned from a "study tour" from
Zeiss and reported that they were using Kimwipes. Kimwipes are low lint and
contain no hard particles. Cotton can retain bits of silica from the soil
since
its a natural product.

Another correspondent asserted that cleaning oil off lenses frequently is most
important? Maybe it is, but why? The oil is essentially non-drying. The oil
immersion lens is only ever used with oil. The oil does not attack the cement.
It seems to me that the cleaning (other than wiping off excess oil prior to
applying a new drop) is not required, it does not improve resolution and the
process could cause damage. Why clean frequently; please give reasons!

I claim no conflict: PST sells Kimwipes and Lens Tissue!
Cheers
Jim Darley
ProSciTech                 Microscopy PLUS
PO Box 111, Thuringowa  QLD  4817  Australia
Ph +61 7 4774 0370  Fax:+61 7 4789 2313  service@proscitech.com
Great microscopy catalogue, 500 Links, MSDS, User Notes
                      www.proscitech.com

On Saturday, January 12, 1980 12:47 AM, Gayle Callis
[SMTP:uvsgc@msu.oscs.montana.edu] wrote:
> We wipe all oil off with a LENS paper, never use Kimwipes.  Then a light
> drop of xylene on lens paper, rewipe objective, dry with more lens paper,
> and if there is some residual goo,  use only a special liquid camera lens
> cleaner, so as to not damage the special coatings on lenses, objectives.
> Local camera shop had the special cleaner.
>
> I am not sure Kimwipes will not work, but was told not to use them although
> I know my chemist husband used them on pricey quartz cuvettes for very high
> powered UV spectroscopy work, without any scratching problems.  Funny
> thing, you can use them for eyeglasses, cuvettes, but they sure sandpaper a
> nose!
>
> Someone in the microscope business hopefully will tell us the yeas and nays
> of kimwipes???  Arise!
>
> Gayle Callis