It's too bad all Pathology Residents aren't on Histonet to review all the
info on taking care of lens.  :(

Don Hammer, Retired Guy
----- Original Message -----
From: Hawkins, Hal K. <hhawkins@utmb.edu>
To: 'histonet' <histonet@pathology.swmed.edu>
Sent: Friday, January 21, 2000 7:29 AM
Subject: RE: lens cleaning


>
> I can't resist contributing my 2 cents' worth to the lore on lens
cleaning.
>
> I believe this came mostly from excellent techs from Leitz --
> it's mostly for cleaning small bits of oil and other
> contaminants from "dry" lenses, but also works on oil lenses.
> I keep a small vial of pure xylene on my shelf, and
> a box of wooden q-tips in the drawer.  After removing
> dust by blowing with a bulb, and removing water-soluble
> material with breath condensed on the lens, the q-tip
> is moistened with a drop of xylene and swirled on the lens
> surface, which is then quickly dried and cleaned by swirling
> the opposite, clean, end.  For an oil lens, wipe gently
> first with absorbent (clean, non-abrasive, lint-free) paper,
> then clean with the xylene-moistened wooden q-tip.  This
> method works well even for highly corrected lenses with
> deep concavities on their front surfaces.  To check for
> completeness of cleaning, look at the lens surface using
> an ocular as a magnifier and catching the reflection of
> a light source.  It is important not to use plastic q-tips.
> Another tip --  the optimum lens paper is the cheapest grade
> of toilet paper.  Lint-free, soft, and unlimited in supply.
> Expensive toilet paper contains oil.
>
> Hal Hawkins, UTMB Galveston
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: jim [mailto:jim@proscitech.com.au]
> Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2000 10:36 PM
> To: 'Gayle Callis'; histonet@pathology.swmed.edu
> Subject: RE: oil immersion lens cleaning
>
>
> 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
>
>
>