Re: oil immersion lens cleaning

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From:Amos Brooks <atbrooks@snet.net> (by way of Marvin Hanna)
To:histonet@histosearch.com
Reply-To:
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Hi,
    You ask why one should clean the lenses. My emphatic answer would be
BACTERIA.
If you dont clean off the lens then mother nature will do it for you, and her
cleaning agents to us look like contaminants.
Amos Brooks

jim wrote:

> 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




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