I hope this video helps you out! Using the cleaning solution isn't the only way after all. As others have pointed out, pre-packaged lens cleaners also do a good job. A microfibre cloth can pick up dirt over time. But mine I keep in a sealed bag and only ever use for optics. Never mix your cloths.
Thank you so much! I was worried that just a clean towel wasent enough,so I pulled up a video and found out! Thanks I’ll definitely get that cleaning telescope pack!
@@loganbaker007 more than likely. It can accept Vixen and Losemandy dovetails, so as long as your scope has one of them, it will carry it. I have a review on my channel for the eq6r pro also
Zeiss make some excellent lens wipes in sealed sachets. They are far superior to the Boots ones. They are useful for fingerprints etc on the optics. Microfibre cloths are fine if you follow the advice below. I use the ones that came with my Leica and Swarovski binoculars. Beware of unbranded ones. Try to use ones supplied or recommended by optical manufacturers. The secret with good quality microfibre cloths is to only use one side which you fold inside after use and regularly wash them by hand in hot water with a small amount of a good detergent and rinse well and let dry naturally. If you think about it, you will realise that if you wipe contamination off a lens, it will be deposited on the cloth hence the need to wash occasionally. Part of my job in the film industry when I was younger was cleaning very expensive lenses from Panavision, Zeiss, Leica etc. Finally, only clean a lens if you have to. A small amount of dust won’t affect performance. If you clean a lens too much, you will eventually start to remove the lens coatings which are critical to the lens’s performance.
Always useful to see how people clean their telescope lenses as it can seem quite daunting. At some stage I will have to tackle the job on my Skywatcher refractor so this video will come in handy.
Take the dew shield off and unscrew the complete lens cell. This allows you to clean the inside lens of the doublet. I have just cleaned my Skywatcher 120ED this way. There's no need to worry about the lenses as they are in a sealed unit and unscrew as this complete unit. A lot better than sticking your arm down inside the dew shield.
Great Video Ruiz, im sure Its Going To help a Lot Of Beginners :). Thats A Great guide for Refractor Astrophotographers! But for me With a Newtonian. This is a Leap Of Faith to get it Cleaned🤣. I could Atleast Clean My Eyepieces with this! Clear Skies!🌌
I do clean my optics very occasionally! The reason against cleaning optics is due to the risk of introducing scratches or removing coatings, for astrophotgraphy dust and dirt can be taken care of with Flats. Interesting to see how a few bullet holes (equivalent to some very major dust) is not a problem at the McDonald Observatory astroanecdotes.com/2015/03/26/the-mcdonald-gun-shooting-incident/
@@edjones3390 Ed the worries about scratching glass are long over. Only if you are working with 1980 or older glass is that something to be concerned about. Todays coating are supper tuff. Now mirrors are a different story. The aluminum that many mirrors are made of is supper soft and scratches at the lightest touch. Hence you can only clean them under water. That is probably the source of most of the misunderstanding about cleaning gear. Many take the advice about cleaning mirrors and apply it to glass when they should NOT.
Thanks great advice I have the 8 " celestron telescope spots on lens not still could see planets but wanted to take good care of 1800 dollar telescope. Thank you David from milwaukee wisconsin.
About the microfiber cloth. Use a optical grade cloth. If it has a tag , remove it. Only wash the cloth with microfiber cloth cleaner. If the cloth is big fold it before using. Store the cloth in a new plastic ziplock bag. Use nitrate gloves, if possible to keep your hand oil off the cloth.
Never clean a lens in a circular motion, start in the middle and swipe to the edge working your way around. Do it once and leave well alone you don't need to go over the same area twice and you don't need to buff it. A good solution like the Baader Optical Wonder product will dry without residue and the point of that is to avoid drying or buffing. Circular motion will potentially scratch the surface, that's why you always see photography lenses sold with cleaning scratches.
Great info but I'm wondering why you didn't unscrew and use the actual cleaning surface on the lens pen? I use mine all the time and once I clean the lens/optics with the the little round pad. the brush is to get rid of the particles that are on the lens pen. It's almost like graphite bits. They normally pop off or unscrew
It's old and has gone dry, and whilst I do wet it again with wonder fluid, in this instance I find it just easy enough and fine enough to use the cloth, but I'd use the lens pad end on eyepieces and filters though :)
@@AstroFarsography I think they are actually treated with a carbon powder which gets rid of the streaks. That's what the brush is for I guess....BUT, the end result is all that matters so it's all good. ;)
I think for a detailed cleaning I will be taking the lens hood off. I had some spots last night so I cleaned my triplet apocromatic glass in the dark and cold while set up. My hand kept getting stuck and I felt like I couldn't wipe or final polish properly. Clear skies
Any suggestions for cleaning the mirrors on a reflector (8" RC)? I can't seem to find any professionals to do it and I'm afraid of taking it apart myself and never getting it back together and collimated correctly
@@AstroFarsography i've had the SW ED80 and you can remove the dewshield, it's just held on by friction (sometimes a lot). Makes it a lot easier to clean, good luck !
@@Miguel_Noppe hmm is it the same one as mine? I remember one of the first things I did was remove the dew shield and it took the lenses out with it as the lenses are mounted in the shield 😅
Boots make an excellent lens cleaner in individual sealed packages. Wipe from the centre out and refold for a fresh section of the cleaning wipe. Never use micro fibre cloths as they will scratch the lens over time.
I may have to look into these then. I use the cloth supplied with the wonderfluid. Rationale being if Baader say it works then that's good for me! Though I do keep the cloth tucked away in a bag and only ever use it for lenses to prevent cross contamination
No they won’t. Multi fibre cloths if kept clean are the best thing to clean your optics with. Astro physics and televue both recommended the use of them.
You are doing it wrong mate . In your local Optics store there are Packages of Optics Wipes , boxed synthetic cleaning wipes , already made soaked with proper solution . I got few of those , and then took a piece of glass and wiped it with it , put it under Microscope to see if there is anything left , some smudges or what not , 2 out of 3 Wipes failed and were leaving something , i dont know what it is , some smudges , and 3ed one was perfect . No residue . Now knowing that i purchased few packs of those . 1st Step same as yours , Air Cleaning 2nd step Brush cleaning (optional ) 3ed Step One time Optics Cleaning Wipe and to the trash , no Circular movement ,no rubbing it in , just str8 line move across pick up whats there , trash it , or use the other side . when i do this i use Hand Gloves . This is the proper method , this is How Professional do things , this is how your Sensor is cleaned at the Optics Store , this is how your Optics is cleaned in Optics store . Microfiber cloth is good , if its new 100% new and unopened , but then you need to soak it properly and then your trash it . Its cheaper to get premade wipes , thats why i use those . Microfiber Cloth is what Scratches the Pain on Cars , everyone goes around with Scratched Car Paint , and they all use those cloths , how does it happen , well sand gets in to it , so next time they wash their car , they mess it up , you cant remove Sand from the Cloth once its there , not all of it . so the only way is to use new cloth . ITs waste of money and material if you ask me , but if you like to do it that way do it . Im doing this for years and im telling you the method i came up with by doing proper testing under microscope .
ensure those are not alcohol based. most are. alcohol ones will eventually remove optical coatings. they are fine for glasses, etc which tend not to have atom think coatings, but frankly I wouldn't use them for my camera or telescope lenses.
It certainly has to be the fine mesh microfiber cloths used for lenses I agree. The clothes used for cars would be too coarse. I always keep my cloth in its bag and only ever used it for lenses so no cross contamination and so far I've not found any issues with my lenses, eyepiece, camera sensors or filters. Just sharing what works for me but I appreciate you sharing the cause for concern most certainly. To each their own, I enjoy using the spray fluid. But I agree some gloves would be beneficial also
@@TheFlyingScotsmanTV Is alcohol really that aggressive to the coating? Most other sources mention alcohol every time the subject is discussed. I bought a small bottle of methanol (made unfit for consumption) from a drugstore, but I haven't used it yet.
![How to clean your telescope's mirrors [8" Newtonian Reflector]](/img/n.gif)
I hope this video helps you out! Using the cleaning solution isn't the only way after all. As others have pointed out, pre-packaged lens cleaners also do a good job. A microfibre cloth can pick up dirt over time. But mine I keep in a sealed bag and only ever use for optics. Never mix your cloths.
Thank you so much! I was worried that just a clean towel wasent enough,so I pulled up a video and found out! Thanks I’ll definitely get that cleaning telescope pack!
Just out of curiosity what kind of stand are you using for your telescope?
@loganbaker007 that mount is the Fantastic Skywatcher EQ6R Pro:)
@@AstroFarsography is it compatible with every telescope?
Edit: because I have an Omni AZ 102 refractor
@@loganbaker007 more than likely. It can accept Vixen and Losemandy dovetails, so as long as your scope has one of them, it will carry it. I have a review on my channel for the eq6r pro also
Zeiss make some excellent lens wipes in sealed sachets. They are far superior to the Boots ones. They are useful for fingerprints etc on the optics.
Microfibre cloths are fine if you follow the advice below.
I use the ones that came with my Leica and Swarovski binoculars. Beware of unbranded ones. Try to use ones supplied or recommended by optical manufacturers.
The secret with good quality microfibre cloths is to only use one side which you fold inside after use and regularly wash them by hand in hot water with a small amount of a good detergent and rinse well and let dry naturally. If you think about it, you will realise that if you wipe contamination off a lens, it will be deposited on the cloth hence the need to wash occasionally.
Part of my job in the film industry when I was younger was cleaning very expensive lenses from Panavision, Zeiss, Leica etc.
Finally, only clean a lens if you have to. A small amount of dust won’t affect performance. If you clean a lens too much, you will eventually start to remove the lens coatings which are critical to the lens’s performance.
amateur ! real pro's use sandblasting.
My next video was going to be on how to use an angle grinder to polish your telescope but now I think I'll have to buy a sand blaster!
Hey Ruz! - Thanks for taking the time to put this together mate, It'll be useful for a lot of people I think!
Clear skies :)
Thanks mate. Hopefully it is useful for sure!
Always useful to see how people clean their telescope lenses as it can seem quite daunting. At some stage I will have to tackle the job on my Skywatcher refractor so this video will come in handy.
Take the dew shield off and unscrew the complete lens cell. This allows you to clean the inside lens of the doublet. I have just cleaned my Skywatcher 120ED this way. There's no need to worry about the lenses as they are in a sealed unit and unscrew as this complete unit. A lot better than sticking your arm down inside the dew shield.
Nice one Ruz I use pretty similar process. I also use paper Kimtech wipes which were recommended to me too.👍
Just a tip: you can take the dew cap off easily on the Ed80. Have one as well and it makes cleaning the ota a lot simpler.
I have the ED100 and have not found an easy way to remove the dew hood, can you enlighten me?
Great Video Ruiz, im sure Its Going To help a Lot Of Beginners :). Thats A Great guide for Refractor Astrophotographers! But for me With a Newtonian. This is a Leap Of Faith to get it Cleaned🤣. I could Atleast Clean My Eyepieces with this!
Clear Skies!🌌
Haha yeah newts would be some disassembly required 😂 but the process would be the same afterward anyway! Thanks mate
This should get more views. I do not understand why so many do not ever, and some are even against, clean their optics.
I do clean my optics very occasionally! The reason against cleaning optics is due to the risk of introducing scratches or removing coatings, for astrophotgraphy dust and dirt can be taken care of with Flats.
Interesting to see how a few bullet holes (equivalent to some very major dust) is not a problem at the McDonald Observatory
astroanecdotes.com/2015/03/26/the-mcdonald-gun-shooting-incident/
@@edjones3390 Ed the worries about scratching glass are long over. Only if you are working with 1980 or older glass is that something to be concerned about. Todays coating are supper tuff.
Now mirrors are a different story. The aluminum that many mirrors are made of is supper soft and scratches at the lightest touch. Hence you can only clean them under water. That is probably the source of most of the misunderstanding about cleaning gear. Many take the advice about cleaning mirrors and apply it to glass when they should NOT.
@@TheNarrowbandChannel good to know, thanks!
Show us how to clean the eye piece
Thanks great advice I have the 8 " celestron telescope spots on lens not still could see planets but wanted to take good care of 1800 dollar telescope. Thank you David from milwaukee wisconsin.
Another nice one!
Might be a silly question: over time my lens pen has gotten quite dirty. How does one clean it?
can't clean em Douglas. They are treated with carbon so once they are "dirty" they're pretty much toast
@@dlg521 thanks Dave. That explains why my lens get worse whenever I use it. Cheers
About the microfiber cloth. Use a optical grade cloth. If it has a tag , remove it. Only wash the cloth with microfiber cloth cleaner. If the cloth is big fold it before using. Store the cloth in a new plastic ziplock bag. Use nitrate gloves, if possible to keep your hand oil off the cloth.
Never clean a lens in a circular motion, start in the middle and swipe to the edge working your way around. Do it once and leave well alone you don't need to go over the same area twice and you don't need to buff it. A good solution like the Baader Optical Wonder product will dry without residue and the point of that is to avoid drying or buffing. Circular motion will potentially scratch the surface, that's why you always see photography lenses sold with cleaning scratches.
Great info but I'm wondering why you didn't unscrew and use the actual cleaning surface on the lens pen? I use mine all the time and once I clean the lens/optics with the the little round pad. the brush is to get rid of the particles that are on the lens pen. It's almost like graphite bits. They normally pop off or unscrew
It's old and has gone dry, and whilst I do wet it again with wonder fluid, in this instance I find it just easy enough and fine enough to use the cloth, but I'd use the lens pad end on eyepieces and filters though :)
@@AstroFarsography I think they are actually treated with a carbon powder which gets rid of the streaks. That's what the brush is for I guess....BUT, the end result is all that matters so it's all good. ;)
@@dlg521 Lens pens are frowned upon by the experts
Nice tips Ruz!
I think for a detailed cleaning I will be taking the lens hood off. I had some spots last night so I cleaned my triplet apocromatic glass in the dark and cold while set up. My hand kept getting stuck and I felt like I couldn't wipe or final polish properly. Clear skies
good to watch, my flats have become quite ugly as of late, way past needing a good cleaning I think, I have the ED100, love it
Any suggestions for cleaning the mirrors on a reflector (8" RC)? I can't seem to find any professionals to do it and I'm afraid of taking it apart myself and never getting it back together and collimated correctly
Very useful video, thank you very much! :)
Thanks! I'm glad you found it useful 😊
Thank you for your information. I need to clean my lenses on my telecopes.
I have the same telescoop and normally you cane take of the dew shield it make the cleaning match easier.
Is yours the tube that has Schott glass written on it, and does it have a metal dew shield?
@@AstroFarsography Yes.
Thanks for another really helpful video.
My pleasure Mark, thanks for watching!
Careful of the tag on that micro fiber cloth!!!!
How do you get dust out from inside the telescope?
Just got a pretty big smudge on the lens after a year of use. This video helped a lot!
Could this fluid be used for filters?
Hey Nick, yeah it can. I use the fluid on eyepieces, filters and sensor windows as well. Same procedure as well :)
Will normal glasses cleaners work
I love that hereinmygarage reference!
I do believe you're the first to notice 😉
@@AstroFarsography Do you know why I recognized the reference?
Knowledge!
Great video btw!
@@barsbotond 😂 excellent
Thanks!
you can take that hood off xd
Not on this model of ED80. The lens hood contains the lenses in it!
@@AstroFarsography i've had the SW ED80 and you can remove the dewshield, it's just held on by friction (sometimes a lot). Makes it a lot easier to clean, good luck !
@@Miguel_Noppe hmm is it the same one as mine? I remember one of the first things I did was remove the dew shield and it took the lenses out with it as the lenses are mounted in the shield 😅
@@AstroFarsography auch. Well i'm not sure of coarse, but mine was purchased in 2018. I don't now if they changed the design, but if they did, why ?
Boots make an excellent lens cleaner in individual sealed packages. Wipe from the centre out and refold for a fresh section of the cleaning wipe. Never use micro fibre cloths as they will scratch the lens over time.
I may have to look into these then. I use the cloth supplied with the wonderfluid. Rationale being if Baader say it works then that's good for me! Though I do keep the cloth tucked away in a bag and only ever use it for lenses to prevent cross contamination
No they won’t. Multi fibre cloths if kept clean are the best thing to clean your optics with. Astro physics and televue both recommended the use of them.
+1 for wonder fluid.
+1 for your +1 👌
@@AstroFarsography it would be interesting to see a pole of how often people clean their telescope optics. I only clean my optics once a year
You are doing it wrong mate . In your local Optics store there are Packages of Optics Wipes , boxed synthetic cleaning wipes , already made soaked with proper solution . I got few of those , and then took a piece of glass and wiped it with it , put it under Microscope to see if there is anything left , some smudges or what not , 2 out of 3 Wipes failed and were leaving something , i dont know what it is , some smudges , and 3ed one was perfect . No residue . Now knowing that i purchased few packs of those .
1st Step same as yours , Air Cleaning
2nd step Brush cleaning (optional )
3ed Step One time Optics Cleaning Wipe and to the trash , no Circular movement ,no rubbing it in , just str8 line move across pick up whats there , trash it , or use the other side .
when i do this i use Hand Gloves .
This is the proper method , this is How Professional do things , this is how your Sensor is cleaned at the Optics Store , this is how your Optics is cleaned in Optics store .
Microfiber cloth is good , if its new 100% new and unopened , but then you need to soak it properly and then your trash it .
Its cheaper to get premade wipes , thats why i use those .
Microfiber Cloth is what Scratches the Pain on Cars , everyone goes around with Scratched Car Paint , and they all use those cloths , how does it happen , well sand gets in to it , so next time they wash their car , they mess it up , you cant remove Sand from the Cloth once its there , not all of it .
so the only way is to use new cloth . ITs waste of money and material if you ask me , but if you like to do it that way do it .
Im doing this for years and im telling you the method i came up with by doing proper testing under microscope .
ensure those are not alcohol based. most are. alcohol ones will eventually remove optical coatings. they are fine for glasses, etc which tend not to have atom think coatings, but frankly I wouldn't use them for my camera or telescope lenses.
It certainly has to be the fine mesh microfiber cloths used for lenses I agree. The clothes used for cars would be too coarse. I always keep my cloth in its bag and only ever used it for lenses so no cross contamination and so far I've not found any issues with my lenses, eyepiece, camera sensors or filters. Just sharing what works for me but I appreciate you sharing the cause for concern most certainly. To each their own, I enjoy using the spray fluid. But I agree some gloves would be beneficial also
@@TheFlyingScotsmanTV Is alcohol really that aggressive to the coating? Most other sources mention alcohol every time the subject is discussed. I bought a small bottle of methanol (made unfit for consumption) from a drugstore, but I haven't used it yet.
What's with the soft porn music?? It's very Red Shoes Diaries!