Cleaning Optics - Baader Fluid vs Soap & Water!
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- Опубліковано 7 лип 2024
- We all occasionally need to clean our optics - is it any better using specialist fluids or is good old dish soap and water equal to the task?
Here's a little side-by-side informal test on a mirror that I needed to clean anyway!
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00:00 intro and advice
02:25 visual inspection
02:50 dust-bulb first pass
03:25 visual inspection part 2
04:35 soap and water method
10:45 Baader fluid method
14:10 comparison
14:50 final total mirror clean with Baader fluid - Наука та технологія
Whew, I opened a can of worms with this one! 😅
Definitely a good opportunity to get people taking and sharing their own techniques though!
1. Rinse the mirror under the the tap.
2. Rinse with distilled water.
3. Add a drop of dishwasher fluid.
4. Use your clean moistured fingertips to gently clean the mirror.
5. Rinse with distilled water.
6. Blow it dry.
Toilet paper is the worst paper you can use, low quality recycled fibre and designed to dissolve very easy.
I cannot agree more (see my comment elsewhere). I also use your method exactly as you described here. I may add 100% cotton wool after step 4. Apparently one's fingertips can detect objects as small as one micron.
I pretty much do as you have described minus the fingertips. I use 100% cotton balls and will drag them with a small amount of pressure AFTER I have soaked and rinsed the mirror several times before doing so. The reason I have to use some pressure is I live near a very industrialized area and will get a hazy film on the mirror after a while which soaking and just dragging a cotton ball across the surface will not remove. I've never tried the Baader fluid and may get some to try but if anyone knows of something better for removing this industrial haze please let me know... short of a power buffer! lol
Thanks for sharing your method!! :-) I'm happy it's worked for you and others, - I don't think the fingertip method is viable for everyone though, I handle a lot of bare and coated metal for example so I'll certainly have embedded metal bits contaminating the skin on my hands, I do also worry that with a finger tip you'll be applying a far higher PSI to any given spot increasing the likelihood of sleeks, afterall by the time you feel something under your finger tip it's potentially too late already.
Either way, it sounds like it's been working for you! 👍
Cheers
I have the same issue here @tubedude54 - be it from roads or nearby factories, something is definitely being deposited onto my optics!
Glad that works for you mate, as my reply mentioned though, detecting small objects with your fingers by its nature will mean you've applied pressure to said object already
Toilet paper is VERY abrasive! The best cleaning solution on the market for cleaning mirrors or even refractor lenses is First Contact Polymer. I once cleaned my mirror on my Orion newt and it definitely scratched the mirror with micro scratches even though I did it exactly as they recommended. Now I don't even touch my glass or my mirrors. There's a brush to brush it on with your hand will never touch it or anything that can remotely scratch your optics. It's expensive but it's definitely worth it. Dries and pulls off as a single film. Removes all contamination. Any water spots would need to be removed first but they have a solution for that!
I'd love to try some of that stuff, it honestly looks so good 👍👍
I did use wonderfluid but it does leave streakes as anything else does. so last step for me is always to breath on the surface (distilled water) and do another pass with kleenex or even better Kimtech wipes. But in general I find optical surfaces much more robust than I ever feared.
I have the Kimtech wipes too, work great.
Nice tip!! 👍 - re: surfaces, I've found the same really, touch wood I haven't scratched anything yet in over a decade - maybe some older scopes have softer coatings though?
Cheers!
To totally add frustration to a mirror cleaning , LOL , try blowing warm breath (no spit) through a straw over the mirror surface . This will show up areas that may need another good rinse . Good luck !
That's a really cool tip! Thanks mate! 👍
I do agree with delicate touching on the mirror. I was given an old mirror of a high powered laser. The person about to hand it to me said he will clean it first. A few quick wipes with a micro cloth done the trick !!!???!!! NOT. I chucked it in the skip as I passed. It was like frosted glass. Paaah. Well done Luke. Clear sky's to you.
Thanks for sharing Mel!! Always a pleasure to hear from you mate 👍👍
Clear skies!
I clean the kitchen sink, then fill with room to warm water with a bit of Dawn dish soap. Run water across mirror to bet bigger stuff off. then under water using a microfiber cloth gently swipe across mirror. Rinse with distilled water, dab dry and it comes out shiny spotless.
I think the key to the most safe way to clean is to do it completely submerged under water.
Mister "Muscle" and lint-free wipes - that's the whole set, pre-soaking, then rinsing with warm running water, then applying a glass cleaner, gently removing it with wipes for cleaning optics, rinsing again under running water, rinsing in distilled water, removing drops with lint-free napkins, blotting the remaining drops - we enjoy the impeccably clean surface of the mirror, not scratched by our intervention.
Exactly
Sounds good!
Excellent demonstration Luke, cleaning optics can be scary but isn't difficult if you take your time and don't go mad. Watching this brought back a memory from many moons ago. To cut a long story short, a friend of mine bought himself a second hand Newtonian after having a look through mine. It was in need of a bit of a clean so I said I would pop round and show him how to do it only to find he had proudly managed to do it himself using a duster. Needless to say a valuable lesson was learnt that day!
Thanks so much Pete!! I agree, aye! my first few times cleaning optics were scary, but as you quite rightly say - actually not difficult at all in the end!
Good on your mate for getting stuck in with the duster, haha, I feel like we'd get along! :-D
Clear skies my friend!
Thanks! Good procedure. Though I would never use bogroll, your technique minimizes the chance of damage.
Great video Luke. I've always just used the soap and water method. I'll have to try the Badder cleaner. Clear skies
Thanks so much Ray!! Hope you and your wife are doing well my friend 👍👍
Thanks Luke, interesting as always. Ive been using the Baader fluid for years and have found it to be the best. Dish soap with cotton wool works well too, but you need to use de mineralised water for best results.
Thanks Peter! Some distilled water would have been nice for sure, we have pretty hard water around here so you definitely see it leaving a deposit!
Cheers matey!
The comments on these videos are always interesting. There’s a lot of different opinions on the subject. I grew up around a lot of old school folks that ground their own mirrors. That process (art) is a very meticulous and time intensive skill. That being said, I thought it logical to adapt their cleaning methods lol.
I think that's totally reasonable mate! Good way to look at it 👍
Nice video Luke, thanks.
I always have to wear washing uo gloves because the heat if my hands mist the mirror up haha
Crikey mate you must have toasty digits, haha!! :-D clear skies to you 👍👍
I blow the mirror, then flush under warm tap water without touching it. Then I boil a kettle and let it cool a little and use that with a few drops of dish soap and light finger circles with the flat of your finger. Then flush with kettle water again, fresh boil kettle 1 more time and use that hot water for final rinse which also helps remove most of the left over water. Then I use the dust blower to blow off any water bubbles left.
Really useful video mate, I’m due to flock and clean my newt. Interesting that you didn’t use distilled water at the end.
Thanks matey! luckily the final pass with the baader fluid leaves no residue, but if you have some distilled water then absolutely use it! 👍👍
Clear skies my friend :-)
I simply put mine in water/soapy water, stir without touching the mirror. Let it sit, rinse with distilled water, finish with the dust pear (wtv the proper word, I'm french) to remove the water droplets.
I like that idea! :-) works great I bet 👍
Clear skies mate!
The main mirrors of my New't and my RC might be due soon again. I clean it in a bowl with dish wash and rinse with clean water like you do. The final touch is given with destilled water and some acohol (spiritus) added to break the tension of the surface of the water. All drops will just run down the mirror when it is placed angeled somewhere. Alcohol will helps to let the drops rinse off easier. Next time I will try to massage the mirror when it is in the fluid with bare fingers very slightly make personal contact to to them. Need to break the superficial relationship to them somewhen. 😂
Great method mate, thanks for sharing!! 👍
I use Baader fluid for my SCT corrector plate, on the inside as sometimes a slight mistiness forms after repeated dew formation. Apparently it also contains an anti mould ingredient which coats the surface of the glass which is worth applying for peace of mind. No need to touch the primary mirror with the Baader as its mostly protected by the corrector plate. A bit pricey but you shouldn't need to use more than a few puffs at any one time. I use Baaders own micro fibre cloth with a clean spare to wipe up the gunk, tissue paper leaves tiny flakes which need to be blown off.
Hey Des! - good point! I read about the anti-mould coating in the instruction manual, very nice feature of the product I think! 👍
So, a pot scrubber and brake cleaner are out of the question I suppose? 🤣
I haven't cleaned a mirror in a few years, last time I think I used running water mostly, and a microfibre cloth.
But when I'm cleaning filters and lenses I generally avoid wiping of any sort until I know that all the "particles" are gone (I generally remove particles with a soft lens brush), and when I'm wiping with a microfibre cloth I'm generally just wiping the smudges away.
Honestly that sounds like a good method mate, there's many ways to get there but if your optics are clean and unscratched then everything is good I reckon :-D
Clear skies!
Brake cleaner could be a viable solution for cleaning optics, Its just a blend of different hydrocarbon based solvents none of which should have any negative effect on the optics or coatings. That said its way overkill when most of the time a bit of soapy water or diluted Iso-Propanol (optical wonder) is more than enough to do the job.
Another suggestion if you don't want or cannot get Baader fluid. 70%+ volume isopropyl alcohol, distilled water, mixed 50/50 with a drop of dishsoap, and a proper optical tissue for the telesope (Kimtech). Costs pennies per use and cleans everything - screens, glasses, windows, glass countertops, car cluster guages etc. Sure, proprietary products can be fantastic, but I've used this for 20 years after reading about it the Backyard Astronomers Guide - don't even use window cleaner at home anymore - it's a stinky expensive poorer performer in comparison.
Good advice mate! I've used IPA & water before myself too, it works well 👍
If you're feeling froggy and you come to Kansas, I got a CDK24 with dead moths stuck to the primary that you can't reach, spider webs, and fungus growing on the lenses. 😏
Crikey thanks so much mate!! I can only imagine the amount of stuff that ends up stuck to a mirror of that size, wow!! what a beast of a scope! :-D
Final pass looks super clean. Tedious though, but slow and steady usually works the best.
Thanks Pat! I agree, slow and steady with anything like this 👍 clear skies my friend!
Nice demonstration Luke! I would love to try Baader Wonder Fluid but it is hard to get here in the States. I had been just using what observatories use, Windex! Yep just blue Windex only. You just have to strain it through a coffee filter to remove the impurities. I use a camel hair brush to gently remove any particle off the surface of the mirror then with a Windex soaked Viva paper towel (only Viva brand as it is almost pure cotton) blot then let sit for a moment then carefully wipe while not allowing the mirror to dry. Then finish with lab quality purified and deionized water. Deionized water will allow the water to dry without spots and using lab grade purified or distilled will prevent contaminations. Worst case you could run everything through a coffee filter. One note is never use a cleaner with vinegar in it as it can remove the protective layer of aluminum oxide off the mirror. Toilet paper is a good idea as it is usually pure cotton!
Thanks Dave mate!! If it's good enough for a professional Observatory, it's good enough for me! I might have to try some windex next time! :-D
Cheers for sharing mate!
@@lukomatico Yep even Televue says "Windex or Glass Plus can be used to remove water-soluble deposits. " Quoted from their website 🙂
Hi Luke you're a brave man as your comments show so far everyone is giving different advice and techniques all you need is magic and levitation 😂
Haha, levitation would have been handy for this one!! 😂
I'm sure everyone is well-meaning at least 👍
I have to use surgical gloves coz no matter what i do i end up with my dabs on - n cleaning pads, when ma bits are clean ill get to the scope glass n optics ect
Hahaha, love it 😂
Clear skies mate!
I made a few people mad when I enthusiastically cleaned my Mak180 mirror. Even after showing the skywatcher guy telling us how tough the Shott glass is. Made for good viewer engagement 😂
Haha!! Everybody's an expert mate!! (except none of us really are 😂😂)
Hi luke from the look of the comments I think you have opened up a whole can of worms with this video mate, keep videos coming my friend
Haha, you're not kidding mate! Anybody would think I cleaned it with a brick! 😂😂
Cheers buddy!
@@lukomatico next time mate just get the brilo pad out and give it a good going over
Not a bad idea! I was thinking maybe an angle grinder too for those stubborn spots 😂
@@lukomatico maybe an idea for next April fools day that will get you lots of comments lol
Ah bugger that reminds me I've got to clean my Newt hasn't been done for about 10 years lol, Talking of which I see you have a ring for your Newtonian which I guess is to cover the clips, did you 3D print that? Or do you know where I could get one for my 250P?
Hey mate! The ring was sent for review from backyard universe, though you can find similar stuff on AliExpress etc I believe 👍👍
Hope that helps!
Cheers mate will have a look
Where can I get the Baader fluid in the USA?
It seems its general import may be banned due to flammability from what I'm reading online? Maybe worth checking with baader themselves though as there could be other import channels they can still use - not an issue I expected! Sorry mate
Loo roll occasionally contains metal filings and such .....
Cleaned some spectacles with loo roll once and scratched them :(
Crikey, what sort of loo roll have you been using! (Only joking, I'm sure it's possible 👍)
@@lukomatico northern loo roll made from mdf and iron girders ;)
Getting tired of washing Newtonian mirror. Anyone ever tried covering open end of tube with Glad Wrap held with a rubber band so it is wrinkle free?
I believe there's a company (may be baader) offering a product like that, you can seal a tube with no degradation to image quality by using their film
Wish I could remember more for you!
I use a disposable shower cap. Don't tell the wife!
I’m sure that wet toilet paper could have been reused for its intended purpose 😮.
I could have done both at the same time if I'd thought of that, darn it! 😂👍
Yes, I have to agree, distilled water should be used and nothing at all dragged across the mirror, should be Rinsed with running distilled water and left to dry, I think you may wish you had not done this one mate…😮😂
Haha, not at all mate! I'm sure people's advice is well meaning, all I can say is 'there's more than one way to skin a cat!'
Cheers! 👍
@@lukomatico yes very true, I have my way of doing things too, if it works for you then all good my friend…clear skies…👍🏻
Clear skies my friend! 👍👍
Toilet paper 😱 and tap water 🫣
If it's good enough for my ass, it's good enough for my optics 😂
@@lukomatico 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
There are many ways to clean a mirror, but the easiest way TO DAMAGE YOUR MIRROR IS TO BLOW DEBRIS OFF WITH AIR. The air drives grit into the coating, and it leaves a scratch behind when it moves. Only fix is to recoat, or refigure. I refigured mine. Consider yourself warned.
Sorry to hear your mirror got damaged mate, that sucks :-(
What do you recommend
I don't trust a toilet paper
Never trust toilet paper! - when you're not looking it'll try to 'wipe' you out! :-P
More and more youtubers ar BOUGHT by the industry with big money...... Period.
I'll let you know if big money ever arrives mate 😂 no sign of it yet though unfortunately, I could do with some!
Mmmmm..... judging by the view at minute 14:24, I don't like the streaky look of the Baarder fluid at all, in fact, the water & soap result looks clearly better than the Baarder at that point. Unfortunately, we missed what happened off-camera between this and about minute 15:00, where all streakiness disappeared.
I cannot agree more with @potrzebiehuck about how bad a choice toiletpaper is! As you can see on my channel, we ALWAYS JUST use 100% pure cotton wool. Years ago they changed the brand of 100% cotton wool when aluminising, which was disastrous!
The most concerning moments for me were from minute 11:40 onwards where you DRAGGED dry paper while there were still particulate matter on the mirror surface. Why did you not also first dabbed until all debris was removed, before dragging, like you correctly did with the water & soap cleaning?
I also use @potrzebiehuck's method.
Hey Willie! - I remember seeing your video on cleaning those nice SCT's a few years ago! :-) great job! I hope they are still serving you well?
I'd definitely agree that my method here isn't perfect, I've been doing it like this for over a decade though and haven't scratched anything yet - could just be lucky I guess though!
I think potrzebhiehuck's method is probably spectacular if you can be sure you have no embedded contaminants in your fingers, I can't however.
Thanks for sharing!
Luke