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Pete James
02-13-2013, 1:38 PM
Is naphtha ok for cleaning lens and mirrors? Or would naphtha damage the coatings?

Mike Null
02-13-2013, 2:28 PM
Naptha is not ok. Here's what you should use. http://www.sciencecompany.com/Acetone-ACS-Reagent-Grade-16oz-P6659.aspx

Rich Harman
02-13-2013, 4:18 PM
I use the stuff Mike linked to and reagent grade alcohol. There is one place on my laser where acetone is forbidden, the output of the laser tube.

The alcohol works really well, I rarely need to use the acetone.

Mark Sipes
02-13-2013, 4:53 PM
My Trotec came with with solution..... http://www.lensclens.com/store/products/lens-clens-no-1/

Martin Reynolds
02-13-2013, 6:17 PM
GCC recommends against acetone for mirrors (but yes for lenses). The issue might be that the mirrors are affixed to their bases with superglue, which softens in acetone.

So I guess the message is, don't soak bonded parts in acetone.

Gary Hair
02-13-2013, 6:19 PM
My Trotec came with with solution..... http://www.lensclens.com/store/products/lens-clens-no-1/

I just went there and tried to buy a 1-3/4oz bottle of cleaner - not a bad price, $8.00, but when they wanted over $12.00 to ship it I cancelled...

Gary

David Rust
02-13-2013, 8:44 PM
What about denatured alcohol? I thought about it but haven't tried it.

Chuck Stone
02-13-2013, 11:35 PM
What about denatured alcohol? I thought about it but haven't tried it.

the problem is .. you never know what's in it!!
There's no one specific formula for denaturing alcohol, everyone
has their own recipe. and even that changes without notice.
Sometimes there's quite a bit of water in it.

Mike Null
02-14-2013, 6:25 AM
Gary

The acetone in the link I posted will be about $25 with shipping but it's a 16 oz. bottle. The stuff Trotec supplies has no acetone in it but the price with shipping is a bit out of line.

Wes Mitchell
02-14-2013, 9:14 AM
Our Universal rep also recommends lensclens.

Mark Ross
02-14-2013, 9:42 AM
We only use the stuff we can get from Epilog. It's like $3.95 for a clens cleaning kit if I remember right. Pretty good deal.

Dee Gallo
02-14-2013, 4:23 PM
We only use the stuff we can get from Epilog. It's like $3.95 for a clens cleaning kit if I remember right. Pretty good deal.

I'm with Mark. The little bottle from Epilog lasts plenty long and is what they consider the correct thing for the job. Why fight it? I only need one drop per cleaning, so it goes a long way.

cheers, dee

Wes Moore
02-15-2013, 8:18 AM
Is naphtha ok for cleaning lens and mirrors? Or would naphtha damage the coatings?

Unless your vendor has explicitly OKed Naptha then I would not use it.
Naptha is a low octane fuel very close to gasoline.

If the stuff in the little plastic bottles for cleaning the lense and mirrors
puts you off due to price and shipping then consider that your local
ABC (Alcohol & Beverage Control) store should have a product called
Everclear or some similar name. It is 190 proof grain alcohol. It is
called anhydrous alcohol and is pure ethanol. The alcohol content is
in excess of 95%. The rest is water. If unfamiliar with the stuff just
ask the clerk for it. Everclear or other 190 proof plus "grain" alcohol is the only one to
use if acquiring via this channel. Other beverages sold by the state run
alcohol stores will have stuff in them you do not want to place on the
mirror or lense as it will gunk things up. A pint bottle should not run
over $15.00 or so and will last a long time. Just do not leave the cap off
as it will evaporate and also try to adsorb water vapor from the room
air. It has no denaturing agents to worry about. Another channel is
a chemical supply house but they are pretty persnickety about who they
sell to. They can sell you a one gallon jug of the stuff for about $25.00
but you may need permits depending on where you live and an account
with the supply house.

I have found the easiest to get is Everclear, just make sure it is 190 Proof
and not the watered down version. The biggest problem you will have with
it is hiding it so the shop alcohol drinkers do not take sips.

Best of luck.

Chuck

Mike Null
02-15-2013, 9:18 AM
Everclear has been recommended many times on various forums. It will work very well according to those who have tried it.

While my small bottle of cleaner that came with my Trotec 7 years ago is only half gone there are other uses (cameras, binoculars, scopes, eye glasses etc) which could justify the purchase of a larger quantity of whatever cleaner you decide to use.

Gary Hair
02-15-2013, 3:20 PM
I tried everclear and it didn't work out too well. My gallon container only lasted about a week and my engraving quality was pretty bad. Maybe I was using it wrong - 2 drops for the lens, 2 shots for me. At the most, I was cleaning the lens 5-6 times a day...

Gary

Chuck Stone
02-15-2013, 6:16 PM
2 drops for the lens, 2 shots for me. At the most, I was cleaning the lens 5-6 times a day...
Gary

Well, THERE'S your problem.. you need to clean the lens more.
But probably stay open a few extra hours, invite friends, dancers,
bouncers, DJ...

Bill Cunningham
02-16-2013, 10:30 PM
I got a bottle of lens cleaner from Epilog with my laser in 2004, and I'm still using that same bottle. I'm still using the same lens as well..

Greg Bednar
02-17-2013, 10:39 AM
I use Everclear. I get it from the liquor store. It's illegal to sell in Ohio so I had to sign a paper at the liquor store stating what I would be using it for. Ohio is so stupid - sell a bottle of liquor in a liquor store but don't drink the stuff or we'll fine you. - Anyway, it works well for me and that's where I purchase it.

Bill Cunningham
02-18-2013, 2:20 PM
It's a little more difficult to get in the nanny province of Ontario.. Not sure what you have to do in other provinces.. It can be obtained for manuf. processes..
Here is what I found out, and the last cost was $24.95 for 500 ml..


Thank you for your inquiry regarding the purchase of overproof alcohol.


The LCBO sells a neutral spirit that is 95% alcohol by volume (#
288142). This product is not available for general sale. Its
availability is restricted solely to those who require ethyl alcohol of
that strength for research, experimental, scientific, chemical,
therapeutic or manufacturing purposes.

In accordance with LCBO policy, those wishing to purchase overproof
alcohol must first obtain a Letter of Authority from our Director of
Quality Assurance. A Letter of Authority permits individuals,
institutions and companies to purchase overproof alcohol for one of the
purposes listed above. The Letter of Authority is presented to the LCBO
store or alcohol manufacturer where the overproof alcohol is being
sought. The store or manufacturer retains the letter on file until the
date of its expiry, one year after issuance. The Letter can be renewed
annually.

To pursue an authorization letter, you may forward your request
outlining your purpose for the alcohol by mail, fax or email to:

Stephen Cater,
Acting Director, Quality Assurance
55 Lake Shore Blvd. E.
Toronto, ON M5E 1A4
Attn: Dept. # 965

fax: 416-864-6841

email: quality.assurance@lcbo.com

To follow up on your request you may call 416-864-6724.

Once you have your Letter of Authority, you can locate the product for
purchase using our product search engine:
http://www.lcbo.com/products/productsearch.shtml

If you enter the a product's LCBO item number (288142) in the "LCBO Item
Number" box and click on the green "Search for Products" button, product
details will be displayed. Then, if you click on the wine's name it
will provide further details. It also provides a tool to locate stores
offering the product. In the drop-down box to the right of the product
details, you can select all cities or specific ones. If you click on the
Find Stores button the search engine will generate a list of stores with
the product on hand, showing quantity. You can sort the list by
city-order by clicking on the word "City" at the top of the column. We
recommend that you contact a store before visiting to confirm
up-to-the-moment inventory.

If you have any questions about the operation of the search engine or
would like our assistance in locating this product please contact us at
infoline@lcbo.com or at 416-365-5900 or 1-800-668-5226. We recommend
that you contact a store prior to visiting to confirm up-to-the-moment
inventory.

As you have indicated, the 95% alcohol presented on our web site does
not provide any indication of the restrictions on its sale. We will
bring this matter to the attention of our web site adminstrators.

We hope this information will be of assistance to you.

Thank you for contacting the LCBO.

Back when the common commercial diving equipment was the Navy Mk5, we used to buy this stuff in 20 liter containers. We would put in in a vinegar bottle to shake a few drops down the divers airline to free up the ice in the line back when air was not so dry in the winter. The diver might get a few thumps in the head as the ice came down the line, but that was a lot better than the other possibility of a blocked air line and a suit co2 build up..