Source for optical grade cotton swab

[Bob Cole]

This topic has been touched upon on other threads but haven't seen any specifics for where you purchase your cotton swabs to clean the optics.

The current stash I have is almost out and looking at the prices at laserbits and lensclens seem a little high.

I obviously do not want to get something that will scratch the optics or cause problems with the coating. I was told not to use the lens paper but to only use the swabs in a rolling motion. Use plenty of cleaner and if the lens is really dirty, after using the first swab, get a new swab and lightly "scrub" with plenty of cleaner.

Thanks for the advice.

[Mike Null]

Bob

You can buy the kit here.
http://www.dmarkings.com/product_info.php?cPath=1&products_id=1&osCsid=80f47606c5bc0f3e66ffb91a8c7b2b40

[Mike Mackenzie]

Bob,

Try a medical supply company. I got mine from a packaging house that sold boxes, packaging and cleaners.

Here is what I found on Google with the name on the package that I have.

http://puritanmedproducts.com/search_3.asp?type=non&tip=cotton

hope it helps.

[Gary Hair]

Bob

You can buy the kit here.
http://www.dmarkings.com/product_info.php?cPath=1&products_id=1&osCsid=80f47606c5bc0f3e66ffb91a8c7b2b40

Not to mention, he has good prices on lenses... I believe he was offering a 10% discount on the SMC forum, perhaps he would do the same for us?

Gary

[Brian Conklin]

Oh My! Which one should we buy? There are 59 different swabs on the website.....:eek:

[Judith Halliday]

I hope this does not come off as silly, but I use the equate version from Wally world for .99 cents with a bottle of denatured alcohol. No problems thus far.

[Rodne Gold]

Kodak make a lens cleaner tissue which is more than suitable to use on the mirrors and any q-tip or cotton swab with a WOOD stick is fine for the lens (wood cos the plastic sticks might react with the cleaning fluid)
In a pinch we use the pure cotton balls that are used by women to remove makeup.
We use the drop and drag method to clean the mirrors , lay the tissue flat on the mirror , put a drop or 2 of the lens cleaning fluid where the tissue lays on the miror (Eclipse lens and senor cleaner available from photographic shops as is the lens tissue) and drag it over the surface of the mirror.

[Mark Winlund]

I've been using regular cotton swabs for 4 years with no problems. No scratches, no marks, etc. Sometimes you have to rub pretty hard to get the smoke off... not a mark so far....

Mark

[Steven Wilson]

I usually purchase lense tissue and cotton swabs (video editing and audio recording) from Markertek Video Supply