Bintel UHTC Cleaning Solution
Our cleaning solution is the same solution as used in most optical labs worldwide. It is made using 99.7% Technical grade Isopropyl Alcohol, Blue Windex, Reverse Osmosis Water and Kodak Photoflow 200 (a wetting agent).
It is safe to use on coated optics including Corrector Plates, Objective lenses, Eyepieces, Binoculars, Filters, Camera Lenses and even your Spectacles
Method for cleaning Schmidt-Cassegrain Corrector Plates*
You should never attempt to remove the corrector plate. Cleaning of the Primary and Secondary mirrors can only be done in a workshop by trained technicians. Condensation in city areas will contain contaminates that can leave marks or spots on the corrector plate. Whilst they shouldn’t hurt the optics, it is nice for them to not be there. When telescopes are used away from the city, dust can be a problem. If the area you are in is dusty keep your covers on as long as possible. However, dust and marks on correctors are always going to happen. It is inevitable that fingerprints will somehow find there way onto your corrector plate. Fingerprints will damage the coatings and should be removed at first available opportunity.
- Be sure you hands are clean.
- First give the optical surface a good dusting with a hurricane blower or compressed air. This will remove any solid particles from the surface and prepare it for the next step.
- A fine hair brush can be used for getting into hard to reach places. This should be followed with another dusting with the hurricane blower.
- Take a sheet of soft, unscented tissue and lightly wet with a few drops of UHTC solution, best dispensed from a spray bottle.
- TAKE CARE NOT TO SATURATE THE TISSUE WITH LIQUID.
- Crumple the tissue up and WITHOUT APPLYING ANY PRESSURE wipe across the surface of the corrector plate.
- Discard the tissue and repeat this process until the whole of the corrector plate has been wiped clean.
- Crumple a dry soft, unscented tissue and gently wipe dry making sure not to use any pressure on the corrector plate.
- Your corrector plate will now be clean and ready for use again.
Instructions for Cleaning Coated Optics
*Bintel takes no responsibility for accidental damage to optics whilst employing the above method. If the steps are followed correctly, it is unlikely that you should have any issues.