BluTack sounds like the handiest thing since Sliced Bread and Duct Tape! ;-) http://www.glubie.com/01_Pages/Blu-Tack.htm
Don > -----Original Message----- > From: Don Williams [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, October 28, 2005 12:13 AM > To: pentax-discuss@pdml.net > Subject: Re: Cleaning Sensors > > > Although the *ist D is the first > 'undedicated' digital camera I have it > is not the first digital device with CCD > sensors, or the first fussy optical > device I've needed to clean. The work I > do is fussy and dust blobs not only mess > up the interpretation of > photomicrographs they are terribly > annoying as well. > > I've tried all kind of cleaning methods. > Methanol on Ross tissue. Brushes cleaned > and prepared in different ways. Now I > use 'Blue Tack'. Not only on sensors, > but on microscope objectives, camera > lenses, eyepieces and other optical > components. Although Blue Tack *must* > leave something behind after it is > peeled off, this trace amount of > plasticizer, or solvent, or whatever, is > invisible, undetectable and does not > effect the optical properties in any > way. In my laboratory, in days of yore, > we used collodion. A solution (in > chloroform) was poured over the surface > of the (very expensive) lens or flat and > when it had dried was peeled off leaving > a pristine surface. There are very > expensive lens cleaning solutions > available now that are used the same > way. However, I clean microscope > objectives that cost thousands of > dollars with blue tack without the > slightest qualm. > > Cut a piece a little larger than the > sensor, press it firmly to the surface > making sure it makes contact everywhere. > Then get hold of one end (I use forceps) > and peel it off. The surface of the > window will be as clean as you'll ever > get it considering where it is inside > the camera. I use the stuff over and > over again keeping it in a dust free > flat screw top container. I cleaned a > lens five inches in diameter the other > day. For economical reasons did it in > sections. I used a piece of blue tack > about an inch square and moved it about. > To clean a very tiny lens -- 2mm or less > in diameter (the end of a microscope > objective) I make a sharp point and > press in firmly again the mount > including the metal. > > If this worries you, or if the 'blue > tack' you have is suspect, get hold of a > dusty lens that doesn't matter too much > and try it. Do it a dozen times with the > same piece of 'tack' and you'll see how > effective this method can be. You can > find Blue Tack at Glubie Glue in Indiana > -- I think. > > Don > > P. J. Alling wrote: > > As long as you don't have any particularly recalcitrant dust it should > > be sufficient. > > > > Shel Belinkoff wrote: > > > >> Time to clean the sensor in the DS ... locked up the mirror and saw the > >> sensor thingy. It looks like there's a plastic layer over the actual > >> pixel > >> things. Correct? Is that particularly delicate or is it for > protection, > >> and, therefore, of a durable nature? > >> > >> I was thinking of using a blower brush with the brush bristles > >> removed. Is > >> that OK? Any other suggestions? > >> > >> > >> Shel > >> > >> > >> > > > > > > -- > Dr E D F Williams > _______________________________ > http://personal.inet.fi/cool/don.williams > See feature: The Cement Company from Hell > Updated: Photomicro Link -- 18 05 2005 >
