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Topic: Port glass and lens cleaning

David Stambaugh
Film God

Posts: 4021
From: Eugene, Oregon
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 06-14-2002 07:57 PM

Someone else may have already mentioned this (I'm too lazy to review the entire thread). But light scratches on plexiglas or Lexan can be virtually eliminated with Novus #2 Plastic Polish. Novus #3 is more abrasive, be careful with it. Novus #1 is a plastic cleaner & protector that gives a nice sheen, but it might not work well for port "glass" due to streaking. Not sure about that one.

HOWEVER, Novus #2 is mildly abrasive, so if there's any special coating on the "glass" it will probably not be good for it. As long as it's uncoated though, it would be worth a try for removing scratches.

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Manny Knowles
"What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???"

Posts: 4247
From: Bloomington, IN, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 06-14-2002 08:09 PM

Nobody has mentioned XeKleen II for glass windows and lenses yet, so I might as well add it to the list of products here. It's not my favorite product, but it's out there and it's readily available.

Interesting: XeKleen II says it can be used on lenses.

Nobody's mentioned their method(s) of cleaning a lens yet....

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Nic Margherio
Film Handler

Posts: 91
From: St. Louis MO, USA
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 06-15-2002 12:23 PM

Refering to Manny's earlier question about "Liberty Mirror" optical cleaner...it is called B-321 and it does work wonders on port glass. It is readily available through NCS. It is also quite good for reflector cleaning. There is a bit of a learing curve to use it and in the wrong hands it will do more harm than good, but I have yet to find a better product for cleaning port glass. As with any cleaning method, it is helpful to run the projector with raw light to see exactly the kind of results your are getting.

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Manny Knowles
"What are these things and WHY are they BLUE???"

Posts: 4247
From: Bloomington, IN, USA
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 06-16-2002 11:56 AM

I have this sliding glass door that got really filthy and Windex was leaving streaks all over the place.

I decided to experiment with garden-variety Comet from the grocery store and I'll just say now that the glass is so clear that I'm going to have to put little stickers on it to spare my nieces/nephews from running into it.

Comet was mentioned earlier because it contains the same ingredient as Bon Ami. The concern is that it also contains a bleaching agent.

I started with a weak solution of Comet-to-water to get the initial layers of grunge off; for stubborn areas I dipped the damp cloth into a dish with a heavily concentrated paste of Comet/Water.

A lot of elbow-grease later, the glass is perfectly clear.

Note: This is just feedback and a general FYI. I'm NOT saying to go ahead and try this on a booth window if it's coated or optically pure or what-have-you.

It certainly did not scratch, fog or haze the glass like I thought it might.

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 06-17-2002 12:24 PM

Again, be VERY careful about using ANY abrasive cleaner (no matter how "mild") on fragile dichroic or optical coatings.

Companies like Edmund Industrial Optics sell cleaning supplies specifically designed for optical components:
http://www.edmundoptics.com/IOD/Browse.cfm?catid=250

Here is their information about cleaning optics:
http://www.edmundoptics.com/TechSupport/DisplayArticle.cfm?articleid=278
http://www.edmundoptics.com/TechSupport/DisplayArticle.cfm?articleid=265

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

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David Stambaugh
Film God

Posts: 4021
From: Eugene, Oregon
Registered: Jan 2002

posted 06-17-2002 07:40 PM

Novus #2 plastic polish is a wonderful product, but as John said, you definitely don't want to use anything abrasive on coated optics.

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Jan Hackett
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 148
From: Albuquerque, NM, USA
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 06-17-2002 07:59 PM

Lot of good ideas here. On optical port glass I use lens cleaner and lens tissue. On regular glass I use downy dryer cloths dry and let them take the dust off. They remove surface dust instantly as they attract the static property of dirt. I wash once a month with a squeegee and one drop of dish detergent in a bucket of water. Same as my reflector. I have no streaking. I wait till glass is cool until I clean it.

------------------
Jan Hackett
Theater Operations Manager
Extreme Screen Dynatheater
NM Museum of Natural History Foundation

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Rick Long
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 759
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 06-17-2002 08:57 PM

Just a reminder that the Bauch & Lomb "Balcold" reflectors had the dichoric coating on the rear of the reflector, while the Strong "Tuffcold" reflectors were front-surface coated. We were warned about this at the time.

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Scott Norwood
Film God

Posts: 8146
From: Boston, MA. USA (1774.21 miles northeast of Dallas)
Registered: Jun 99

posted 06-17-2002 09:21 PM

Does anyone really use abrasives to clean lenses? That seems like it would destroy any coating on the glass. I've never had a problem with lens paper and Kodak or Rosco lens cleaning fluid, used as infrequently as possible.

What about coated optical port glass? I've never worked anywhere that could afford it, but I can't imagine that Windex would be the appropriate means of cleaning it.

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Jan Hackett
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 148
From: Albuquerque, NM, USA
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 06-17-2002 09:27 PM

Windex will destroy optical port glass ...thats a no-no.

------------------
Jan Hackett
Theater Operations Manager
Extreme Screen Dynatheater
NM Museum of Natural History Foundation

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Adam Martin
I'm not even gonna point out the irony.

Posts: 3686
From: Dallas, TX
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 06-17-2002 09:48 PM

On my optical ports I use Rosco lens cleaner and KimWipes EX-L Delicate Task Wipes, as Scott said, "as infrequently as possible".

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Rick Long
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 759
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 06-17-2002 10:45 PM

I was also warned never to use Windex on automobile glass. Apparently, over time, the ammonia in it reacts with the safety glass to produce a haze. The best stuff is available from the automotive dealership, and considering how long a can of the stuff lasts, is not that much more expensive.

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 06-17-2002 10:46 PM

Imax still recomends windex on the FF lens or rainaway
I use a antistatic cleaner Clear glass

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Ken Lackner
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1907
From: Atlanta, GA, USA
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 06-17-2002 11:02 PM

Our instillation tech said that we could use regular Windex. NOT industrial strength, and if the theater has generic "glass cleaner," he said not to use it because we don't know what's in it.

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William Hooper
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1879
From: Mobile, AL USA
Registered: Jun 99

posted 06-19-2002 06:32 AM

Josh asked:

quote:
What do you use to clean plexiglass ports?

Are these in your home setup?
You might try replacing them with optical glass.

With the millions of dead photocopiers & scanners stuffed in all corners of our world now, you should be able to find a good, inexpensive piece without spending too much time looking.

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