How about using foam swabs for lens cleaning?

How about using foam swabs for lens cleaning?

I know that cotton swabs can be used, but it seems to me that the foam
swabs are lint-free,where the cotton swabs might not be...
And I goofed on eBay, now instead of the 2 AE1s I planned to have, I
have 3, one of which is an AE1 program, and the manual for it arrived
today. So now I have 4 cameras (including the D70), 3 camera bags, 5
lenses (4 of 'em Canon), 2 flash attachments, and 3 bags,and some
accessories. All ready to go on a photo shoot, all I need is the TIME
for it.
Can't wait to get my motorcycle endorsement, I can go ride up route
11 north of Burlington WA and ride the twisties and take pictures of
the woods and the water and the winding roadway, that particular
stretch of highway is often used in TV ads for cars. Should be able to
get some SWEET pix of the wildlife up there with the 200mm.
Cindy

Re: How about using foam swabs for lens cleaning?


"CanonAE14fun" <GOLLEEE@gmail,com > wrote in message
news:ac80f77a-e367-4b26-a416-4fe33d297ee3@w1g2000prd.googlegroups,com ...
>I know that cotton swabs can be used, but it seems to me that the foam
> swabs are lint-free,where the cotton swabs might not be...

Some foam swabs may react with cleaning products, creating a gummy mess--
try it on a window glass first.

Foam swabs would hold the cleaning chemical in their 'cells', cotton swabs
will 'wick' the cleaning chemical away from the point of contact.

Personnally, I would use cotton swabs mainly because they are readily
available and foam swabs not so much. If you have a source for them, try it
out.

Re: How about using foam swabs for lens cleaning?

"CanonAE14fun" <GOLLEEE@gmail,com > wrote
> I know that cotton swabs can be used, but it seems to me that the foam
> swabs are lint-free,where the cotton swabs might not be...

I have to confess I have never cleaned a lens with a foam swab.

But then I have never had problem with lint from cotton swabs. There
is the occasional long cotton fibre left behind but it is easily
swabbed back up by the self-same swab.

Clean room swabs are made from urethane foam, which is wettable,
so they do absorb moisture. Urethane is what is used in rotted
light seals, gooey mirror bumpers, falling-apart hi-fi loud
speakers and it produces formaldehyde when used for insulation.
I stay as far away from it as possible on religious grounds:
I don't care what anyone says, I won't use it and I certainly
will never design it into a product.

I suppose if the swab were cellulose, like a kitchen sponge, and
if it were well wetted and wrung it out it would work.

But Q-Tips are cheaper, easier to purchase and you can always
find some around the house.

For cleaning fluid I use Windex. It takes the dirt off quickly with
a minimum of scrubbing. It is scrubbing that damages lenses, not
the cleaning fluid.

--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Darkroom Automation: F-Stop Timers, Enlarging Meters
http :// www .darkroomautomation,com /index2.htm
n o lindan at ix dot netcom dot com

Re: How about using foam swabs for lens cleaning?

Nicholas O. Lindan wrote:


> For cleaning fluid I use Windex. It takes the dirt off quickly with
> a minimum of scrubbing. It is scrubbing that damages lenses, not
> the cleaning fluid.
>

I presume Windex is different to Windowlene that is sold in the UK?

--
http :// www .petezilla.co.uk

Re: How about using foam swabs for lens cleaning?


"Peter Chant" <REMpeteOVE@CAPpetezilla,it ALSco.uk> wrote in message
news:7ogid5xpfa.ln2@phoenix.fire...
> Nicholas O. Lindan wrote:
>
>
>> For cleaning fluid I use Windex. It takes the dirt off quickly with
>> a minimum of scrubbing. It is scrubbing that damages lenses, not
>> the cleaning fluid.
>>
>
> I presume Windex is different to Windowlene that is sold in the UK?
>
Here it is mostly ammonia and water.

Re: How about using foam swabs for lens cleaning?


"Ken Hart" <kwhart1@verizon,net > wrote in message
news:MWpNj.3040$ob2.1612@trndny07...
>
> "CanonAE14fun" <GOLLEEE@gmail,com > wrote in message
> news:ac80f77a-e367-4b26-a416-4fe33d297ee3@w1g2000prd.googlegroups,com ...
>>I know that cotton swabs can be used, but it seems to me that the foam
>> swabs are lint-free,where the cotton swabs might not be...
>
> Some foam swabs may react with cleaning products, creating a gummy mess--
> try it on a window glass first.

An excellent idea.....This is how I learned not to use a sand blaster on my
lenses........