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Cleaning a webcam lense


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Hello

I have a xbox 360 modded webcam. A long time ago it had a small bit of dirt wrecking my jupiter captures. So I read somewhere that using a cotton bud lightly could get rid of it.... So I done that. It worked once, but then I tried it again a little later and it completely messed up my lens. I have little tiny pieces of cotton all over the lens. This makes imaging with it impossible!

Does anyone know how I could clean it as the lense is very small, I can no way fit my finger in.

Would taking it to a camera shop be any use?

Also quick question on the mak alignment. I know they do not need to be collimated very often if atall, but I think mine may need it done. Is there anyone local that could offer me any help with this?

I am not keen on trying it on my own.

I didn't open a new thread for this as I would just like a quick simple answer from someone, without upsetting some members with another collimation thread!

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For dust that won't shift with a rocket blower I use Baader's cleaning fluid (available from FLO) and a microfibre cloth wrapped over the end of something like a cotton bud.

It can take an age to get something really spotlessly clean, repeatedly checking by plugging the camera into the laptop and checking it, so once it is clean I try to make sure the sensor never gets fresh air ever again, usually by fitting an IR filter to the nosepiece.

James

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Do you think a camera shop may be able to offer me use of a rocket blower maybe? Or would that be too much of trying to get something for nothing?
I mean if I brought some fluid similar to baader from them if it didn't work, that wouldn't be asking too much would it?

The IR Filter is the part you take out of the webcam? I have heard of people imaging with the ir filter attached to sharpen up the image. I could be wrong though?

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there was an article in Astronomy Now many months ago were a liquid peel masking fluid was used ... they use it for cleaning laser lens ... paint it on allow it to dry then peel off all the contaminates ... might be worth chasing down.

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Rocket blowers are pretty cheap if you find one on ebay or the like.  Probably less than £10 and worth having.

I've always removed the supplied IR filter from webcams I've used for imaging.  I replace it with a proper astro filter fitted to the nosepiece.

We had a discussion about the Baader cleaning fluid a while back.  You should be able to find it with a search.  I think it's mostly isopropanol and water.  You can get isopropanol fairly cheaply too, so you could probably mix your own for not very much.

My views on what's cost-effective though are coloured by the fact that for me it's a 20 mile round trip to the nearest town likely to have this sort of stuff, plus parking etc.  That covers a fair bit of postage :)

James

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Oh okay, I will search for it. The infomation you have given me is very good though.

I aim on cleaning it very soon so i can attempt to image Uranus and Neptune.

You must of imaged Neptune and Uranus before with the 127 Mak james?
If so, could you pm me some photos or something please ? :)
I am aiming to try Neptune tomorrow manually, maybe Uranus too if I can find it.

That paint that you can peel off sounds very good! But it is probably very expensive

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For those in the dark about iso-Propanol, this is iso-Propyl Alcohol that is commonly found at markets and chemists. I suggest the 91% one, just don't smoke near it as it's highly flammable. I also suggest a LensPen - these neat little devices have a soft brush on one end, and a charcoal-pad on the other that removes dirt & grease. They come in regular and micro sizes. Follow the instructions.

Clear & Clean Skies,

Dave

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