Lens pens how long before replacing

[djpaul]

I've had my lens pen for cleaning my eyepieces for 3 years.

Is it time to replace it?

[Alien 13]

No idea but would like to know, I have a couple that gets used on camera/scope lenses and even the sensor, never had an issue and would never use that horrible fluid stuff even if people think its wonderful...

Alan

[Ruud]

Sure.

You have a lot of TeleVue eyepieces. Why not use the cleaning method they recommend? 

See here: http://www.televue.com/engine/TV3b_page.asp?id=103

[Space Hopper]

Possibly.

The brush may be getting dirty, and the felt bit on the other end tends to dry out.

I only sparingly use the brush for carefully removing dust, dirt etc,

and if i really need to clean the glass in the eyepieces, i prefer Baader Optical Wonder.

 

I remember once, at an open evening a lady left mascara remnants all over my 24Panoptics,

but the Baader Wonder shifted it no problem. 

I've never used it on a refractor objective / Dob mirror though.

[johninderby]

Most camera forums recommend replaceing them after being used 30 to 40 times so it’s more of a case of breaking down as they wear out rather than getting old.

[djpaul]

It maybe time to replace it after 3 years then. 

I will get a new one.

Paul 

[Don Pensack]

On 15/10/2018 at 15:28, djpaul said:

I've had my lens pen for cleaning my eyepieces for 3 years.

Is it time to replace it?

a lens pen is only clean once.  Thereafter, it is smearing the oils and grease from the previous eyepiece on the new one.

a lens pen contains a powder in the reservoir for the rubber end that is supposed to "burnish" the surface of the lens.  You can see the residue on the lens with a loupe.

If those two things don't discourage you from ever using a lens pen again, I don't know what will.

Use fresh, clean, cotton Q-Tips and a lens cleaner like ROR or isopropyl alcohol, or a fresh, clean, soft, microfiber cloth and some lens cleaner,

or Kimwipes, but please, do not use a lens pen on any eyepiece you value.

 

[Charic]

I  buy and use  boxes of Zeiss's  24  lens wipes. Their single use wipes, if I need to clean my optics.
For the very same reason Don mentions, its a single use item, therefore I can't ( shouldn't )contaminate between lenses/eyepieces.