Esprit 120 issue

[Astroscot2]

I'm in total disbelief at what looks to be a mould issue on my esprit 120,  I took it off the mount last summer and packed if in its case with dessicant bags, today while fitting a auto focuser I took a peek at the lens and was shocked to see the image below.  Is this a loss or could it be sent for cleaning? Help...

 

Mark

[Stuart1971]

Oh dear, is that inbetween the glass or on the back inside, if it’s on the back surface then you could clean with a long bud and some Baader wonder fluid from down the focuser tube…

I had to clean some off my primary mirror on my 8’ SCT last year…not an easy task….😮

[Astroscot2]

Hello Stuart, difficult to say where it resides on the lens, I'm reluctant to attempt to clean it from the focuser end, I wonder if Es Reid could sort this out?

Edited January 30, 2022 by Astroscot2

[Stuart1971]

42 minutes ago, Astroscot2 said:

Hello Stuart, difficult to say where it resides on the lens, I'm reluctant to attempt to clean it from the focuser end, I wonder if Es Reid could sort this out?

It looks like it’s come from the front and got under the retaining ring, which can happen if the scope is stored upright after having dew on the optics, but that is not how you stored it so, it’s a strange one….🤔🤔

[Jonny_H]

Hmm....difficult one. You could give it a blast with some UV light to try to stop it progressing and then drop Es Reid an email to see if it is something he could address.

This is the reason why I generally just leave my scopes 'out' in the house. Only downside to that is dust tends to gather if not used for a while.....but even worse than that is Mrs Jonny_H nagging me that it all takes up too much room

[Astroscot2]

The scope was stored indoors with bags of dessicant, this is why I'm so shocked. Does Es have a web site with his services, can't see anything online?

Edited January 30, 2022 by Astroscot2

[Stuart1971]

16 minutes ago, Astroscot2 said:

The scope was stored indoors with bags of dessicant, this is why I'm so shocked. Does Es have a web site with his services, can't see anything on?

Desiccant in the case with the scope is one thing, but I fit a 2” desiccant holder in the eyepiece holder while not in use, so it drys out the air inside the scope, this seems to work, then it’s on the mount in my obsy all winter, but kept below 65% humidity 

[Astroscot2]

Had another look ,  it is between the lenses.

[Stuart1971]

3 minutes ago, Astroscot2 said:

Had another look ,  it is between the lenses.

So probably dew that has seeped in over time…and pretty hard to sort yourself….☹️

Edited January 30, 2022 by Stuart1971

[Doc]

Is the scope stored in an observatory or shed when not in use? I have one of the early Esprit 120's but mine is kept indoors and so far I haven't seen no issues with mold.

[rnobleeddy]

I had an Espirit 100 that had almost the same pattern of mold.  I bought it like that for a reduced price. UV light was applied a few times and it didn't get noticeably worse during the time I had it. 

I recently sold it, and the buyer was confident it could be cleaned with the right expertise. 

So all is not lost! At the very least, apply UV, see if it affects your images, and don't panic.

[Astroscot2]

15 minutes ago, Doc said:

Is the scope stored in an observatory or shed when not in use? I have one of the early Esprit 120's but mine is kept indoors and so far I haven't seen no issues with mold.

Hello, yes stored in doors, I took it out of the observatory last May,  my plans were to fit an autofocuser and back on the mount last Aug,.  But I was enjoying using my other scope, Even when the scope was in the Observatory I use a dehumidifier frequently and dew heaters so the lens never got wet,  I've owned other refractors  and never had this issue.

Edited January 30, 2022 by Astroscot2

[Astroscot2]

12 minutes ago, rnobleeddy said:

I had an Espirit 100 that had almost the same pattern of mold.  I bought it like that for a reduced price. UV light was applied a few times and it didn't get noticeably worse during the time I had it. 

I recently sold it, and the buyer was confident it could be cleaned with the right expertise. 

So all is not lost! At the very least, apply UV, see if it affects your images, and don't panic.

Did the buyer say who he would use to clean the lens? Its a great scope and don't want to lose the use of it.

Edited January 30, 2022 by Astroscot2

[rnobleeddy]

2 hours ago, Astroscot2 said:

Did the buyer say who he would use to clean the lens? Its a great scope and don't want to lose the use of it.

Afraid not. I do know that RVO offer this service, but I was a bit too far from them to have them take a look.

[Robindonne]

This is one of our nightmare surprises when opening the case.   For everyone, buy 200 of these desiccant sachets for 1 or 2 bucks from china and throw then in every corner of your case. Order with them 20 of those empty film canisters.  It was a tip from this forum.  Drill some holes in the bottom of that canister and place it (filled with desiccant) in the focuser/eyepiece holder.  
 

For a total of $5,- you can keep 20 scopes and all other accessories as dry as possible

[newbie alert]

There's a person/company in France that as I understand it specialise in esprit scopes, clean and readjust them optically so they perform better than they did new from the factory..

Might be worth a search

[Stuart1971]

Anybody know of a cheap UV light for killing this sort of mould, it’s worth having one in case this ever happens to any of my scopes….I guess a blast with it every now and then will not hurt and could stop it in its tracks if there is any sign…??

Rather than pointing at the sun..😉

[ollypenrice]

I hope you get it sorted and I'm sure an optical engineer could do so.  It's interesting that oil-spaced lenses are often regarded with suspicion but there are three here living permanently in observatories and none has had any problem, perhaps because the lens elements are necessarily sealed?

Olly

[Astroscot2]

9 hours ago, Stuart1971 said:

Anybody know of a cheap UV light for killing this sort of mould, it’s worth having one in case this ever happens to any of my scopes….I guess a blast with it every now and then will not hurt and could stop it in its tracks if there is any sign…??

Rather than pointing at the sun..😉

I may need to, living in Scotland I won't see the sun till May.

[Astroscot2]

2 hours ago, ollypenrice said:

I hope you get it sorted and I'm sure an optical engineer could do so.  It's interesting that oil-spaced lenses are often regarded with suspicion but there are three here living permanently in observatories and none has had any problem, perhaps because the lens elements are necessarily sealed?

Olly

I wonder if I've just been really unlucky in this instance, never had an issue with mold on any kit. Owned an FSQ which lived in the Observatory for years with no issues.  

Edited January 31, 2022 by Astroscot2

[UKDiver]

Plenty of desiccant sachets around ATM, one with each Covid LFT. I've been collecting them...

If the environment is often damp, the desiccant will need replacing or drying out more often and it is not easy to tell if it is active either.

 

[dweller25]

@Astroscot2
 

Try to stop extra growth by pointing the objective behind the Sun on a clear day.

It will be worth contacting FLO who may put you in contact with Es Reid - he can definitely remove the mould but bear in mind that a subtle shadow mark may always remain.

[JOC]

FWIW I was having problems with plenty of mould growing on a white painted board ceiling that I'd installed in woodlined, but otherwise unheated gym in an external shed - an environment that I should imagine is very similar to an outdoor observatory.  It's cold, but I can shut the doors and it's reasonably draft proof once they are shut.  I purchased a product like this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283765025309?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item4211b6aa1d:g:M5cAAOSwQlZeNDb9&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACoPYe5NmHp%2B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsSwcmzw5CLtzTE60FqHcnq2JTNgftGbT4p%2Bi%2BtPChYH0ec9oukp%2FwqtIt4GuoFwVl9ED9PbQad8pL9eohI1RbXDnQyqeIUC3ycDxa92eiecDJ6TFJoHhvAJljGaistJB4wv%2BKAk%2BeqYYnFvzgxu0xoCbEfeXlSCFgWKVQgVIMxtDkyVuvUxBKACMo9sH%2Fhh4tSWtiXFCn%2BoQUPE8HXs9GU04jFuIDZGi80Rr11jCzJdl5zXYaeHr6LMZ%2FERTRKljqBZUo01BGS%2FwXfZyoOfeguyPoqCMrbGOGXiredG6uNK92mVrbe4dLMoHQz%2BKlxY3%2B%2B2o2LVja3uR0gIaPfwlIdNc9D9ppvINsBJ37PMVp6c%2FvE0qXlitZqkyRMyajk85fRpxC3H1BaxDkDGeVaZwq31losOmjjO%2FuP4M%2FNJW0FBTxnrVQ5cWt2mHmH5To%2BBCn%2B2I8%2BTDPWL6auCahiPaBp8IgPEKBUFDlX8PunmC6ciCUHkxQB9LTsWyPzwBwnlJ5sQgNTw6Lh1F7x9BWJe5dK6zzHbOy1m8gf5SVODfOFcFLesHzeIK2Y2NvysF2QFFypILTlBcU1M4%2B0%2FPMb8dnF19i5cvmFk4lDM%2FqZAeT9K58YsTEwIQ8wkmPV1JjG%2BoqOVyW326nLZ2N3cruphJXYCVG3RSgbSi4Qc2iEYEE4WEwP40LP5PaSs7xjm30BWsglbg6iybqyq4xbnu%2FxCb8pG1c0%2F%2FZ7zeI9PMxhqwymAl%2B5JokQF96lGvhcKoqS79IruDD65xOQ6yNeXWOojSWjdY4rHurtyg0RuKJijKfSt%2FpUx90RBmwnJbpkc9iJHPqwpolBY4QoHoMr1KA1JadzFw%3D%3D|clp%3A2334524|tkp%3ABFBMtNjL9tVf

Sorry for long link - that's how it fell out of ebay!  I know you can do link shortening, but sometimes people don't like clicking tinyurl links.

With some scepticism, but for a quid a pop they were worth trying.  You pull off the plastic coating and the silver layer under the lid and it leaves a white fibre coating over the granules and then you pop the lid with the plastic holes back on.  I just sit one on the floor.  Initially I thought they weren't doing anything, but after a couple of weeks there starts to get water in the base and the chemical gradually disappears over time and the base fills with 500ml of water.  Unfortunately they are disposable (I'm on the look out for a re-chargeable one that all I need to buy is the chemical to refill it) which isn't very 'green', but I have been a) impressed with the fact that they work at all in terms of catching the water, but they do and I am now on my 4th one, and b) that I no longer have a problem with the mould growing on the ceiling.  I just keep a supply in the gym and open a new one with the old one is nearly full.  I think they might worth well in otherwise damp observatories.

[adyj1]

7 minutes ago, JOC said:

Sorry for long link - that's how it fell out of ebay!  I know you can do link shortening, but sometimes people don't like clicking tinyurl links.

Just as an FYI, you can normally delete everything after (and including) the first question mark - so for your link to the humidity traps, the following link works: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/283765025309 

[F15Rules]

Es Reid can sort this out for you. He cleaned my FS128 fluorite doublet which had some mould spores on it, caused I believe when I stupidly put back the well sealed dew cap one dewy  evening without letting the lenses dry naturally first.

I did expose the lens to bright spring sunlight to stop it getting any worse, and Es did a wonderful job of cleaning it properly...and crucially ensuring it was perfectly re-collimated afterwards!

Your biggest headache will be getting the lens to him from Scotland (he's in Cambridgeshire).

The safest way if you cant take it physically would be to send him the whole objective cell (not the tube ), packed to within an inch of it's life, with a specialist glass carrier with insurance.

Don't worry, it CAN be sorted👍

Dave

Edited January 31, 2022 by F15Rules