MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

I buy these 100% cotton makeup pads at Wally World for $1.98/per 100 and cannot recommend them enough. Soak them in a little ethyl ether or lens cleaning solution and you've got the perfect lens wipe. Soak them in WD-40 and you've got the perfect non-abrasive little rag for removing anything organic from the finish of any vintage microscope. Apply with a soaked pad and buff out with a dry one... incredible cleaning capability!

I HIGHLY recommend these little miracle workers to any collector!!!

Thank you for the recommendation, so far I've been using medical grade cotton balls , the problem is that fibers tend to come loose at times but this is for the condenser and eyepices, for objectives I use sterile cotton swabs and lens paper they really help in those hard to reach places.. definitely giving those a try when the cotton balls run out.

Yes, thanks a lot for that suggestion. I tend to reach for something convenient and close, which is KimWipes, but that is an expensive habit.

I love tips like this one, thanks for posting!

At the risk of sounding persnickety, however, WallyWorld is a colossal store that I seldom have reason to go to; so any hints as to what department these pads may be found in would be most appreciated.

Kurt, I did a little "research", which means "Googling" at it appears that these little round make-up pads are an ubiquitous product, and are available at, for example, CVS rebranded a little. (This is all new to me, having never put on makeup. . .)

My favorite, Always used them

Kim wipes are 3.49 for a box of 280 from Staples.com

https://www.staples.com/kimtech+wipes/d ... %2520wipes

Gerard

quantum wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 18, 2021 3:21 am

Kurt, I did a little "research", which means "Googling" at it appears that these little round make-up pads are an ubiquitous product, and are available at, for example, CVS rebranded a little. (This is all new to me, having never put on makeup. . .)

Launching my own line of investigation I have made similar discoveries, and concur with your findings. I have never had need for cosmetics either, as my own natural beauty simply cannot be improved upon.

I'm glad this has been well received! I will have to concur with Gerard that I do love Kimwipes for this same purpose. When I worked for Carolina Biological, Kimwipes was our go-to cleaner in conjunction with petroleum ether used as both a degreaser and lens cleaner. The nice thing about Kimwipes is that they are lint free. When I have to do hospital maintenance work, I'm usually allowed workspace in the main laboratory that usually also involves unlimited access to Kimwipes! They're GOOD!!

I've just been using what I already had and use from my photography gear that I use on optical elements and digital camera sensors, eclipse cleaning fluid (meant to be one of the most pure optical cleaners, or so they claim but most likely just a pure methanol at a guess) with Pec pads as I get a better result with them than Kimwipes when cleaning camera sensors. I will say I'd never admitted it before but I also use pure organic cotton swabs as well that are really designed for makeup removal, lol had no idea so many others did too.

I don't often see lint left behind but if ever I do I just remove with a puffer and/or CCD/CMOS sensor brush

A note for those in the U.K.

HomeBargains stores are selling a pack of 200 ‘Cotton Soft’ pads for 99p

MichaelG.
.

https://storelocator.homebargains.co.uk/