Anyone clean their own DSLR sensor?

[9V-Orion Images]

Our girls and guys over at the Advanced Development and Special Projects Division (AD SPD), Research and Development (R&D) department uses the following as per Manufacturer's Maintenance Manual (MMM) and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for cleaning multimillion dollar, ultra sensitive Electro-Optics (EO) package with a 70mm CCD / CMOS sensor array (nine to ten times larger than conventional 35mm full-frame sensor) used in airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) platforms classified "Above Top Secret (ATS)" and codenamed "Extreme Oh Oh Char Kway Teow (EO2 CKT)" and "Kopi Gao Gao Gao (KG3)". :bsmilie:

Purified deionised (DI (electrical conductivity < 11 µS/cm)) and distilled (DT) water conforming to ISO 3696.

According to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for Photographic Solutions' (Photosol) Eclipse bottled optical cleaning fluid / solution, it is simply Methyl Alcohol (Methanol). We got Methyl Alcohol (Methanol) from ExxonMobil Chemical or Royal Dutch Shell Chemicals at ~ 99.99% purity for ~ S$20.00 to S$30.00 (5 litters) though I may suggest a change to ~ 99.99% Ethanol or Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) as it is less toxic as compared to Methyl Alcohol (Methanol) when I further refine my plans for continued Risk Management and Mitigation. Antistatic (Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Safe) and lint-free Kimberly-Clark Kimtech Scientific Precision tissue wipes for at most only a few dollars per box with 280 tissue wipes (safety lockout pad not included).

We also air clean prior and after with ~ 100 PSI of compressed High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) with no more than 0.03 particles greater than 0.3 micrometre (µm) conforming to ISO 14644-1, of course one doesn&#8217;t have to use HEPA, purified deionised (DI), distilled (DT) water for consumer electronics. My point is some affordable ~ 99.99% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) or Methyl Alcohol (Methanol) that can last a lifetime along with boxes of Antistatic (Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Safe) and lint-free tissue wipes is enough. Don't have to go for all those fancy and overpriced gimmicks that are simply repackaged products (Eclipse , Pec*Pads, SensorKlear etc. etc.).

 

[Struxure]

Our girls and guys over at the Advanced Development and Special Projects Division (AD SPD), Research and Development (R&D) department uses the following as per Manufacturer's Maintenance Manual (MMM) and Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for cleaning multimillion dollar, ultra sensitive Electro-Optics (EO) package with a 70mm CCD / CMOS sensor array (nine to ten times larger than conventional 35mm full-frame sensor) used in airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) platforms classified "Above Top Secret (ATS)" and codenamed "Extreme Oh Oh Char Kway Teow (EO2 CKT)" and "Kopi Gao Gao Gao (KG3)". :bsmilie:

Purified deionised (DI (electrical conductivity < 11 µS/cm)) and distilled (DT) water conforming to ISO 3696.

According to the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for Photographic Solutions' (Photosol) Eclipse bottled optical cleaning fluid / solution, it is simply Methyl Alcohol (Methanol). We got Methyl Alcohol (Methanol) from ExxonMobil Chemical or Royal Dutch Shell Chemicals at ~ 99.99% purity for ~ S$20.00 to S$30.00 (5 litters) though I may suggest a change to ~ 99.99% Ethanol or Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) as it is less toxic as compared to Methyl Alcohol (Methanol) when I further refine my plans for continued Risk Management and Mitigation. Antistatic (Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Safe) and lint-free Kimberly-Clark Kimtech Scientific Precision tissue wipes for at most only a few dollars per box with 280 tissue wipes (safety lockout pad not included).

We also air clean prior and after with ~ 100 PSI of compressed High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) with no more than 0.03 particles greater than 0.3 micrometre (µm) conforming to ISO 14644-1, of course one doesn&rsquo;t have to use HEPA, purified deionised (DI), distilled (DT) water for consumer electronics. My point is some affordable ~ 99.99% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) or Methyl Alcohol (Methanol) that can last a lifetime along with boxes of Antistatic (Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Safe) and lint-free tissue wipes is enough. Don't have to go for all those fancy and overpriced gimmicks that are simply repackaged products (Eclipse , Pec*Pads, SensorKlear etc. etc.).

You mean we can use 99.99% IPA directly to the sensor to clean?

 

[9V-Orion Images]

You mean we can use 99.99% IPA directly to the sensor to clean?

Of course, surely why not? 99.99% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) is even used as a solvent in both Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Biohazard Safety Level - 4 (BSL - 4) laboratory for cleansing Electron Microscope (EM) / Optical Microscope (OM) and in International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14644-1 semiconductor fabrication plant for cleansing silicon wafers.

For my very own method of sensor cleaning (to each his own), I personally...

• Air clean prior and after with several compressed puffs of filtered High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) with no more than 0.03 particles greater than 0.3 micrometre (µm) at ~ 100 PSI.

• Followed by dripping a drop or two of 99.99% Ethyl Alcohol (Ethanol), 99.99% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) or 99.99% Methyl Alcohol (Methanol), basically anyone of which that I can grab my hands on though I tend to avoid Methyl Alcohol (Methanol) that is also used in Photographic Solutions' (Photosol) Eclipse bottled optical cleaning fluid / solution due to its extreme toxicity (just several millilitres of it is enough to result in blindness and even death when ingested directly as they metabolise to formaldehyde and formic acid in our human body), on a piece of folded antistatic (Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Safe) and lint-free Kimberly-Clark Kimtech Scientific Delicate tissue wipes wrapped around the tip of a custom modified sensor swab reinforced with steel handle (don't believe the bullsh1t that sensor swab can be used only once, they can be washed and reused if one so desires).

• Swab back and forth twice or thrice. Generally there may be some streaking for all three forms of alcohol used depending on circumstances thus I either wait for some water condensation to form on the sensor as its surface temperature start dropping below dew point as a result of evaporative cooling or by dripping a drop of two of ISO 3696 purified deionised (DI) or distilled (DT) water on to the piece of folded antistatic (Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Safe) and lint-free Kimberly-Clark Kimtech Scientific Delicate tissue wipes before swapping back and forth again.

Like I said, one doesn’t have to use filtered HEPA, purified deionised (DI) or distilled (DT) water. It just so happens that I have access to them, Commercially available Off-The-Shelf (COTS) 99.99% alcohol for S$20.00 to S$30.00 (5 litters), Giotto Rocket air blower and optical tissue wipes for S$5.00 (280 wipes) is enough. No need throw your money for fancy and overpriced gimmicks that are simply repackaged that can be cleaned and reused.

 

[Struxure]

Thanks for your detail explanation.

 

[iamseanism]

But is Sensor Loupe essential? Do you'll use it?? Almost bought the $140 Visible Dust's Sensor Loupe from CP

 

[Rashkae]

But is Sensor Loupe essential? Do you'll use it?? Almost bought the $140 Visible Dust's Sensor Loupe from CP

I never use it

 

[CasualBear]

(Methanol), basically anyone of which that I can grab my hands on though I tend to avoid Methyl Alcohol (Methanol) that is also used in Photographic Solutions' (Photosol) Eclipse bottled optical cleaning fluid / solution due to its extreme toxicity (just several millilitres of it is enough to result in blindness and even death when ingested directly as they metabolise to formaldehyde and formic acid in our human body), on a piece of folded antistatic (Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Safe) and lint-free Kimberly-Clark Kimtech Scientific Delicate tissue wipes wrapped around the tip of a custom modified sensor swab reinforced with steel handle (don't believe the bullsh1t that sensor swab can be used only once, they can be washed and reused if one so desires).[/list]

Holy.. where do you even work?! pls be careful!! :bigeyes:
but thanks for the detailed write up. gotten camp here to see whether there are potential need to refer back to this thread for sensor cleaning.

 

[skyshot aerialgraphy]

Holy.. where do you even work?! pls be careful!! :bigeyes:
but thanks for the detailed write up. gotten camp here to see whether there are potential need to refer back to this thread for sensor cleaning.

Lol.. must be ASTAR or DSO..
How about using Lippo liquid fuel?

 

[kei1309]

i use bleach to ensure that my sensor is always clean. kills the bacteria

 

[qystan]

Methanol isn't that bad. I remember using it regularly in fuel mixtures during my aeromodelling days. Still alive despite the contact. Perhaps brain debilitated sufficiently to develop a photography liking.

Trick is don't try to drink it. It's not alcohol. 8 ounces is a lot to consume.

Here's a quote from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002680.htm

Methanol is extremely poisonous. As little as 2 tablespoons can be deadly to a child. About 2 to 8 ounces can be deadly for an adult. Blindness is common and often permanent despite medical care.

 

[skyshot aerialgraphy]

Methanol isn't that bad. I remember using it regularly in fuel mixtures during my aeromodelling days. Still alive despite the contact. Perhaps brain debilitated sufficiently to develop a photography liking.

Trick is don't try to drink it. It's not alcohol. 8 ounces is a lot to consume.

Here's a quote from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002680.htm

Methanol is extremely poisonous. As little as 2 tablespoons can be deadly to a child. About 2 to 8 ounces can be deadly for an adult. Blindness is common and often permanent despite medical care.

I only use it (methanol) once in the past, mix with water for mist injection into air intercooler outlet in turbo car. Just for fun.. The volume of consumption is so high I have to top up water every day so forget about it.. just turn off the water injection system for daily run.