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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Does lens cleaning fluid evaporate?
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05/25/2016 09:25:47 PM · #1
There is just no other explanation for it.

I hardly use the stuff at all, let alone lose a lot through spillage, and buy a new little squirt container of it each year, yet every time I go to use it, there is considerably less of it than there was before. Even if I put a good amount in my camera bag (which does have desiccant packs in it) in a tightly sealed container, well, no matter, there's always a huge dent in it. Ditto the spare container I keep in the studio, well away from any desiccants. And I no longer have a fellow photog living with me so I can't pin the blame on him. I am getting fed up with buying this stuff, it's expensive for the tiny little amounts the local camera store sells it for.

So wtf?! Does this stuff just evaporate? Does anyone else have this problem?
05/25/2016 09:32:39 PM · #2
Of course it evaporates. Good lens cleaning fluid is basically pure isopropyl alcohol. And the little bottles are plastic and plastic breathes. Do your wallet a favor and buy a bottle of denatured alcohol, 99% pure, and refill your containers as needed. I'm happy with my individually packaged Bausch & Lomb lens wipes, BTW. THOSE don't dry out...
05/26/2016 07:25:04 AM · #3
Thanks for the answer, I've also wondered about that. And plastic breathes? We buy it to be watertight, for Snaffles sake!
05/26/2016 08:04:16 AM · #4
Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Of course it evaporates. Good lens cleaning fluid is basically pure isopropyl alcohol. And the little bottles are plastic and plastic breathes. Do your wallet a favor and buy a bottle of denatured alcohol, 99% pure, and refill your containers as needed. I'm happy with my individually packaged Bausch & Lomb lens wipes, BTW. THOSE don't dry out...


As I always thought!!! at $7 CDN for 60ml I'm sick of getting hosed. Now where to buy denatured alcohol? And I do know about Zeiss and B&L lens wipes but they're kinda expensive.
05/26/2016 08:19:20 AM · #5
Originally posted by snaffles:

As I always thought!!! at $7 CDN for 60ml I'm sick of getting hosed. Now where to buy denatured alcohol?

At the pharmacy, darlin'...
05/26/2016 09:57:07 AM · #6
Originally posted by snaffles:


As I always thought!!! at $7 CDN for 60ml I'm sick of getting hosed. Now where to buy denatured alcohol? And I do know about Zeiss and B&L lens wipes but they're kinda expensive.


That $7 per 60ml is not really that expensive *if* the solution has very low residue on evaporation. I usually buy my denatured ethanol from a chemical supply house, and I think last time I spent about $30 for 500cc. It has les than 5ppm residue on evaporation. Standard-grade denatured ethanol will have a *lot* more residue, and residue you do not want.
Unless you are using a lot of solution, it may not make a lot of sense or save you all that much money in the end to buy your own low-residue solution.
05/26/2016 03:14:31 PM · #7
But how on earth can you tell if it's a low-residue solution?! There's no list of ingredients on the bottle.
05/26/2016 03:33:04 PM · #8
The alcohol won't evaporate away if you put it in a glass bottle ...

Is "denatured ethanol" the same as isopropyl alcohol?

I don't think the 99% (anhydrous) alcohol is available at ordinary pharmacies -- usually what you find there is 70%, which is what's used for first aid or to sterilize medical instruments.
05/26/2016 05:12:15 PM · #9
use spit
05/26/2016 05:37:38 PM · #10
Originally posted by Tiny:

use spit


Ewwww.!!! Do you use the tail of your t-shirt to then wipe the lens with?!
05/26/2016 09:02:33 PM · #11
Originally posted by GeneralE:

The alcohol won't evaporate away if you put it in a glass bottle ...

Is "denatured ethanol" the same as isopropyl alcohol?


Nope. Denatured alcohol is ethanol with some added methanol or other solvents to make it un-drinkable.

Originally posted by GeneralE:


I don't think the 99% (anhydrous) alcohol is available at ordinary pharmacies -- usually what you find there is 70%, which is what's used for first aid or to sterilize medical instruments.


True, and even anhydrous isopropanol still contains a lot of water, and has a *lot* of residue after evaporation.
05/26/2016 09:32:11 PM · #12
Only time I've ever seen 99% proof alcohol was when I was still working with horses, and the vet had it. We sure as hell weren't sweating legs with that stuff, we used ordinary 70% alcohol.
05/26/2016 09:54:08 PM · #13
"Proof" and "Percent" are different ... "Proof" is twice the percentage of alcohol by volume, so 80-proof whiskey is 40% ethanol.
05/27/2016 03:28:38 AM · #14
Originally posted by snaffles:

Originally posted by Tiny:

use spit


Ewwww.!!! Do you use the tail of your t-shirt to then wipe the lens with?!


certainly
05/27/2016 07:00:19 AM · #15
Originally posted by snaffles:

Originally posted by Tiny:

use spit


Ewwww.!!! Do you use the tail of your t-shirt to then wipe the lens with?!


No, that would be gross ;)
08/31/2016 03:51:42 PM · #16
Ok everyone I found and bought a gallon jug of 99% isopropyl alcohol. Is that the same as denatured alcohol and can I clean my lenses with it?

I haven't yet opened it, in case it is the wrong kind of alcohol, and I need to return it. Bought it from the vet supplies section of a local feed store.
08/31/2016 03:57:36 PM · #17
Originally posted by snaffles:

Ok everyone I found and bought a gallon jug of 99% isopropyl alcohol. Is that the same as denatured alcohol and can I clean my lenses with it?

I haven't yet opened it, in case it is the wrong kind of alcohol, and I need to return it. Bought it from the vet supplies section of a local feed store.


I'll just say that *I* wouldn't use it. It will have a lot of dissolved solids. It is not the same alcohol as denatured alcohol; what you have is 2-propanol, or isopropanol, whereas "denatured" alcohol is ethanol (the kind we drink) that has some methanol added so that it cannot be safely consumed.

Note that it says "99%." The remaining 1% is other stuff which is not defined, and is actually a combination of water and dissolved solids.
08/31/2016 06:16:59 PM · #18
Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by snaffles:

Ok everyone I found and bought a gallon jug of 99% isopropyl alcohol. Is that the same as denatured alcohol and can I clean my lenses with it?

I haven't yet opened it, in case it is the wrong kind of alcohol, and I need to return it. Bought it from the vet supplies section of a local feed store.


I'll just say that *I* wouldn't use it. It will have a lot of dissolved solids. It is not the same alcohol as denatured alcohol; what you have is 2-propanol, or isopropanol, whereas "denatured" alcohol is ethanol (the kind we drink) that has some methanol added so that it cannot be safely consumed.

Note that it says "99%." The remaining 1% is other stuff which is not defined, and is actually a combination of water and dissolved solids.


+1 to all that info.

With that being said, I have a HELL of a hard time figuring out what harm that would do. I have, FWIW, cleaned my camera and lenses with 90% isopropyl (yes, 90%) - quite successfully MANY times. The rag or whatever you're using is probably a MUCH bigger concern.

And finally, there's a BIG ass ol' caveat here on 100% pure ethanol - ethanol is hygroscopic - it will rapidly absorb water from the air, so the moment you open the bottle, you're below 100% purity. (and it'll absorb quite a bit if I recall correctly)

ETA: If you don't mind my asking, what does a gallon of that go for at a vet supply?

Message edited by author 2016-08-31 18:20:52.
08/31/2016 06:21:38 PM · #19
Originally posted by Cory:

...With that being said, I have a HELL of a hard time figuring out what harm that would do. I have, FWIW, cleaned my camera and lenses with 90% isopropyl (yes, 90%) - quite successfully MANY times. The rag or whatever you're using is probably a MUCH bigger concern.

ETA: If you don't mind my asking, what does a gallon of that go for at a vet supply?


I paid $24.25 CDN which with taxes added, came to $27 and change, so probably about $20 USD(?) And where on earth do you find 90%? I can find 50% and 70% isopropyl, but never seen 90% anywhere. I use clean microfibre cloths each time out and, when I have them, lens cleaning tissues. Recently ran out so ordered a whole whack of em.

ETA: How's Cory's Hole doing? Is it still considered an anomaly?

Message edited by author 2016-08-31 18:22:20.
08/31/2016 06:22:36 PM · #20
Originally posted by snaffles:

Originally posted by Cory:

...With that being said, I have a HELL of a hard time figuring out what harm that would do. I have, FWIW, cleaned my camera and lenses with 90% isopropyl (yes, 90%) - quite successfully MANY times. The rag or whatever you're using is probably a MUCH bigger concern.

ETA: If you don't mind my asking, what does a gallon of that go for at a vet supply?


I paid $24.25 CDN which with taxes added, came to $27 and change, so probably about $20 USD(?) And where on earth do you find 90%? I can find 50% and 70% isopropyl, but never seen 90% anywhere. I use clean microfibre cloths each time out and, when I have them, lens cleaning tissues. Recently ran out so ordered a whole whack of em.


90% is a medical concentration.

08/31/2016 06:55:00 PM · #21
Originally posted by Cory:

...

With that being said, I have a HELL of a hard time figuring out what harm that would do. I have, FWIW, cleaned my camera and lenses with 90% isopropyl (yes, 90%) - quite successfully MANY times. The rag or whatever you're using is probably a MUCH bigger concern.


I don't think it will do any harm, no. It will leave a film that may be visible. And yes, ethanol will pick up water as well. Best practice is always to open the bottle only as long as it takes to wet the wipe. I would not buy my ethanol in a plastic container for that reason; I buy 0.5 liter at a time, in a glass bottle.
08/31/2016 07:22:12 PM · #22
Well I have a plastic gallon jug bottle so will probably start decanting it into glass jars. Gawd knows I got enough of em around!

Wondering if it's worth putting in those teeny little squirt bottles? Probably not, except for if I'm going on an expedition and can expect to use it fairly often.
08/31/2016 07:31:02 PM · #23
Originally posted by snaffles:



ETA: How's Cory's Hole doing? Is it still considered an anomaly?


Still in the suspected impact list. :)

And dunno if I ever told ya, but it's turned out to look like a double impact
08/31/2016 08:06:36 PM · #24
Originally posted by Cory:

Originally posted by snaffles:



ETA: How's Cory's Hole doing? Is it still considered an anomaly?


Still in the suspected impact list. :)

And dunno if I ever told ya, but it's turned out to look like a double impact


Ooh, so Cory has two holes! Cool! ;-)

ETA: where in suspected impacts list? See mostly CDN sites listed and isn't yours near Miami? Oh wait...Florida crater...looks like yours..yep following info written by you...glad I did well in geography class!

Message edited by author 2016-08-31 20:12:20.
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