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Does Eclipse go old? Sensor cleaning surprise.

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Earthlight

Earthlight

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So, today was the day I had to do some sensor wet cleaning again. Last time about a year ago.

I have always had good succes with Eclipse fluid, PecPads and a spatula. Today I did what I have always done and what do I get: streaks and streaks of small little dots that look like droplets on the sensor.

What gives? Is it the solution gone old? I do not see how it could. What else could it be?

Earthlight

--

http://jari.pic.fi/kuvat/
 
My guess is that you have too much fluid on the pec.

I tend to use a slightly damp pad to get the very stubborn things off (such as moisture condensation rings) if needed. This usually results in some streaking and threads from the pad.

Subsequently, for the final strokes I let the fluid almost dry on the pad - it then cleans beautifully. You really want very little fluid moisture. I use one drop on the edge of the pad and let it dry for about 1 minute before the last stroke. YMMV.
--
tony
http://www.tphoto.ca
 
I don't think so. Eclipse is pure alcohol, IIRC. I've had my bottle for years as well with no problems. I would suggest contacting the manufacturer. They're pretty responsive in my experience.
 
Hi, Eclipse is high grade methanol (less than 5ppm contaminants).

At this level of impurity methanol is also anhydrous and will absorb moisture from the air. The absorption rate will depend on both the surface area and the time exposed.

I have had high grade methanol that gave smears after storing for a year or so after sensor cleaning and would not use it. Better to use it fresh each time. You can store small volumes in separate containers but you would need to ensure the containers are completely clean and the closures seal properly.
Allan
 
Earthlight said:
Today I did what I have always done and what do I get: streaks and streaks of small little dots that look like droplets on the sensor.

What gives? Is it the solution gone old?
Click to expand...
Sort of. Eclipse is pure (anhydrous) methanol and that is hygroscopic - it absorbs and retains water from the environment. Even opening the bottle for a few minutes in a damp atmosphere will absorb water and, if done enough times or left unsealed, will eventually become about 30:70 water:methanol solution.

So, not old on its own, but old for the storage conditions you kept it in. A bit like leaving cookies in the jar with the lid off - its gone soft. ;-)
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Its RKM
 
Its RKM said:
Earthlight said:
Today I did what I have always done and what do I get: streaks and streaks of small little dots that look like droplets on the sensor.

What gives? Is it the solution gone old?
Click to expand...
Sort of. Eclipse is pure (anhydrous) methanol and that is hygroscopic - it absorbs and retains water from the environment. Even opening the bottle for a few minutes in a damp atmosphere will absorb water and, if done enough times or left unsealed, will eventually become about 30:70 water:methanol solution.

So, not old on its own, but old for the storage conditions you kept it in. A bit like leaving cookies in the jar with the lid off - its gone soft. ;-)
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Its RKM
Click to expand...
I never knew that!

The bit about the methanol being hygroscopic, I knew the bit about cookies going soft if the lid is left off or not a very good fit :D

Anyone know what the VisibleDust Plus solution is made from? I have used that in the past but wondered if I should worry about that ageing?

--
Phil

I wondered why the ball kept getting bigger, then it hit me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/philthebirdbrain/
 
It could also be that the crud on the sensor is of a material that will streak the sensor when rubbed by the damp spatula. Once, I had to use several spatulas and actually scrub the sensor before I was able to remove some streaks. I had failed to air rocket blow as much crud off the sensor before using the spatula.
Earthlight said:
So, today was the day I had to do some sensor wet cleaning again. Last time about a year ago.

I have always had good succes with Eclipse fluid, PecPads and a spatula. Today I did what I have always done and what do I get: streaks and streaks of small little dots that look like droplets on the sensor.

What gives? Is it the solution gone old? I do not see how it could. What else could it be?

Earthlight

--

http://jari.pic.fi/kuvat/
Click to expand...
 
Well, I have just promptly ordered a new bottle so hopefully this frustration will end as soon as it arrives.

Bloody hell, I used something like 10 pecpads to try and get the sensor clean... what a harrowing experience. Always before it has been a doddle.

Anyway, thanks for all the replies, I will report back as soon as the fresh bottle arrives.

Earthlight

--

http://jari.pic.fi/kuvat/
 
Not sure is this is happening, but when I was working as an engineer, we had to replace our cleaning fluids frequently because of this.

Also, I have found that not all spots on a sensor are dust, some are grease spots from the shutter/mirror mechanism. I was never successful getting these off.

Finally, some spots don't come off period. I stopped cleaning my sensor after I broke it 3 years ago. I have it cleaned at Canon at least once a year. But it never comes back 100% clean, and some spots are probably under the top filter.

--

What I see when I open the image and view it at 100% is very important to my overall attitude toward a final print. When I look at the print I know what’s there and what I had to do to get there. For me, good enough does not work.

http://ben-egbert.smugmug.com/

Ben
 
Eclipse (pure methanol) is a highly volatile liquid and will rapidly evaporate when the lid is open, or slowly evaporate if the lid is closed but stored at room temperature. Its freezing point is much below that of water so it wont freeze.Mine has been in the freezer for months and its volume over that period has remained practically unchanged.

Oh.. and don't drink it. You will go blind before you die !
 
The air is also dry in the freezer, so there is less chance of water absorption.
 
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