Cleaning optically coated glass.

[Roboframer]

What do you use?

For me it was always just tap water and a PEL microfibre glass cloth - that is when I had to clean it at all because out-of-the-box, if you're lucky, you won't have to clean it at all, but sometimes you're not lucky and most times with offcuts you're not lucky either.

I've had nightmares - see a tiny speck, wipe it, cloth makes a streak that doesn't evaporate, wipe that, make 3 more, wipe them, make 20 more and then realise I was doing the wrong side of the lite anyway and then go and do all that on the other side. So, deep breath, clean both sides all over - hold the lite over a black surface for inspection and .... AAAAAAAAAARRRGGHHHHHHHHH !!!

Lines that look like scratches, blotches, 'cloudy' areas .... I've tossed many a lite and cut a new one from a full sheet.

The worst situation is when you've got something that requires a rebate spacer, you get the glass spotless (or think you have), drop it in the frame, fix the spacers and then notice a sneaky, miniscule little mark ..... end up with something you can hardly see through!!

A situation a bit like this .....

[youtube]8mdwAkWvWMw[/youtube]


Well, today I was in that rebate spacer situation and I decided, after about an hour between two of us, especially seeing as we had no full sheets of posh glass left in stock, that this PITA glass had to go - not going to offer it any more - too much aggro.

But then I saw a kitchen towel roll and remebered someone on The Grumble saying they used paper towels - totally dismissed it - if a crease in a nice soft microfibre cloth could make a scratch ....... ?

Nothing to lose - grabbed a handful, wetted it slightly - cleaned - got a new handful, dried ..................... EUREKA!! Spotless.

Cloths may be fine if they are new or freshly laundered, but I think maybe even after just one use they can have body oils in them and I'm sure that's what's been giving me so much grief - the kitchen roll will always be virgin and if the glass coatings are tough enough ...?

The glass in question today was Nielsen's 'Clearcolour plus UV' (Same product as Wessex/Glass & Mirror's 'GM Museum' made by Flabeg) and Artglass - which cleans easier with a cloth anyway (but still not 'easily') can also be cleaned with kitchen roll paper - have not tried TruVue yet.

Apols if this is a 'DUH'! - if so just enjoy the funny Father Ted clip.

[Jonny2morsos]

I use a paper towel that is supplied by my wholesaler (Tawnycraft) which I think is a Kimberly Clark product. It is brilliant, really strong and does not shed fibres unless excessivley wet or getting knackered. Will look at the product reference and post tomorrow.

For cleaning I use G&M/Wessex Opti Brite or the stuff that comes free with Claryl sprayed onto a new sheet of the paper towel followed by a gentle wipe with a PEL microfibre cloth.

The Guv'nor at G&M told me the best thing you can get is the towel that goes in those roller towel machines they have in the loos at hotels etc. but you need to get hold of it once it has been laundered very may times and the laundry are throwing it out.

I work on a minimal handling/cleaning where possible and it does seem the more you try and clean the worse it becomes as you have pointed out.

[prospero]

I had PITA time last winter. Lots of burst pipes (not mine fortunately). A lady nearby brought in a picture I framed for her a few months before.
It got a good soaking - mitres swollen and cracked. It had a liner under the glass - multicoloured mould patches. The last two were relatively easy to fix. It had TV Museum glass. Tried mircofibre cloth + water. Forget it. Just moved the muck around. Then I found a bottle of stuff that I have had for years. I think I got it ages ago when I first tried TV glass. No label on it. Anyhow, I got a fresh cloth and had another go. Wasn't easy, but it did the trick eventually.

Do TV do a special cleaner? Must admit I try not to clean it at all when new.

* The picture was unharmed btw.


** I wonder if the same stuff will work on a PC monitor? (Those of us who haven't yet progressed to a flat one). I have an annoying little spot that I can't seem to shift.

Just there ------>

[Jonny2morsos]

The paper towel I use is:

Kimberly Clark Professional, Wypall L40, Ref No 7461

Just in the middle of doing ten frames with AR UV Artglass supplied by Wessex/G&M. All cut to size by them and not a finger print on any of them so far. So handling with cotton gloves on, a dash of opti-brite cleaner on the paer, buff with microfibre, job's a good'un