sensor cleaning fluids

[tim]

I've gotten the copperhill cleaning kit, but unfortunately they can't send the fluid, eclipse, to me here in New Zealand. Eclipse is pure methanol, and it's what's recommended by Nicholas (ie developer of the Copperhill method). Consumers can't get pure methanol in New Zealand, it's restricted, the type you can get has something added so if you drink it you throw it back up.

Does anyone know if Ethanol or isopropyl alcohol will work instead? Nicholas says iso can leave smears, but a good friend of mine says he's used iso for years on his camera with no problems. A chemist here also suggest ethanol.

I can get genuine Eclipse from Australia where it's not restricted, although it's reasonably expensive - well, AU$50, maybe US$40.

Thoughts?

[transcend]

wow, $40 for eclipse? I paid $11 cnd and it included 25 pec pads. Will photococan ship to you? May be able to save yourself a ton, even with shipping.

[Bob_A]

Iso-propanol (isopropyl alcohol) is used as the solution for cleaning reading glasses, and works pretty well on my specs. Maybe Canon could give some advise regarding the compatibility of the solution.

No one would drink Methanol since it is very poisonous, so I don't believe anything is added to it. Even incorrectly handling methanol can lead to some serious health problems. Note: industrial grade methanol may not be quite as pure as lab grade ... so you may need to go to a laboratory reagent supply company to get lab grade material.

Ethanol can only be purchased "denatured" to ensure no one will drink it. If I recall correctly, benzene is the additive used to denature it. Pure ethanol used by hospitals and distilleries is usually called "bonded alchohol" and its distribution is restricted.

The only reason that I could see for restricting the sale of methanol is because of its toxicity. However, in Canada we add it to gasoline in small amounts as a gas-line antifreeze, and some refiners add a few percent to make a "green" gasoline. I could drive to my local gas station tonight and buy a small bottle of industrial grade stuff. After doing a web search I see that methanol is added to gasoline by some oil companies in New Zealand (you have gasohol) ... and it looks like motorsports enthusiasts buy the stuff for racing. So, I would think that only ethanol would be resticted and not methanol. Who knows though ... every country has their own quirky laws :)

Bob

[blackviolet]

mate, you don't know a lot of the folks here and across the tasman... 'certain folks' will drink anything, including metho (they cut it with water)- especially those that don't know any better. serious. several hundred die here each year.

[tim]

Photocan don't ship out of US/Canada, and I doubt anyone will ship such a volatile fluid between countries. Australia and NZ are very close, that's probably why they'll ship to me.

It's been a real pain in the butt to work this out, and it's not over yet! I should probably just get eclipse from Australia.

[Alexia]

I don't see why isopropyl alcohol would be a problem. It is used to clean CPU cores and heatsinks before applying thermal paste. Isopropyl can leave streaks if you buy crappy stuff. 90% and above is what I use to clean cores. Applying it in a thin layer as possible then wiping/blowing on it will help to prevent streaks.

[pierrot]

... and a real pain, too, that Canon never issued (or we all missed it) a clear statement on sensor cleaning (methods, tools, fluids etc.) :(

[HKFEVER]

... and a real pain, too, that Canon never issued (or we all missed it) a clear statement on sensor cleaning (methods, tools, fluids etc.) :(
I call Canon while my camera is in for sensor cleaning. They told me that they have specially mixed solution formula that help to clean sensor. But can't tell me because it earns them a lot of service charge each year.:evil:

[dhbailey]

mate, you don't know a lot of the folks here and across the tasman... 'certain folks' will drink anything, including metho (they cut it with water)- especially those that don't know any better. serious. several hundred die here each year.

That's called evolution, and in my opinion shouldn't necessarily be stopped. Anybody who is stupid enough to drink any alcoholic beverage not provided by a brewery or a distillery and clearly labeled for human consumption needs to be weeded out of the gene pool.

Making your photographic life more difficult because someone with an IQ low enough that it wouldn't even cause concern on the Richter Scale thinks methanol is a beverage doesn't make sense to me and certainly doesn't seem fair.

[ron chappel]

Metholated spirits used to be drank by certain street drunks here in australia but it's now made of ethanol instead of methanol to stop that happening (i think i remember all that right-it was a few years back now).They probably add other stuff too-certainly a bittering agent is added judging by the stuff i tried to put on a aching tooth
-hey i was desperate and mum's silly old idea was worth a go!

As for what to use.....It can't hurt alot trying something that is close to what you want.The worst it will do is leave a slight film that won't stop you taking photo's -till you get a better cleaner

[Leigh]

Some alternatives:

http://www.cleaningdigitalcameras.com/methods.html

Scroll down to "The Manufacturer's In-house Methods"

Leigh

[pierrot]

Interesting link, thx Leigh ;-)