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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Sensor cleaning: DIY sensor brush (1 Viewer)

Hi Lief
I use this method, as I don't like the idea of using the wet wipes. I bought a Windor and newton.Cotman 777 1/2", I think it is synthetic, it wasn’t cheap it was around £9. I washed the brush loads of times in baby shampoo and left it to dry naturally. I then checked there was no oils or grease left on the brush by brushing it across a plain piece of glass a few hundred times, this shows up eventually as smears if it is not clean enough. Give a final wash in shampoo then leave to dry. The only thing I haven’t been able to do is give it a static charge other then using the compressed air, which if you are not careful can contain moister. I find it works great, I just make sure I never touch the bristles with my fingers as they could contain grease. If I find all the dust is not removed I have the Jessops lens vacuum cleaners, on the sucking end I have put a 2” piece of aquarium tubing, the very soft pliable type, this is great because you can bend it into the corners and you are not frightened of damaging the sensor if you touch it.
 
Leif said:
Ooops.

Thanks for the correction.

Another question is how do people charge the brush?

Leif
Click to expand...


You could use Kenair, a Kenro product from a photographic dealer. In the link he appears to be using a similar product. I have used this product for years in a darkroom environment without ever getting moisture on my negs. It is important that you DO NOT shake the can and only use it upright to avoid possibility of moisure. If it has become shaken as in getting it home from the shops give it time to settle before using.
 
Ragna which one did you go for just the brush or the brush on the fly kit the prices seem to have come down quite a bit.
 
Christine i just got the brush,had been looking at the Invisibledust brush but thought this way overpriced.What the brush on the fly kit?
 
Christine just checked Copperhill's website and the brush on the fly kite includes a small battery operated blower to charge the brush dont know how good it is but the price seems ok.
 
Thanks for the replies.

I bought a 3/8" nylon artists brush from a craft supplies shop for about £4 and a rocket air blower from Warehouse Express. After 2 cleans the brush was still dirty, so I tried isopropyl alcohol followed by soapy water, which worked. The original link suggests using canned air to charge the brush. But that seemed wasteful, and expensive, so I used the rocket air blower to charge the brush, and would you believe it, I now have a dust free sensor. Easy peasy!

Leif
 
Leif,
Take care with the rubber bulb type of blower, I went to The Gambia earlier this year and used one of those. Gambia was very dry and had plenty of fine sand around, I found that the rubber bulb type use to draw the dust into itself and then expell it onto/ into my camera. Never again, I've thrown mine away.
Dave
 
Dave Adshead said:
Leif,
Take care with the rubber bulb type of blower, I went to The Gambia earlier this year and used one of those. Gambia was very dry and had plenty of fine sand around, I found that the rubber bulb type use to draw the dust into itself and then expell it onto/ into my camera. Never again, I've thrown mine away.
Dave
Click to expand...

Hi Dave

Yes, I do the cleaning at home. I would not recommend anyone using a blower to clean the sensor. Even at home there is a risk of a small piece of grit being fired at high speed onto the sensor. But I see no problem with using it to charge the brush. I also use a blower on lenses without problems.

In your case the solution would have been to store the blower in an air tight container such as a food bag, and only use it indoors, away from dust and drafts. I guess you sometimes learn the hard way,

Leif
 
Dave Adshead said:
Leif,
Take care with the rubber bulb type of blower, I went to The Gambia earlier this year and used one of those. Gambia was very dry and had plenty of fine sand around, I found that the rubber bulb type use to draw the dust into itself and then expell it onto/ into my camera. Never again, I've thrown mine away.
Dave
Click to expand...
Dave ,the Giotto Rocket blower has a separate air intake to avoid this very problem,got mine from W/E....hb
 
Henry B said:
Dave ,the Giotto Rocket blower has a separate air intake to avoid this very problem,got mine from W/E....hb
Click to expand...

Henry: I saw an identical looking 'rocket' in Jessops on Saturday for £6 (compared to £7 + £1.50 P&P from WE). However, I got mine last week from WE. They are usually the cheapest source!

It might sound odd to describe the rocket as cute, but that's what it is. Sad!

Leif
 
Just thought I would let you know I have received the brush on the fly kit from Copper Hill. Ordered the 24th, a 5 day turnround is excellent from the states. The blower is very strong considering its only battery, no more worries of putting moister on the brush. Now I have one to carry with me.

P.S This is Saphire, Mr forgot to log off.
 
Last edited:
Christine yes the service is very good and it looks as if the brush on the fly kit is the better deal let us know how you get on cleaning your sensor.
 
Ragna said:
Christine yes the service is very good and it looks as if the brush on the fly kit is the better deal let us know how you get on cleaning your sensor.
Click to expand...

Ragna. The blower works brilliantly in charging the brush. I have used it to clean the sensor and it works perfectly. I have been using the brush method since I got my 300d last year and now my 350d. I think it is a much safer method then using the wet method. It was just the charging of the brush I couldn't do, unless I used the tinned air and no matter how careful I was at not shaking the can, I have still had it splutter liquid. The Kit includes vellum paper as well, the total cost with postage was $30.95 don't know that that is converted. I would recommend the kit for anyone wishing to use this method.
 
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