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General HIFI => Transports => Topic started by: PingPing on January 02, 2015, 03:01:02 PM

Title: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: PingPing on January 02, 2015, 03:01:02 PM
How often do you clean the Laser Lens?

What is your preferred method of cleaning the Laser Lens?
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: stevenvalve on January 02, 2015, 03:54:23 PM
Ping, I use alcohol with a cotton bud, don't put to much downward pressure on the lens.
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: PingPing on January 02, 2015, 05:23:54 PM
Hey stevenvalve, what do you think of the discs with the small brushes on them and how often do you clean the lens  :)

Lens Cleaning, definitely makes a difference to sound reproduction, doesn't it  :)
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: PingPing on January 02, 2015, 08:40:50 PM
How do you know when the Lens should be cleaned...
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: PingPing on January 03, 2015, 01:04:47 AM
Other than stevenvalve and myself, does anybody else clean their transports Laser Lens?
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: vitavoxdude on January 03, 2015, 01:13:00 AM
I would suggest every 2 months judging by the wine glasses in my cabinet.  They go in fresh from the dishwasher and are sparkling.  But given a few weeks and they dull and get small poch marks over their surface.  Despite living in a smoke free zone it is quite surprising how much dirt floats around.

Lasers can be turned up but their lifespan suffers so easier to keep them clean along with the disks they read IMV.  When SG refers to alcohol he may be referring to something specific such as isopropyl alcohol which will evaporate without leaving a residue.

Some laser lenses are glass whilst other can be plastic, if plastic I'd be very careful in what cleaning fluid is used as its possible to turn the surface semi opaque by leaching out some of the plastifyers.  Myself, I use the same fluid that I use to clean my spectacles but with a lint free cloth rather than a cotton bud.

Hope this helps.
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: PingPing on January 03, 2015, 01:36:07 PM
@vitavoxdude, I was speaking to one fellow who suggested every 12hrs!  So I guess lens cleaning should be somewhere between 12hrs and 2mths, to maintain optimal optical laser pickup and longevity of the laser lens  :)

Sounds reasonable considering we clean a record and stylus with everytime we  play a side  :)
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: vitavoxdude on January 03, 2015, 02:44:15 PM
Hi Ping Ping, well cleaning is all down to the users preferences as with most things. If you use a top loading draw or lid then this process is relatively easy, for those who have to remove 7 or so screws to remove the top cover and flip the puck out of the way, less so.  I have not witnessed the same static build up on laser assemblies that vinyl records attract being slipped in and out of cover sleeves ( Dany or Oz might want to chip in here) as a laser is a non contact device.  I use the wine glasses as a timing device for laser cleaning at chez V as it is a convenient check readily visible.

For me the greatest gains in lasers is to be had from a dedicated low impedance drive circuit with the addition of the recently discovered decoupling cap right at the laser diode pins (huge difference and the cheapest improvement ever along with the reef knot in the mains feed cable IMO).

The laser sled is a delicate device and not one for the unwary, heavy handed club.  Remember to remove all power cables when removing covers and for swing arm sleds, hold in place prior to applying cleaning and buffing the lens.  The transport screws just hold down the sprung subchassis and does not secure the sled.
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: PingPing on January 03, 2015, 03:23:34 PM
vitavoxdude, what do you think of the discs with the small cleaning brushes on them?
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: vitavoxdude on January 03, 2015, 05:46:27 PM
Lazy mans way to hopefully not knock off your lens assembly so no, not for me thanks.  You have no control over the focusing up and down or the rotating speed of the disk and the contact the brush makes so it all is a bit to much to expose a precious CDM1 laser lens to IMV.  :(  It's a bit like the automated car wash stations where a huge roller comes down and presses against the bodywork of your car and any bits of trim are at the mercy of the rollers, I found this out the hard way 20 odd years ago, never again!
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: PingPing on January 04, 2015, 09:48:28 AM
vitavoxdude, all good info  :)

For people whose Transports are the newer sealed computer style CD/DVD drives (and those who do not wish to open up their Transports lid) then the  discs with the small cleaning brushes is really the only alternative.   
Do you have any ideas for cleaning the Laser Lens of these Transports :)
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: vitavoxdude on January 04, 2015, 02:36:20 PM
No sorry. 
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: PingPing on January 06, 2015, 12:33:01 PM
Maybe these...

http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/cd-lense.html (http://www.tnt-audio.com/clinica/cd-lense.html)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzpHtTU1S7U (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzpHtTU1S7U)

http://www.dicksmith.com.au/cleaners/distinct-dvd-laser-lens-cleaner-dsau-ca0511 (http://www.dicksmith.com.au/cleaners/distinct-dvd-laser-lens-cleaner-dsau-ca0511)
http://www.amazon.com/DISCWASHER-RD-1141-Laser-Lens-Cleaner/dp/B0002ZHG0K (http://www.amazon.com/DISCWASHER-RD-1141-Laser-Lens-Cleaner/dp/B0002ZHG0K)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ross-CKDVD-RS-Laser-Lens-Cleaner/dp/B003SYK6OA (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ross-CKDVD-RS-Laser-Lens-Cleaner/dp/B003SYK6OA)
http://www.amazon.com/Memorex-DVD-Lens-Cleaning-Kit/dp/B00008EM7U (http://www.amazon.com/Memorex-DVD-Lens-Cleaning-Kit/dp/B00008EM7U)
http://www.amazon.com/Allsop-Laser-Lens-Cleaner-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B00000J1QK (http://www.amazon.com/Allsop-Laser-Lens-Cleaner-Discontinued-Manufacturer/dp/B00000J1QK)
http://www.amazon.com/Endust-262000-Lens-cleaner/dp/B003EEMDMC (http://www.amazon.com/Endust-262000-Lens-cleaner/dp/B003EEMDMC)
http://www.radioshack.com/maxell-cd-340-cd-dvd-cd-rom-laser-lens-cleaner-dry/55016610.html#.VKs4WnvsSLI (http://www.radioshack.com/maxell-cd-340-cd-dvd-cd-rom-laser-lens-cleaner-dry/55016610.html#.VKs4WnvsSLI)
http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/dynex-cd-dvd-laser-lens-cleaner/10124285.aspx (http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/dynex-cd-dvd-laser-lens-cleaner/10124285.aspx)
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/cd-laser-lens-cleaner-cn40t (http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/cd-laser-lens-cleaner-cn40t)
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: vitavoxdude on January 06, 2015, 01:09:51 PM
Hi ping ping, yes lot's of good links to the various cleaning mechanisms and if you have one of those super slim, semi sealed laser mechanisms then yes they may well bring / revive a dirty laser lens. A useful list, thank you.
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: PingPing on January 06, 2015, 02:35:09 PM
I think this one will be ok, even for CDM1 transports... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000J1QM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000J1QM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER)
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: PingPing on January 06, 2015, 02:40:06 PM
Phillips recommend that the Laser Lens should be cleaned after every 10hrs of playtime  :)
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: omodo on January 06, 2015, 04:02:00 PM
the Allsop cleaner you linked above looks ok, doesn't look like it could cause any harm, might grab one

http://www.allsop.com/cleaning-/ultra-pro-lens-cleaner
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: vitavoxdude on January 06, 2015, 06:36:21 PM
 :o :o :o :o cleaning the lens every 10 hours  :o :o :o :o :o :o is that missing a zero or two?
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: PingPing on January 06, 2015, 07:58:32 PM
Phillips recommend that the Laser Lens should be cleaned after every 10hrs of playtime  :)

Go to the 5 minute point in the following video ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzpHtTU1S7U (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzpHtTU1S7U)
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: PingPing on January 07, 2015, 06:12:59 AM
It would appear that we shouldn't underestimate the affects of dusts attraction to the laser lens through static charge build up  :)
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: klackto on January 07, 2015, 09:30:57 AM
:o :o :o :o cleaning the lens every 10 hours  :o :o :o :o :o :o is that missing a zero or two?

Maybe if you don't clean it that often the later might miss a zero or two! :D
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: stevenvalve on January 07, 2015, 05:21:21 PM
Ping, you are making me paranoid, it think i will go and clean the laser.
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: PingPing on January 07, 2015, 05:39:01 PM
hahaha ... :) ;) :) ;) :) ;) :D ;D
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: PingPing on January 08, 2015, 08:13:05 AM
Ping, you are making me paranoid, it think i will go and clean the laser.
stevenvalve, did the sound change :)
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: PingPing on February 11, 2015, 10:11:40 AM
I tried this one... Allsop 23321 Carbon-Edge DVD and CD-Drive Cleaner (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00000J1QM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER)

and this one (which I found to be better)... Maxell CD-340 CD Lens Cleaner (http://www.amazon.com/Maxell-CD-340-Lens-Cleaner-190048/dp/B000001OM5/ref=pd_sim_e_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0P6PF6QX9KMJPAPQ9TS8)
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: PingPing on March 13, 2015, 12:19:44 PM
I think, for CD/DVD/BRay, is using anti-static cleaning cloths with each play and at the end of each play.     At the end of each play, the disc has heated up and is even easy to clean  :)
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: PingPing on June 11, 2015, 02:22:05 PM
Well, I have experimented and I think the best approach is to always keep you CD's clean, so that nothing is transferred to the lens while the disc is playing :)

I have found that cleaning the CD with a soft tissue and metho is sufficient, then discard the tissue after cleaning the disc, along with the occasional use of the Lens cleaning disc... perhaps once every 1 or 2 months :) 

I have tried VuPlex and I really do not like it unless it is used for repairing a scratched disc that you are trying to copy :)
Title: Re: Laser Lens Cleaning
Post by: PingPing on June 19, 2015, 08:55:09 AM
I think VuPlex is best applied using a soft tissue and buffing the disc is best done using a soft tissue, also :)   

If the disc happens to be a little to scratched for playback then VuPlex may help it to be sufficiently readable for burning to another disc.    I think that this is the way that I would use VuPlex and I have begun using it for copying damaged DVDs :)