Just realized ultrasonic cleaning beats hand scrubbing for old lens elements

Tbh I spent like two years hand scrubbing fungus off old glass with alcohol and q-tips, always worried about scratching the coatings. Then I grabbed a used Branson 2800 from a dental supply shop for $120 and tried it on a dirty 50mm f/1.4 from the 70s. The difference was night and day the ultrasonic got into the tiny gaps between the elements where my q-tip couldn't reach. I used a simple mix of distilled water and a drop of dish soap, ran it for 5 minutes at 40 degrees C. No streaks, no scratches, no residue left behind. Has anyone else had trouble with certain coatings coming off in the tank versus hand cleaning? I still hand wipe the outer surfaces after but for the inner groups it's a no brainer now.

3 comments

3 Comments

drew_reed621d ago

$120 for a Branson 2800 from a dental supply shop? No way, that's a steal. Those things are tanks, I'm jealous you found one that cheap.

wendy6281d ago

No kidding, @drew_reed62, you nailed it with "those things are tanks." I've used a Branson 2800 before and it's built like a brick you know what. The dental supply connection makes total sense too, those shops don't always know what they have with the older industrial models. At $120 you basically stole it, I'd have snapped it up in a heartbeat if I saw that deal. That's the kind of find where you just smile and walk away thinking "how did I get this lucky?" Hope you enjoy it, those things clean like a dream for years on end.

elizabeths511d ago

Oh man, I totally agree with you on that... the Branson 2800 really is a tank, I've seen a few beat up ones and they still run like new. That dental supply shop probably had it sitting in a back room for years not knowing what they had. At $120 you basically paid peanuts for something that'll outlast most new cheap ultrasonic cleaners. Those older industrial models just have that heavy duty build you can't find anymore...