Dumb question - Can you clean the Ilford anti-static cloth?

[Andrew T]

I was cleaning the focusing screen and mirror on my new camera and made the unwise decision to use my bright orange Ilford cloth that I usually use for negs, to dust off the mirror. Basically ended up getting some grease from the innards of the camera on my $12 cloth and thus my silly question.

 

[fschifano]

Even sillier is cleaning the mirror. These are first surface mirrors; very delicate and very easily damaged. Replacing one will cost you a lot more than the 12 bucks you spent for the cloth.

 

[clayne]

Do not touch that mirror. Leave it alone. At most, canned air.

In regards to the cloth - yes these can be washed. All microfiber cloths can be washed. Use a gentle washing soap with hand washing and then hang them up to dry.

 

[Oren Grad]

The Ilford Antistaticum isn't a microfiber cloth - it's an older product treated with some sort of antistatic compound. I can't find any instructions for it online, but I wouldn't assume that it can be washed.

Why not ask Simon Galley to be sure?

 

[pentaxuser]

Andrew On the 2008 Harman tour, hosted by Simon Galley, we were all kindly given this cloth by Harman. I still have the instructions and it says in bold capitals "DO NOT Wash" I assume that washing removes it's anti-static properties.

Not what you want to hear, given what has happened but if it is soiled with grease, it may be better to cut out the portion that has been contaminated rather than risk destroying its anti-static properties.

pentaxuser

 

[Andrew T]

Good info guys, thank you, I appreciate it! I searched online and on Ilford's website but couldn't find any info.

I'll make sure to keep the mirror away from any type of cloth in the future, I just saw that it was filthy and was sure that a blower bulb wasn't going to do much.

 

[Smudger]

Front silvered mirrors..

I've been reading for years,on various forums,the almost excessive caution some pundits exhibit about cleaning these things.
I think it has achieved the dubious status of an Urban Myth.
If you remove any dust/grit,and then carefully wet wipe,your risk of damage is minuscule, in my experience.
Likewise,acrylic focusing screens ,providing you use the correct method (described by T.Tomosy in one of publications).
-My 2 cents.

 

[fschifano]

Excessive caution in cases like this is warranted. The surface of these types of mirrors is very delicate, and should be treated very carefully. I have damaged the first surface mirror on my grain focuser because I wasn't careful about it, and it was all too easy to do. The mirror in an SLR is exactly the same type of mirror and just as easily damaged. Is it impossible to clean one? Not at all, but it should only be done with extreme delicacy and only when absolutely necessary. A few specks in the viewfinder of an SLR will not image on the film, so why bother?

 

[canuhead]

Just took a look through an old Nikon F that belonged to a news photographer. The mirror had some very fine scuffs/ delicate scratches and it looked fine through the viewfinder. I also use shirts etc to wipe off glass filters if I don't have a lens cloth handy so ymmv. Newspaper photographers tended to be on the pragmatic side and didn't kid glove their gear as much.

I've washed my Ilford cloth so any anti static usefulness has long gone down the drain.

 

[bsdunek]

A few weeks ago I got some developer on my anti-static cloth (I know, keep the dry stuff on the dry side, etc.). I washed it with hand soap and warm water and let it dry. I don't think it works very good now. I'm sure it washed out what ever the anti-static stuff is. I got a new one now.

 

[sun of sand]

I've cleaned the mirror on junk cameras given to me to see what the big issue is
I've seen no real horrors come from cleaning it ..or even scratching it

You will scratch it and smudge it and

But it doesn't RUIN anything

I purchased a front surface 4x5 to use with large format instead of carrying around a bulky and expensive viewer
I use it for composing -don't care what people say about composing "abstractly"
I carry it however I can. I show it no respect. I clean it with my scratchy darkcloth all the time
I just went and cleaned it now with soap and tissue paper

One speck of damage and lots of small very faint scratches only seen at the correct angle

Is the one inside a top quality SLR more delicate? Probably. They may be silver instead of aluminum

I just tried to scratch a konicas mirror and nothing.

 

[Andrew T]

Lots of interesting viewpoints. It's kind of funny to see the ways different people treat their equipment. The mirror I was attempting to clean was on a camera that's not worth any more than $150, and I figured an imperfectly cleaned mirror isn't affecting the final image anyway so why not?

Now if we were talking about something I put a lot more money into, that would be a different issue...

 

[Uncle Goose]

NO WASHING, NEVER!!

If you wash it then you have a 12$ window rag. It loses it's antistatic performance when washed.

 

[Ronald Moravec]

From Ilford rep decades ago, wash in ivory and do not rinse. Never tried it myself. Ilford does not even have reps anymore let alone the seminars.

 

[Simon R Galley]

Dear Andrew,

You MUST NOT wash an ILFORD Antistaticum ....

If you have grease on it cut out the affected area.. sorry


Simon. ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

 

[Alex Bishop-Thorpe]

I must say, the ilford anti-static cloth has been an amazing help to me. I only got one a year ago, and my swearing, shouting, and threating of dusty negatives with a knife has dropped off noticeably. They're $20 a pop here and still more than worth it.

 

[Andrew T]

I hear you there! I always have one by my side while scanning.

Thanks Simon, its nice to have an official response

 

[Simon R Galley]

I have to tell you..if you have a widescreen TV they are awesome...once again my Christmas presents duly sorted...not exciting but so practical...thats me..

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

 

[kraker]

I have to tell you..if you have a widescreen TV they are awesome...

Widescreen only? Too bad that makes it useless for my plain old 4:3 CRT TV.

What we need is a range of anti-static cloths, 4:3, 16:9, 2:3 6:4.5, 6:6, 6:7, 6:9, 6:12, 4:5, etc. etc.

 

[Simon R Galley]

Dear Kraker....

No we do not !..... I have a range of 'T' shirts and Rugby shirts...that I still have ...when I listened to you APUGGERS !

Simon

 

[kraker]

Dear Kraker....

No we do not !..... I have a range of 'T' shirts and Rugby shirts...that I still have ...when I listened to you APUGGERS !

Simon

So there's still a chance to buy a spare shirt or two? (Or a hundred?)

I don't wear my Ilford shirt too often, to save it from wear and tear. Perhaps I should just get a few spares...

 

[Chazzy]

Dear Kraker....

No we do not !..... I have a range of 'T' shirts and Rugby shirts...that I still have ...when I listened to you APUGGERS !

Simon

I'd be interested in ordering one, if I can do it without placing a transatlantic phone call.

 

[railwayman3]

I'd be interested in ordering one, if I can do it without placing a transatlantic phone call.

Simon - I'd also be interested in ordering, if you can please post the up-to-date info. (UK in my case).

 

[Terrence Brennan]

Ilford anti-static cloth

I cut mine in half as soon as I open the package, and then store the other half in an air-tight container. When the first half is soiled, or no longer effective, it goes to be washed, and ends its life in my rag bin. If it hits the floor, or otherwise gets dirty, it is finished, as far as I am concerned, and goes straight to the rag bin.

To clean lenses, I follow the suggestion given to me by my Studio and Lab instructor, when I was a first-year student at Ryerson Polytecnic University, lo those 35 years ago. He said that the best way to clean a lens was to use a piece of an old t-shirt, or an old handkerchief, which has been washed many times, and so has had all of the lint and dust removed from it. It also gets a periodic washing, and with the clothes, NOT with the rags!

True story: when I worked for a large photofinisher 24 years ago, one of the employees' wives used to be supplied with the Ilford anti-static cloths, and she used to cut and sew them into small tubes, sealed at one end. They were used as negative cleaning devices, on the printer operator's thumb and index finger, with standard finger cots on the other digits.

 

[Andrew T]

^^^

Good ideas right there!