Ruined my DX True 100mW - Scatter

Hi guys,

I'm really annoyed, last night I was shining my laser around my room, when I though I would see if it would burn, so I put some black electrical tape right up to the front of the laser, to my surprise it was burning! But then I pointed the laser at the wall and there is loads of scatter all around the dot ffs!

I gather I have to take the aperture cap of the front and clean the lens, but how do I get the cap off? and is nail varnish remover ok to use to clean the lens?

Thanks guys and I thought I would check with you guys first before I make it worse.

If there's nothing I can do looks like it's finally time to buy an O-like 150mw

Ash

Asherz said:

I gather I have to take the aperture cap of the front and clean the lens, but how do I get the cap off? and is nail varnish remover ok to use to clean the lens?

Click to expand...

The module is screwed onto the aperture cap and the aperture cap is press fitted into the housing. You have to pull the whole assembly out the front and then unscrew the "cap."

Try with a very small, very soft instrument through the opening first. You can ruin the "cap" and/or housing if you are not careful (lucky?) when removing it. Use nothing on the instrument at first. Move to distilled water next. Be VERY gentle. Dirt may be able to be cleaned off. Scratches cannot be removed!

DO NOT use nail polish remover!


Nail polish remover has other ingreadiants that wil leave even more crap on your lens. Get some optics cleaner or some very pure acetone. Even then you are taking a chance that the AR coating will dissolve.

Peace,
dave

I just gave it a try daguin but no improvement, the hole is too small to be able to clean it with anything..

I think I'll just leave it and go with the O-like laser

Thanks for the help

You can clean it without anything special.

How:
- First blow the aperture lightly to get rid of (possible) dust on the lens.
- Make the tip of a Q-tip (ear cleaner) thinner by removing some cotton.
- Moisten the tip of Q-tip. Not wet just barely moisten.
- Push through the aperture and contact with lens. Make a circular sweep. Just one light touch circle and pull out.
- Check that there is no cotton remaining in the laser
- Test the laser

If scatter remains or lessen do the procedure again. Without special cleaners there will be always some scatter so don't be a perfectionist. If it gets good enough, don't touch again.

xception said:

You can clean it without anything special.

How:
- First blow the aperture lightly to get rid of (possible) dust on the lens.
- Make the tip of a Q-tip (ear cleaner) thinner by removing some cotton.
- Moisten the tip of Q-tip. Not wet just barely moisten.
- Push through the aperture and contact with lens. Make a circular sweep. Just one light touch circle and pull out.
- Check that there is no cotton remaining in the laser
- Test the laser

If scatter remains or lessen do the procedure again. Without special cleaners there will be always some scatter so don't be a perfectionist. If it gets good enough, don't touch again.

Click to expand...

Ahh! I just tried this as my 50mW green had quite a bit of scatter, and now its just made it worse! What now?
:cryyy:

im using a lens cleaner solution from a camera store.. it works 100%

DON'T use water!! Use 90% (or higher) isopropyl alcohol. Lens cleaner also will work as above.

I used surgical spirits on a cotton bud then tried to give the lense a wipe but made it worse. then i tried useing a camera lense cloth but i cant fit the cloth in the hole lol
maybe i should try lense cleaning solution on a cotton bud next :/

Phew!! I really thought I'd ruined a decent laser there! Eventually i used the lense cleaning solution on a cotton bud and it worked! It took a couple of attempts to get it right, and also i realised you have to wait for it to dry because any liquid on the lense makes the scatter look twice as bad. There is still quite a bit of scatter at close range but far less than when i got it origionaly and unoticeableat long range.
Anyone know if its commen with DX Tru lasers? Although I suppose you cant expect too much for $20 laser.
anyway thanks for the tips

Nice to hear it all worked out for ya. First time i cleaned a lens i forgot to let it dry before checking and was horrified at the increase scatter from the remaining cleaner