Which Eclipse fluid?

tirc83

tirc83

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Apologies if this is the wrong forum to bring this up but I need to wet clean the sensor on my 1DsM3.

I have the original Eclipse which I use on my 20D and I also have Eclipse 2 which was recommended for use on my 1DM3 but I can't find any (up to date) info on which to use - or if I have to get Eclipse 3 (yes I may open a cocktail bar if I do). I read Eclipse 2 has been discontiued but is still perfectly safe ;-)

Anyone know for definite on this?
 
When the 5D came out some people thought that Ecplise was causing the coating on their sensors to fall off. In a panic Eclipse 2 was released, replacing the methanol with propanol/water. It took a few tests to determine thta the original panic was groundless FUD. What with the nature of the interwebs it soon became CIK (Common Internet Knowledge - complete [PLEASE DON'T TRY TO BYPASS THE SWEAR FILTER] that attains the nature of a fact by continuous repetition on the net) that some sensors needed Eclipse2.

For anybody who thinks that Eclipse may be a bit expensive - try and find somebody that works in a lab who can supply you with methanol at around 1/20th the cost.
 
Thanks for all the replies folks - very helpful. I've tried a blower brush for now but will have no qualms about using my pecpad (ooer missus) and Eclipse if necessary.
 
I ordered some not 5 mins before I read this thread today! Panicked before I read that it's safe for all sensors (got a 5D mk II and a 40D to do). So nice one for pointing it out!

Got my pec pads and glue spatulas at the ready, deep breath...

via TP Forums for iPhone
 
I'd just use an artic butterfly rather than putting methanol on the screen over the sensor. methanol is highly corrosive
 
POAH said:
I'd just use an artic butterfly rather than putting methanol on the screen over the sensor. methanol is highly corrosive
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Really? It is not in any MSDS data sheets, to start with. It is just a normal protic solvent, in fact far less corrosive or reactive than distilled water. Perhaps freshly distilled diethyl ether or THF could be better as long as they don't dissolve any plastic bits. I'd stay well away from anything chlorinated like DCM. Maybe pentane? It depends what the stains and materials in the mirror box are. I'd need a donated dSLR and swabs to conduct any scientific experiments.
 
methanol has a particular fondness for magnessium alloys and also has a particular love of rubbers and plastics (paint too).




daugirdas said:
Really? It is not in any MSDS data sheets, to start with. It is just a normal protic solvent, in fact far less corrosive or reactive than distilled water. Perhaps freshly distilled diethyl ether or THF could be better as long as they don't dissolve any plastic bits. I'd stay well away from anything chlorinated like DCM. Maybe pentane? It depends what the stains and materials in the mirror box are. I'd need a donated dSLR and swabs to conduct any scientific experiments.
Click to expand...
 
POAH said:
3rds don't count for anything TBH

I suggest you re-check an MSDS - I use methanol almost every day
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I agree, mine's a first.:cool:


Point me to an MSDS that says that methanol attacks magnesium alloy and I'll eat my lab coat. Before I retired I did use methanol every single day. I know that it's less corrosive than water. I know that it doesn't dissolve any of the plastics that I spilled it on or stored it in.

I have no personal experience of methanol with rubber so I went to the Cole-Parmer compatibility guide - Link. There I entered 'Natural Rubber' in the left column and 'Alcohols: Methyl' into the right column and hit 'Submit'. Here's the results...
The Material Selected Natural rubber
Interacting with the Chemical Alcohols:Methyl
Has a Compatibility Level of A-Excellent
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POAH said:
methanol has a particular fondness for magnessium alloys and also has a particular love of rubbers and plastics (paint too).
Click to expand...

I am sorry I would rather believe in Martians. I use methanol nearly everyday and it barely removes marker pen writing and dissolves polar small molecules. It is by far not the best solvent for most polymers, and doesn't have even remotely close pKa to react with magnesium alloys. I do chemistry for a living tbh.
 
daugirdas said:
I am sorry I would rather believe in Martians. I use methanol nearly everyday and it barely removes marker pen writing and dissolves polar small molecules. It is by far not the best solvent for most polymers, and doesn't have even remotely close pKa to react with magnesium alloys. I do chemistry for a living tbh.
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Hi Mulder :wave:
 
I suspect you are thinking of a reaction like water and potassium where as I am not.



hollis_f said:
Point me to an MSDS that says that methanol attacks magnesium alloy and I'll eat my lab coat. Before I retired I did use methanol every single day. I know that it's less corrosive than water. I know that it doesn't dissolve any of the plastics that I spilled it on or stored it in.
Click to expand...
 
daugirdas said:
I am not sure what is in your methanol then... Maybe you meant methanal (formaldehyde)?
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well both can be used for fixing cells but I know the difference.
 
OK now that I've established it's the original Eclipse I use, can anyone recommend a sensor cleaning swab (size)? I'm at the Focus Show this Sunday and there's usually a stall or two selling these but I'm happy to go mail order if it saves me a few bob.
 
hollis_f said:
I agree, mine's a first.:cool:


Point me to an MSDS that says that methanol attacks magnesium alloy and I'll eat my lab coat. Before I retired I did use methanol every single day. I know that it's less corrosive than water. I know that it doesn't dissolve any of the plastics that I spilled it on or stored it in.

I have no personal experience of methanol with rubber so I went to the Cole-Parmer compatibility guide - Link. There I entered 'Natural Rubber' in the left column and 'Alcohols: Methyl' into the right column and hit 'Submit'. Here's the results...
Click to expand...

Sorry to drag up an old thread. I came across this post while searching for details of why Mg alloys react with methanol. I also like photography so thought I'd register.

Anyways, I'm at the end of my PhD studying Mg alloys (Mg-Zn-Nd-Y-Zr). I have found that methanol reacts with my alloys. I discovered this when making thin foils for electron microscopy. After grinding and polishing the foils to around 80um I placed them in Methanol to clean them. After 20 seconds, the samples started fizzing violently and eventually dissolved all together. Quite frustrating when you've spent the whole morning preparing the samples. However, this only seems to be the case with hi-purity, anhydrous methanol. Once a spot of water is added the reaction stops.

Obviously, this reaction is dependant on alloy composition. However I have observed this reaction with the standard AZ31 alloy too (Mg-Al-Zn).

A couple of references:

http://www.magnesium.com/w3/data-bank/index.php?mgw=166

Scroll down to the Organic Compounds section

http://www.osti.gov/energycitations/product.biblio.jsp?osti_id=5731433

An abstract regarding the concerns of methanol-based fuels being used with Mg alloys.

Hope this clears things up.

On a side note, if you ever get the chance to work with Mg, dont! Horrible material to work with.
 
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