Dust and Particles on reflector!!! Help please! (Surefire KT2)

shomie911 · Dec 23, 2008

I left my Surefire KT2 on my bench open (the opening facing upwards) for quite a while and today when I picked it up there was a bunch of dust/particles all over the lens and reflector.

Is there any way I can clean it out?

I'll post pics in a little bit.

shomie911 · Dec 24, 2008

Here's a pic:

See why I want to fix it? It's actually worse in person than in the photo, some of the particles move around and I don't want them to touch the bulb. There's also some smudges on the lens on the inside.

light_emitting_dude · Dec 24, 2008

I have used an aircan or better yet air compressor with good results.

Armed_Forces · Dec 24, 2008

That's not a problem, just take your finger and wipe it off.

You might want to put some spit on it and rub it with your shirt to be extra fancy. :devil:

tx101 · Dec 24, 2008

If the aircan/compressor does not work
try using a mini vacuum cleaner, the ones used for cleaning
keyboards .... suck all the dust and particles out

DUQ · Dec 24, 2008

I did the same thing with my turbo head. I used a dry cotton swap to clean the dust off of the inside of the lens.

Lynx_Arc · Dec 24, 2008

you could try 3m micro fiber lens cleaning cloth lightly. they have pockets that pick up dust so they minimize scratching. wipe gently and blow..... the wiping will losen and pick up some of it the blowing the rest.

shomie911 · Dec 24, 2008

Used a full-size vacuum cleaner and got all the big particles out.

How do you clean the lens, I can't get to it. :thinking:

DM51 · Dec 24, 2008

Armed_Forces said:
That's not a problem, just take your finger and wipe it off.

You might want to put some spit on it and rub it with your shirt to be extra fancy. :devil:

That was extremely bad advice, which I am glad you did not follow.

For the benefit of others who may have a similar problem: you should do NOT touch the reflector surface with anything at all, or you will ruin it. The coating is very fragile indeed. Use an air-blower, as other members suggested above.

shomie911 · Dec 24, 2008

DM51 said:
That was extremely bad advice, which I am glad you did not follow.

For the benefit of others who may have a similar problem: you should do NOT touch the reflector surface with anything at all, or you will ruin it. The coating is very fragile indeed. Use an air-blower, as other members suggested above.

Ya, I had more sense than to take that suggestion seriously.

Wiping your finger on any lens or reflector surface makes problems worse, as I've learned from years of photography. :laughing:

The reflector still has little tiny dust particles but those don't bother me at all, I'm just glad I got rid of all those bigger particles.

Thanks guys.

Anyway, now I need suggestions on how to clean the inside of my lens, it's still smudged.

Yoda4561 · Dec 24, 2008

I suggest a can of compressed air, available around the computer accesories area of most retailers. Use the tube that comes with it and blow it all out. Make sure the can is upright, otherwise the compressed liquid inside will shoot out and freeze stuff down to sub zero temps. The smudges will be trickier. If you can get a cotton swab with some eclipse fluid on there that would do the job I think.

DM51 · Dec 24, 2008

Well, unless you can unscrew the bezel ring and take the lens out for cleaning, there isn't really a way to do it that won't just make things worse.

There's very little to grip on those KT2 rings, and SF use Loctite to make sure you can't get them open, so it will be an absolute #%$!/*&! to get off, I think you'll find - even if you use heat and strap wrenches.

shomie911 · Dec 24, 2008

Thanks DM51.

The smudges actually seem to have gotten better after I used the vacuum :thinking: I don't know why.

It doesn't seem to affect output at all, so I'm not going to mess with it and risk making it worse.

Now I have to go get one of those FM Bi-Pin adapters. The MN16 and 2x18650 are good, but I want to burn some barns.

Dust and Particles on reflector!!! Help please! (Surefire KT2)

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