7
USING YOUR
ZHUMELL DOBSONIAN TELESCOPE
CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE
A telescope is carefully aligned during construction, and great care should
be taken to maintain this alignment over the life of the telescope. Cleaning
should be done as little as possible and then only with mild soap solution
and a soft, lint-free cloth. Do not rub elements when cleaning. Blot optical
components gently and allow telescope to air-dry. Store telescope in
its box or in a telescope case when not in use. Do not use pure alcohol
or solvents to clean any parts of the telescope. Do not remove optical
elements from the telescope as doing so may affect the alignment of
optical components when reassembled. If telescope needs realignment,
contact Zhumell or another professional.
1.
Brush telescope optics with camelhair brush or blow off dust with
an ear syringe (can be purchased at any pharmacy). Do not use a
commercial photographic lens cleaner.
2.
Remove organic materials (e.g. fingerprints) with short gentle strokes
using soft white tissue paper and a solution of three parts distilled
water and one part isopropyl alcohol. You may also add one drop of
biodegradable dish soap to one pint of the homemade solution. Do
not use lotioned or scented tissues as they could damage the optics
of your telescope.
3.
Wipe down the outside of your telescope with a dry cloth to remove
condensation prior to packing up your telescope. Do not wipe any of
the optical surfaces. Instead, allow the optics to dry naturally in warm
indoor air prior to packing up your telescope.
4.
Protect your telescope from excessive heat. For example, do not
store your telescope in a sealed car on a warm day. Excessive storage
temperatures can damage your telescope.
