Reddit reviews Kimtech Science KimWipes Delicate Task Wipers; 4.4 x 8.4 in. (11.2 x 21.3cm); 1-ply 280 count

I'll just give you a list of the items I've been using (and like):

https://www.amazon.com/Hakko-T18-D08-D12-D24-D32/dp/B00C1N30DI Hakko FX-888D. The extra tips may be unnecessary, I only ever use the one chisel tip

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00068IJPO Leaded solder

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004SPGFT8 Brushes

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FZPDG1K Side cutters

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00425FUW2 Flux

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008O9VLA2 Solder Wick

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013HT2QW KimWipes

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001B5JT8C Isopropyl Alcohol

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005CU56KM Acetone spray (use carefully/sparingly)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004G5T9M0 Jewelers loupe

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019SLLOMY Tweezers

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00P8Z4RPG Hot air station (works well despite Chinesium)

Also, I noticed in Dave's videos he rarely adds flux, just the flux that's built into the multicore solder. I don't know if I'm alone on this one but with flux I always felt the bigger the glob the better the job. Just have to clean it afterwards with the solvent, tissues & brushes.

Edit: Okay that's a much bigger list than I thought, this stuff can get expensive!

BEST

Blow it off with rocket air, use these and this. Bit of solution on one cloth, wipe in a circle from center, use another cloth to dry. Perfect every time, I work in a camera shop and that's what we do there.

I used to buy: https://www.amazon.com/Xcel-Disposable-MicroFiber-Dry-Cloth/dp/B01C6QBZPE/

But those appear to no longer be available.

These Kimtech ones should be a pretty good alternative:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0013HT2QW/

Edit: The Xcel ones didn't really shed if torn/cut, for what it's worth.

Edit 2: There's also a lot of really good cleaning swabs (as opposed to shitty cotton ones) on Amazon under "Cleanroom Swab"

It has a trinocular head, the tube is to mount a camera if you choose. The opening should be capped when not in use so dust and dirt stays out. 100x objectives need immersion oil on the slide to focus. Youtube should have plenty of videos how to use the oil.

For cleaning look here http://www.well.ox.ac.uk/_asset/file/the-clean-microscope.pdf

A general tip, I recommend getting a box of these https://www.amazon.com/Kimtech-Science-KimWipes-Delicate-Wipers/dp/B0013HT2QW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1543119000&sr=8-4&keywords=Microscope%2BWipes&th=1&psc=1. I use them to clean up glass surfaces on the scope and even sunglasses, but should be used with a lense cleaner and in proper process.

If you want to do it right, you can clean the extra flux off using isopropyl and KimWipes. If you don't, it won't hurt anything.

Here's some soldering porn that shows how to use KimWipes and isopropyl to clean flux.

I hope this inspires you to learn more! There are plenty of videos on YouTube that can teach you how to solder, I suggest you take your time to watch a handful of them. You'll be proud of your work and your flying machine will be more reliable.

Refilling can be done cleanly with the proper tools and time. Still, a cartridge requires little thought and effort. You should know however, they are more expensive, dry faster, and limited in terms of styles available.

I use Quink cartridges on the pen I keep at my desk for notes and such, but refil most of the ones I carry on me.

Tips for refilling cleanly:

• Buy some cheap nitrile gloves and Kimwipes
  
• Cover your surface or work on a non-porous surface.
  
• Keep a small beaker/5ml of 70% isopropyl about. Never use a higher grade, or acetone as these will eat through the plastics, varnishes, etc.
  
• Dip only as much of the pen tip is necessary to fill the cartridge, usually just the first half of the nib. When done, dip that same amount in the alcohol.
  
• Wipe dry with a Kim-wipe.
  
  You might also try removing the cartridge from the pen when you refill. I just don't thing this is much easier or cleaner. For some cartridges you run the risk of dumping 10ml of ink around in the process. A small amount, that will spread far and be impossible to remove.

FYI you can get them online still

Kimwipes (you may have used them to clean off microscope lenses at some point in your life) are also good

Televue has a guide on eyepiece cleaning here. But the short answer is that a q-tip and alcohol should be fine, and so would pretty much anything else that you'd use for cleaning camera lenses.

Personally, I use a rocket blower to get rid of loose dust, and a lens pen for oils/fingerprints/whatever. When things get really bad, it's lens cleaning fluid from the camera store and Kimwipes (these guys don't leave lint behind like qtips/Kleenex do).

It depends on what you're doing. I think actone rub with a fiber free wipe can smooth things out wonderfully without affecting the structral integrity of the part.
http://www.amazon.com/Kimtech-Science-KimWipes-Delicate-Wipers/dp/B0013HT2QW

Kimwipes!

They're cheap and made for cleaning microscope slides. They get the job done very well.