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Interesting! 

Especially because I am looking for a better fixation solution in the first place because I made a total mess out of my dichroic and mirror in my second mounting attempt:

My first approach was to use set screws to fix the glass. Turns out this is a bad idea (as has been said several times now): The stress introduced to the glass completely distorted any image.
My second attempt was to use UV curable optical adhesives (Norland Type OA61 for fixed and NBA107 for reversible mounting). This was an even bigger disaster:
Turns out that a mercury arc lamp without excitation filters does _not_ cure the adhesives overnight _under_ the glass (note to self: mirrors reflect light...). So the dichroics gently sled over the glued surfaces and were nicely and uniformly covered in UV adhesive the next day...

Acetone (or water) followed by the polymer cleaning as you suggested might save them still (I certainly ordered new ones to be safe).

Thanks again for all the suggestions,
Tobias

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Confocal Microscopy List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Horn
> Thomas
> Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2012 11:29 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Removable glue for optics
> 
> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
> 
> Hi Tobias,
> A colleague showed to me a polymer that is made to clean optical surfaces.
> It works like a glue: you pour it onto the surface, it polymerizes and then
> you peel it off like silicon with all the dirt and dust. So it should work
> temporarily like also as an adhesive to stick a mirror to another surface. The
> advantage is, its made for optics so it will not harm any coatings or delicate
> surface. See link below Best regards, Thomas ETH Basel
> 
> 
> No commercial interest
> 
> 
> http://www.photoniccleaning.com/products/#original solutions
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Confocal Microscopy List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mark
> Cannell
> Sent: Montag, 25. Juni 2012 17:45
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Removable glue for optics
> 
> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
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> *****
> 
> Three thoughts:
> 
> PVA blobs which can be peeled after setting or hot glue (stronger -harder to
> peel). Nail varnish  is good too. I've used all 3 but YMMV depending on area
> of contact etc.
> 
> HTH
> 
> Mark
> 
> 
> On 25/06/2012, at 4:38 PM, Tobias Rose wrote:
> 
> > *****
> > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> > http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> > *****
> >
> > Dear all,
> >
> > I need to glue some glass optics onto anodized aluminum surfaces (edges
> of coated dichroic mirror surface and of a full reflective silver mirror). The
> problem is that I'd like to be able to remove the mirrors at some point
> without completely ruining their reflective surfaces and leaving too much
> residue on the glass and aluminum.
> > The glued parts are not in the optical path so the glue does not have to be
> transparent. Also the glue can be quite weak, just enough so that the
> mirrors don't fall off.
> >
> > Can anyone suggest a nice glue for that?
> >
> > Best,
> > Tobias