Anonymous
Unregistered
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I had been searching for some cheap solar filters and decided to build my own. I have Barska's 15x70's, and went to a local hardware shop and bought PVC 3" end caps. They are exactly the same size in diameter as the objective caps that come with the binos (actually 3 1/4"). Unfortunately, because they don't stretch like the caps, they were just a little too small. I took a Dremel and opened them up slightly and they fit perfectly. I also have a pair of Baader solar filter's on order (the 1.5"). I drilled a 1.5" hole in the PVC caps and the filters will fit directly inside the caps with either glue or tape.
I was going to cut a hole in the obj. caps, but I wanted something more sturdy. Cost me less than $5.
I'll post pictures when I receive the filters.
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Wilson
member
Reged: 01/02/04
Posts: 10
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Hello Dan,
I made solar filters for my Pentax binocular and posted some pictures of them on the Solar Observing forum. I believe this is the URL for the start of that topic: http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=1,2,3,4,5,8,9,10&Board=solar&Number=37854&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1#Post39234. At any rate, the filters work great. Good luck.
Wilson
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Dan,
I have made solar filters from the Baader film and am very satisfied with the results.
I noticed that you are using PVC for the housing on the filters you plan to make. Is the PVC white and will it transmit light? The PVC sounds like it may be a bit heavy causing your binos to be front heavy.
My solar filter housings are made of dense cardboard tube and the end that secures the filter material is made of reinforced dense cardboard. All interior surfaces have a black finish to prevent any light transmission. The cardboard is light and has not caused any significant front heavy problems.
I have also used a piece of the left over Baader filter material to make an "alignment window" (placed on top of the binos) for ease in lining the binos up to the Sun for viewing.
Good luck with the project. Nick
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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The PVC was white but I painted it semi-flat black to block out all light. I'll paint the interior as well after I receive the filters. The PVC is actually very light, I don't really notice the difference in weight. I didn't want to take any chances with them falling off, and I was a bit worried about using plain cardboard for that reason. Dense cardboard tube sounds ideal as well for these filters.
I haven't received the filter material yet, so far these work great as masks for looking at the moon too. Here's a picture of my caps.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Dan,
Those look really nice. Good work. I don't know if you have worked with the Baader solar film before but it is hard to keep from getting any wrinkles in the final product. However, I have a few wrinkles in my Baader solar filters and it does not appear to make any difference that I can see.
Again, good luck and I think you will be amazed with the views you will get with your 15x70s (I think those are Barskas in the photo).
Nick
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Hey Nick,
Yeah, I checked the website and it says that the film should not be stretched, and the wrinkles do not degrade the view any. I ordered a pair of 1.5" filters, and I believe they come fitted already in cardboard..? I think I should be able to cut the cardboard to size, and then just glue them on the inside of the caps.
Yep they're Barska's.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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I didn't know (or have totally forgotten) that the Baader filter material came pre-mounted. Sounds like that would be convenient.
You will be amazed at how black the sky will be with the filters. The color of the sun will be white with a hint of blue-gray.
Nick
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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The website says it comes pre-mounted in a cardboard frame (for the 1.5" bino. pair), or you can by larger sheets. I have an 8" solar filter for my dob. and it's amazing how much light it cuts out. It's from Thousand Oaks Optical, and looks more of a natural yellow, does the white or blueish tint give more contrast than the yellow?
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Dan,
I couldn't tell you if the Thousand Oaks solar filter yellow image gives more contrast than the Baader bluish-white since I have never used filters that gave the yellow view. You will have to let me know the difference in contrast once you get the Baaders working.
Nick
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Those look nice. I'm too scared to look at the sun, lol, I don't know if I ever will. When I was around 5-7 or so, I used to be able to look at the sun for several seconds without any bother, but it seems to have gotten a lot brighter now or something... Is it rare to be able to see earthshine on the moon during the day? I was able to see this before too, when the sky was very bright, now I can't even look in the opposite direction of the sun without my eyes watering in less than a second.. weird. 
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NDonahoe
super member
Reged: 12/16/03
Posts: 155
Loc: Knoxville, TN
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Quote:
Hey Nick,
Yeah, I checked the website and it says that the film should not be stretched, and the wrinkles do not degrade the view any.
The wrinkles do make a difference when doing photography (exp. longer than 1/30 sec at f/5.5) or at least it did with me.
-Clear Skies,
Nate
--------------------
"The heavens call to you, and circle around you, displaying to you their eternal splendors."
-Dante
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wilash
Fairy Godmother
Reged: 09/30/03
Posts: 5746
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The photosphere of the sun is white and not yellow or orange. The Baader AstroSolar film gives a fairly natural appearance to the sun.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Completed solar filter caps. Work great.
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Dan,
The finished solar filters look good. Looks like you were able to mount the Baader film with no ripples (hope its not stretched, Yikes). Does the white color of the PVC showing in the inner circle (on front) create a halo. Perhaps the filter material would block any such glow seeing as how it filters sun light. At any rate, first class job. Nicely done.
Nick
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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It has a few ripples. It was mounted in cardboard when I received it, I just trimmed the cardboard. The inner circle is painted black, it just looks white from the flash. There is a red halo from the cardboard around the film, but the filters are so dark, I can't see any ghosting or halo at all. The views are awesome, now I'm thinking of a way to make an adapter to use these on my 22x100's. 
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