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Equipment Discussions >> Reflectors

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JoeinWV
journeyman

Reged: 05/20/12

Loc: WV, USA

Telescope smell
#5572928 - 12/15/12 05:54 PM

Has anyone ever noticed the the smell of a new reflector?
Call me weird (which many have done, lol)
But they seem to have a particular scent to them...
Sort of like the new car smell.

Post Extras:

Scott in NC
Mad Hatter

Reged: 03/05/05

Loc: NC

Re: Telescope smell new

[Re: JoeinWV]
#5572939 - 12/15/12 05:59 PM

Mmmmmm....

Post Extras:

Astrojensen
Post Laureate

Reged: 10/05/08

Loc: Bornholm, Denmark

Re: Telescope smell new

[Re: Scott in NC]
#5572975 - 12/15/12 06:28 PM

Do they sell it on cans?

Thomas, Denmark

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paul mc c
member

Reged: 05/14/09

Loc: Belfast Ireland

Re: Telescope smell new

[Re: Astrojensen]
#5573020 - 12/15/12 07:07 PM

The smell of a Tal is unmistakable...mmmmm TALLLLL!

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Jon Isaacs
Postmaster

Reged: 06/16/04

Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA

Re: Telescope smell new

[Re: JoeinWV]
#5573051 - 12/15/12 07:27 PM

Quote:

Has anyone ever noticed the the smell of a new reflector?
Call me weird (which many have done, lol)
But they seem to have a particular scent to them...
Sort of like the new car smell.

Don't know, never owned a new reflector.

But both my 12.5 Meade Research Grade and my Criterion RV-6 are more than 30 years old and the tubes both still smell strongly of phenolic.

Jon

Post Extras:

mdowns
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 06/12/10

Loc: Englewood,FL

Re: Telescope smell new

[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#5573076 - 12/15/12 07:49 PM

The last new refector I bought was 7 or 8 years ago and I dont really recall a particular smell.I do however remember very well the smell of my 4" dynascope from the mid sixties.Bakelite will always be a fond memory to me,BTW,great to see the pics of your scopes,old friends of mine from the past as well.

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Jim7728
Postmaster

Reged: 04/10/05

Loc: Stoop Landing Observatory, NYC

Re: Telescope smell new

[Re: JoeinWV]
#5573084 - 12/15/12 07:53 PM

Always liked the smell of sono-tube from my old Starfinder dob. Smells like the outdoors.

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Dwight J
sage

Reged: 05/14/09

Loc: Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada

Re: Telescope smell new

[Re: Jim7728]
#5573290 - 12/15/12 09:48 PM

A friend of mine had a new 10" Meade Research Series newt and he would often take off the dust cover and take several deep sniffs of the fresh telescope. I got off on it too but my wife thought we were both crazy. They do have that certain eu du scope.

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nirvanix
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 06/07/07

Loc: Saskatoon, SK

Re: Telescope smell new

[Re: Dwight J]
#5573311 - 12/15/12 10:09 PM

Quote:

A friend of mine had a new 10" Meade Research Series newt and he would often take off the dust cover and take several deep sniffs of the fresh telescope. I got off on it too but my wife thought we were both crazy. They do have that certain eu du scope.

That's hilarious. Your wife caught you sniffing telescope.

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KidOrion
professor emeritus

Reged: 07/07/07

Loc: Carbondale, IL

Re: Telescope smell new

[Re: Jim7728]
#5573838 - 12/16/12 09:56 AM

Quote:

Always liked the smell of sono-tube from my old Starfinder dob. Smells like the outdoors.

Yep. My Coulter had a very distinct smell that I always associate with observing.

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star drop
Snowed In

Reged: 02/02/08

Loc: Snow Plop, WNY

Re: Telescope smell new

[Re: KidOrion]
#5573955 - 12/16/12 11:05 AM

Quote:

Quote:

Always liked the smell of sono-tube from my old Starfinder dob. Smells like the outdoors.

Yep. My Coulter had a very distinct smell that I always associate with observing.

Sonotube sniffers rejoice!

Twenty five year old Sonotube still smells like new.

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Asbytec
Guy in a furry hat

Reged: 08/08/07

Loc: La Union, PI

Re: Telescope smell new

[Re: star drop]
#5574034 - 12/16/12 11:47 AM

Wish one of those "fresh scope" air fresheners could hang form my rear view mirror. You know, pick em up in a gas station.

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ed_turco
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/29/09

Loc: Lincoln, RI

Re: Telescope smell new

[Re: Asbytec]
#5574210 - 12/16/12 01:56 PM

Agree with the bakelite comment. I miss it so.

Ed

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jeff heck
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 01/16/06

Loc: stl,mo.

Re: Telescope smell new

[Re: ed_turco]
#5574243 - 12/16/12 02:22 PM

After washing my shroud I get a nice Tide scent for a few nights.

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SteveG
Post Laureate

Reged: 09/27/06

Loc: Seattle, WA

Re: Telescope smell new

[Re: JoeinWV]
#5574395 - 12/16/12 03:59 PM

Not the scope but I do notice the smell of my eyepieces. Televue's have a combo smell of machined metal and rubber, and XW's have that rubber armored smell. My stripped down Meade series 5k have a heavy smell of machined aluminum.

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rguasto
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/18/10

Loc: Long Island, NY

Re: Telescope smell new

[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#5574460 - 12/16/12 04:40 PM

Quote:

Don't know, never owned a new reflector.

But both my 12.5 Meade Research Grade and my Criterion RV-6 are more than 30 years old and the tubes both still smell strongly of phenolic.

Here too!
51 years old and still has the unmistakable fragrance of bakelite

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GeneT
Ely Kid

Reged: 11/07/08

Loc: South Texas

Re: Telescope smell new

[Re: JoeinWV]
#5574516 - 12/16/12 05:19 PM

Yes--but like with a new car, it fades, then disappears.

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Mirzam
Post Laureate

Reged: 04/01/08

Loc: Lovettsville, VA

Re: Telescope smell new

[Re: ed_turco]
#5574572 - 12/16/12 06:03 PM

I had a bakelite experience. My RV-6, purchased new in 1968, of course had the wonderful bakelite aroma.

When I restored the scope a few years ago, I sniffed the tube and it still had the smell! I thought "Wow, that is amazing". But some time later I couldn't detect the bakelite aroma any more. I think it was all in my head!

JimC

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Jon Isaacs
Postmaster

Reged: 06/16/04

Loc: San Diego and Boulevard, CA

Re: Telescope smell new

[Re: Mirzam]
#5574726 - 12/16/12 08:26 PM

Quote:

I had a bakelite experience. My RV-6, purchased new in 1968, of course had the wonderful bakelite aroma.

When I restored the scope a few years ago, I sniffed the tube and it still had the smell! I thought "Wow, that is amazing". But some time later I couldn't detect the bakelite aroma any more. I think it was all in my head!

JimC

Jim:

My RV-6 seems to have a motor date of 4-12-71. The tube still smells like a burnt electrical circuit.

Jon

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Glen A W
sage

Reged: 07/04/08

Loc: WEST VIRGINIA USA

Re: Telescope smell new

[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#5577049 - 12/18/12 10:17 AM

I recall how my Hardin 10" Dob smelled. Kind of like moth balls. I liked it, though. GW

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