Jump to content

  •  

CNers have asked about a donation box for Cloudy Nights over the years, so here you go. Donation is not required by any means, so please enjoy your stay.

Photo

Dew caps & shields made out of household items

  • Please log in to reply
149 replies to this topic

#126 shredder1656

shredder1656

    Vanguard

  • *****
  • Posts: 2,050
  • Joined: 24 Sep 2017
  • Loc: Indiana

Posted 14 April 2018 - 04:47 AM

Happy birthday to me!  Been keeping my eyes open for a proper cap for my C80, but coming up dry.  Started going through the pantry and medicine cabinet last night.  After I was well-medicated and my belly was quite full, I started looking for a cap too.  wink.gif   Anyway, made a nice discovery on this mostly consumed canister of raisins.  Not sure I could have found a more perfect fit. 

 

Cobbled together a cap for the finder too, but it isn't as pretty.  Now I just need to get all of the paint chips and nicks fixed.  How careless are people to get these so scuffed and scraped?  foreheadslap.gif

 

20180413_200326.jpg 20180413_200641.jpg


  • ericb760, mdowns, Terra Nova and 3 others like this

#127 2696

2696

    Messenger

  • *****
  • Posts: 458
  • Joined: 27 May 2019
  • Loc: New York

Posted 02 January 2020 - 07:49 PM

Just came across this thread, pretty interesting. I've checked a lot of different container lids but one that really works for me is a Pringles can lid. It fits real well on my SCOPE model 2553. It has a little wiggle room but it does the job. 

 

20200102_194412_compress41.jpg


  • mdowns, Masvingo and shredder1656 like this

#128 jurdea

jurdea

    Explorer 1

  • *****
  • Posts: 83
  • Joined: 13 Jan 2020
  • Loc: Centennial, CO

Posted 01 April 2020 - 08:40 PM

Broken 1956 Unitron 142 dew cap replaced with Daisy sour cream lid from their 16 oz container.  Perfect fit.

 

Note that the expiry date indicates that I need to buy another telescope by mid-June.  Wonder how I will break that news to my wife?

 

Late breaking news:  a tech saavy friend has offered to 'print' me a new cap to match the old right down to the Unitron lettering.  Pays to have friends.

Attached Thumbnails

  • IMG_0019.JPG
  • IMG_0020.JPG

Edited by jurdea, 02 April 2020 - 04:46 PM.

  • mattyfatz, clamchip, DreamWeaver and 6 others like this

#129 clamchip

clamchip

    Hubble

  • *****
  • Posts: 14,025
  • Joined: 09 Aug 2008
  • Loc: Seattle

Posted 26 August 2020 - 06:12 PM

These Pyrex bowl lids are perfect for a 7 inch aluminum tube, your typical 6 inch 

Newtonian, in particular the Edmund white tube reflectors.

Unfortunately though the new ones don't fit as well, too big by about a porcupine

whisker. 

The old one is on the right and the new is on the left. The old one snaps on real

nice, the new one you will need to add a little piece of self-adhesive cork or rubber

to the inside of the rim.

Or check stores or ebay for the old style label.

Robert

 

IMG_0105.jpg

IMG_0107.jpg

IMG_0106.jpg


  • mdowns and AstroKerr like this

#130 ryanr256

ryanr256

    Viking 1

  • *****
  • Posts: 675
  • Joined: 21 Apr 2009
  • Loc: Southwest Ohio

Posted 26 August 2020 - 06:50 PM

I discovered that the cap that holds the applicator for a can of Turtle Wax paste wax fits perfectly on an Edmund 4 inch f/15 (red tube) refractor:

 

post-73649-0-65895000-1594766720.jpg

 

post-73649-0-50334300-1594766749.jpg

 

-Bob


  • mdowns, Marc-Andre and AstroKerr like this

#131 clamchip

clamchip

    Hubble

  • *****
  • Posts: 14,025
  • Joined: 09 Aug 2008
  • Loc: Seattle

Posted 04 August 2022 - 11:19 PM

Celestron GP-C102 and as I type this I just thought Lloyd's BBQ sauce might be just the thing to keep

the mosquitoes busy so I can observe in peace !

Robert

 

IMG_0849.jpg


Edited by clamchip, 04 August 2022 - 11:21 PM.

  • jcruse64, AstroKerr and Senex Bibax like this

#132 barbie

barbie

    Gemini

  • *****
  • Posts: 3,337
  • Joined: 28 Jan 2013
  • Loc: Northeast Ohio

Posted 09 August 2022 - 08:55 PM

I usually print out star charts or Marvin The Martian character from the internet and then have them laminated and flock the inside. I'm going to do a "Marvin" one for my newly acquired AT80ED refractor whose been named "Marvin"!!


  • AstroKerr likes this

#133 clamchip

clamchip

    Hubble

  • *****
  • Posts: 14,025
  • Joined: 09 Aug 2008
  • Loc: Seattle

Posted 11 July 2024 - 11:46 PM

If your local grocery store turns up nothing you can make a dust cap.

I'm really happy with this cardboard one I made for my Jaegers 6 inch Mak.

Thick cardboard from last years desk calendar, I cut it to fit the Jaegers cell with precision to keep out

even the smallest insect. I glued it together with Carpenter's Glue over waxed paper pinned to

my model building bench to hold it's shape until dry. 

Robert

 

IMG_1849.JPG

IMG_2498.JPG


  • Terra Nova, Kasmos and Weisswurst Josef like this

#134 Kasmos

Kasmos

    Cosmos

  • *****
  • Posts: 7,718
  • Joined: 19 Aug 2015
  • Loc: So Cal

Posted 12 July 2024 - 03:27 AM

I've been meaning to post this one for a long time

 

Bread-Crumbs.jpg

They fit 60mm Towas

Bread-Crumb-Cap.jpg

I have one on the Towa Cutdown Mayflower 813 and the Penncrest 60/1000mm.

 

Like Robert I've made a few from cardboard and once did a thread on making them from cardboard tubes coated with Titebond.

https://www.cloudyni...mple-materials/

 

I've done the same technique using the cardboard center from a used up masking tape a few times.

TRDS.jpg

Check-Fit.jpg

TRDS2.jpg

Check-Fit2.jpg

TRDS-Done.jpg

 

 

 


  • deSitter, k5apl, clamchip and 4 others like this

#135 deSitter

deSitter

    Still in Old School

  • *****
  • Posts: 22,279
  • Joined: 09 Dec 2004

Posted 12 July 2024 - 08:05 AM

Sliding dew shield made from two sheets of Foamie.

 

Dennis

Was thinking about a new dew shield for my ETX and this is it! Thanks!

 

-drl



#136 deSitter

deSitter

    Still in Old School

  • *****
  • Posts: 22,279
  • Joined: 09 Dec 2004

Posted 12 July 2024 - 08:29 AM

I've been meaning to post this one for a long time

 

attachicon.gif Bread-Crumbs.jpg

They fit 60mm Towas

attachicon.gif Bread-Crumb-Cap.jpg

I have one on the Towa Cutdown Mayflower 813 and the Penncrest 60/1000mm.

 

Like Robert I've made a few from cardboard and once did a thread on making them from cardboard tubes coated with Titebond.

https://www.cloudyni...mple-materials/

 

I've done the same technique using the cardboard center from a used up masking tape a few times.

attachicon.gif TRDS.jpg

attachicon.gif Check-Fit.jpg

attachicon.gif TRDS2.jpg

attachicon.gif Check-Fit2.jpg

attachicon.gif TRDS-Done.jpg

That's excellent information!

 

-drl


  • ErnH2O likes this

#137 Werckmeister

Werckmeister

    Explorer 1

  • -----
  • Posts: 87
  • Joined: 08 Jun 2021
  • Loc: Europe

Posted 13 July 2024 - 03:15 AM

Thick yogamat
 

Attached Thumbnails

  • yogamat.jpg

  • LU1AR and Weisswurst Josef like this

#138 clamchip

clamchip

    Hubble

  • *****
  • Posts: 14,025
  • Joined: 09 Aug 2008
  • Loc: Seattle

Posted 06 October 2024 - 07:21 PM

These are surgery room shoe covers.

They are made from lint free material.

So far I think I like them.

Robert

 

IMG_2738.jpg


  • deSitter and tturtle like this

#139 deSitter

deSitter

    Still in Old School

  • *****
  • Posts: 22,279
  • Joined: 09 Dec 2004

Posted 07 October 2024 - 04:00 PM

Thick yogamat
 

I did this for a finder! Stuck a bolt through the center as a handle.

 

-drl



#140 jragsdale

jragsdale

    Aurora

  • *****
  • Posts: 4,627
  • Joined: 07 Dec 2015
  • Loc: Idaho

Posted 07 October 2024 - 10:22 PM

I used to raid the pantry for nice fitting caps, but since getting a 3D printer, it's so easy to print out a perfect fitting custom cap in about an hour. Best investment I made in astronomy in a long time!



#141 Kasmos

Kasmos

    Cosmos

  • *****
  • Posts: 7,718
  • Joined: 19 Aug 2015
  • Loc: So Cal

Posted 08 October 2024 - 01:44 AM

I used to raid the pantry for nice fitting caps, but since getting a 3D printer, it's so easy to print out a perfect fitting custom cap in about an hour. Best investment I made in astronomy in a long time!

I'm not going to pay $1000 just to make a gosh darn dewcap!

 

gramps.gif In my day, if we wanted to make one, we took a whole day off work, made it from scratch, and usually cut a finger or two off when doing it....and that's the way it was and we liked it!

 

https://www.google.c...t3jqRlElOM,st:0

 

When I saw that the last post was coming from you, somehow I knew what was coming next. wink.png


Edited by Kasmos, 08 October 2024 - 01:45 AM.

  • DreamWeaver, jragsdale and Weisswurst Josef like this

#142 Orion68

Orion68

    Mercury-Atlas

  • *****
  • Posts: 2,714
  • Joined: 18 Jan 2014

Posted 11 October 2024 - 05:33 PM

I don't throw away any jar lids and keep them for dust covers. A tennis ball can lid works well for classic 60mm scopes.

 

tennis can lid.jpg


  • deSitter and Werckmeister like this

#143 deSitter

deSitter

    Still in Old School

  • *****
  • Posts: 22,279
  • Joined: 09 Dec 2004

Posted 12 October 2024 - 06:00 PM

Suggestions for a Vixen 80m?

 

-drl



#144 jragsdale

jragsdale

    Aurora

  • *****
  • Posts: 4,627
  • Joined: 07 Dec 2015
  • Loc: Idaho

Posted 12 October 2024 - 06:23 PM

I'm not going to pay $1000 just to make a gosh darn dewcap!

 

gramps.gif In my day, if we wanted to make one, we took a whole day off work, made it from scratch, and usually cut a finger or two off when doing it....and that's the way it was and we liked it!

 

https://www.google.c...t3jqRlElOM,st:0

 

When I saw that the last post was coming from you, somehow I knew what was coming next. wink.png

$1000?! You only need about a $200 printer if you just want to make basic astro stuff (Bambu A1 Mini).


  • Kasmos and ErnH2O like this

#145 clamchip

clamchip

    Hubble

  • *****
  • Posts: 14,025
  • Joined: 09 Aug 2008
  • Loc: Seattle

Posted 08 December 2024 - 03:31 PM

Out of the blue today I thought wouldn't it be grand to have Tupperware host a party specifically for dust caps and dew shields for telescopes.

 

468858938_122202105044066157_1714629629968657188_n.jpg


Edited by clamchip, 08 December 2024 - 03:33 PM.

  • deSitter, Terra Nova, jcruse64 and 1 other like this

#146 Chuck2

Chuck2

    Viking 1

  • -----
  • Posts: 639
  • Joined: 05 Oct 2016
  • Loc: Central UTAH, SQM 21.75, Bortle 3

Posted 12 December 2024 - 10:34 PM

These are surgery room shoe covers.

They are made from lint free material.

So far I think I like them.

Robert

 

attachicon.gif IMG_2738.jpg

Similar to the hotel disposable shower caps I used on my 10” Newt back on 1972.


  • clamchip likes this

#147 Chuck2

Chuck2

    Viking 1

  • -----
  • Posts: 639
  • Joined: 05 Oct 2016
  • Loc: Central UTAH, SQM 21.75, Bortle 3

Posted 12 December 2024 - 11:17 PM

Dew Shield:
  1. Quaker Oats cardboard container
  2. Cut off the top and bottom for nice clean edges
  3. Spray 4 coats of exterior gloss paint for a smooth, cleanable, ridged surface
  4. Line inside with self adhesive black felt for a non-reflective, easy to slide ‘dew’ shield

Why a ‘dew’ shield for a Lunt Ha solar scope? During the daytime, dust, tree sap and ‘honeydew’ rains down on the front objective!  

 

What is honeydew?

 

“Aphids on tree foliage feed by sucking fluid from the tree through a slender mouthpart called a proboscis. As they feed, they secrete a sticky fluid called honeydew. When trees are infested with aphids, the sticky honeydew will begin dripping and misting down from the leaves. The sticky mist can be carried great distances from the tree canopy with light wind”

Attached Thumbnails

  • IMG_3473.jpeg

  • mdowns likes this

#148 deSitter

deSitter

    Still in Old School

  • *****
  • Posts: 22,279
  • Joined: 09 Dec 2004

Posted 13 December 2024 - 12:58 PM

Happy birthday to me!  Been keeping my eyes open for a proper cap for my C80, but coming up dry.  Started going through the pantry and medicine cabinet last night.  After I was well-medicated and my belly was quite full, I started looking for a cap too.  wink.gif   Anyway, made a nice discovery on this mostly consumed canister of raisins.  Not sure I could have found a more perfect fit. 

 

Cobbled together a cap for the finder too, but it isn't as pretty.  Now I just need to get all of the paint chips and nicks fixed.  How careless are people to get these so scuffed and scraped?  foreheadslap.gif

 

attachicon.gif 20180413_200326.jpgattachicon.gif 20180413_200641.jpg

No chance in hades I'm buying raisins, but if you have a surprlus, send one this way for MY Vixen C80!

 

-drl



#149 apfever

apfever

    Cosmos

  • *****
  • Posts: 8,807
  • Joined: 13 May 2008

Posted 13 December 2024 - 02:48 PM

I like red and raisins. It would look good on the early O.T. C80. I think.



#150 clamchip

clamchip

    Hubble

  • *****
  • Posts: 14,025
  • Joined: 09 Aug 2008
  • Loc: Seattle

Posted 14 December 2024 - 01:32 AM

I often wonder what the original application was for the Edmund 3 and 4 inch refractor dew shields.

Knowing Edmund pretty well I'll bet they were from war surplus. I suppose it could have been made

specifically for this purpose but I wonder because it has the look of it came from something else.

If anyone recognizes it let's hear about it because to find one loose in the wild I'm sure your chances

of finding a Wonka's Golden Ticket are better.   

That's Glowy, he likes riding up there. 

The Edmund dew shield is lightweight putting the tube mounting rings at the center of the telescope

for a balanced very pleasing to the eye instrument and best of all it works great.

Robert

 

post-50896-0-94445000-1593380170.jpg

post-50896-0-94045200-1531178998.jpg

post-50896-0-10099700-1633995320.jpg


Edited by clamchip, 14 December 2024 - 02:09 AM.

  • mdowns and Chuck2 like this


CNers have asked about a donation box for Cloudy Nights over the years, so here you go. Donation is not required by any means, so please enjoy your stay.


Recent Topics






Cloudy Nights LLC
Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics