81 replies to this topic

[ccwemyss]

What worked beautifully for a finder was - strip the paint, clean, use Rusto 2x gloss white, several coats, and then polish with cerium oxide. This works FAST and you can overdo it! Also works great brightening up weathered finish on classics.

 

-drl

I plan to do that on the Pentax 100's guide scope, where the thin paint was coming off as I tried to remove some glue. The 6"f9 is a much bigger area, and the tube isn't as smooth. So the hammer texture would help to hide the imperfections. If I knew how to get the spattered texture that the current AP scopes use, I'd do that instead. 

 

My prior efforts on an 80mm f15 tube  involved building plugs to go in the ends of the tube, with a hole for a dowel to go through, then spinning the tube as I sprayed it and while the paint setup, to prevent runs. I think the 4' long tube is going to need either a motor or an assistant to turn it while I spray it. 

 

Powder coating would be nice, but our nearest place is about an hour away and I have yet to try anything with them. I'm not going to risk the AP scope on a first attempt. 

 

Chip W. 

[Kasmos]

I plan to do that on the Pentax 100's guide scope, where the thin paint was coming off as I tried to remove some glue. The 6"f9 is a much bigger area, and the tube isn't as smooth. So the hammer texture would help to hide the imperfections. If I knew how to get the spattered texture that the current AP scopes use, I'd do that instead. 

 

 

I just had a thought about textured finishes on scopes.

You can buy spray cans with different amounts of orange peel for textured walls at stores like Home Depot.

 

There are other brands but here's an example of what I mean. This one is Oil based and the texture is adjustable

 

https://www.homedepo...50-06/100167255

[TG]

Here's an update on this scope, I'm currently working on refurbishing it to upgrade the focuser and give it a new paint job. Focuser replacements are tricky on these as there's no simple adapters nor aftermarket flanges, so it requires some machining. I decided to reuse the existing flange so first order of business was to remove the focuser body from the flange. A few pieces of wood and a rubber mallet popped it right out, these were just interference fit, no grub screws or threads to worry about.

I got my flange for my blue-tube 7" from D&G. It fit the 7" tube beautifully and had threads for the the modern A-P 2.7" focuser, which is what I replaced the original janky one with. I don't know if they're still in operation or have parts like these.

 

TG

[ccwemyss]

I just had a thought about textured finishes on scopes.

You can buy spray cans with different amounts of orange peel for textured walls at stores like Home Depot.

 

There are other brands but here's an example of what I mean. This one is Oil based and the texture is adjustable

 

https://www.homedepo...50-06/100167255

unfortunately, it's not for metal. But it did make me realize that the texture on modern AP scopes is not unlike what you get from a paint roller with latex paint on drywall (minus the bits of lint).

 

Chip W. 

[jragsdale]

I got my flange for my blue-tube 7" from D&G. It fit the 7" tube beautifully and had threads for the the modern A-P 2.7" focuser, which is what I replaced the original janky one with. I don't know if they're still in operation or have parts like these.

Yeah, I heard that they used to sell one and Feathertouch for a second, but D&G is done and retired and Feathertouch discontinued that adapter. 

[jragsdale]

Here's the finished focuser, tilt plate/adapter and flange. My "lathe master" friend rocked out this perfect part that fits the flange with 4 sets of push/pull screws to help during collimation and converts it to a nice male M117 thread that fits this awesome TS Optics 2.5" R&P focuser. I'm going to send these parts off to be anodized and I'll be good to go!

 

 

 

Unrelated to the focuser, but the tube and dew shield are off being painted at body shop in classic Astro-Physics Cadet Blue! 

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[starman876]

Here's the finished focuser, tilt plate/adapter and flange. My "lathe master" friend rocked out this perfect part that fits the flange with 4 sets of push/pull screws to help during collimation and converts it to a nice male M117 thread that fits this awesome TS Optics 2.5" R&P focuser. I'm going to send these parts off to be anodized and I'll be good to go!

 

 

 

Unrelated to the focuser, but the tube and dew shield are off being painted at body shop in classic Astro-Physics Cadet Blue! 

That is awesome.   Beautiful work.