106 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.  

[tag1260]

Any new updates on this?   I'm getting ready to start a rebuild on my 5" f/12  D&G and need your inspiration!!!

[jragsdale]

Any new updates on this?   I'm getting ready to start a rebuild on my 5" f/12  D&G and need your inspiration!!!

Yes! I haven't posted an update in a while!

 

I said above, I had the dew shield repaired (big dent) and took it in to the paint shop to be painted Cadet Blue like some of the other classic AP scopes of this vintage. This was in late January of this year, they kept having problems with fish eyes in the paint so had to redo it 2 or 3 times and it wasn't finished until the end of April!

 

I wanted to let the paint cure a little extra so I left it in my garage to fully cure before working on it. I found that if I left it next to my hot water heater and it wasn't fully cured yet, it would trigger the flammable gas sensor and turn off my hot water heater! So after finding that out, I would let it sit for a week away from the hot water heater, then move it closer and see if it triggered the sensor. I did this for about a month until it didn't, that was only a few weeks ago. So now I'm pretty sure the tube is ready to be handled and clamped and reassembled. It's a thing of beauty though! The paint job turned out very well.

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[tag1260]

Looks nice. Can't wait to see it done!!!

[CHASLX200]

I had a body shop paint my 6" F/6 Blue tube white in 1998.

[Bonco2]

I could do a fair 6" shootout with what I have on hand right now:

 

Parks 6" f/6 Newtonian

Orion 6" f/12 Maksutov

Jaegers 6" f/15 Achromat

I loved my AP 8 inch Triplet. However, I Did a shootout against a neighbors 6 inch f/8 Dynascope on Jupiter. The Newt won by a hair.  Regardless, the AP was a well made and ultra sharp optic.  Bonco2

[CHASLX200]

I loved my AP 8 inch Triplet. However, I Did a shootout against a neighbors 6 inch f/8 Dynascope on Jupiter. The Newt won by a hair.  Regardless, the AP was a well made and ultra sharp optic.  Bonco2

8"?

[jragsdale]

All finished with reassembling this beautiful scope. The paint job turned out amazing; Cadet Blue just like the old AP scopes. I could use a break from white and black sometimes! Ready to capture some photons again!

 

 

I haven't decided if I should paint the flange/tilt adapter yet though. Thoughts?

 

[starman876]

All finished with reassembling this beautiful scope. The paint job turned out amazing; Cadet Blue just like the old AP scopes. I could use a break from white and black sometimes! Ready to capture some photons again!

 

20250616_092331.jpg

 

I haven't decided if I should paint the flange/tilt adapter yet though. Thoughts?

 

20250616_092401.jpg

absolutely stunning  

[Kasmos]

All finished with reassembling this beautiful scope. The paint job turned out amazing; Cadet Blue just like the old AP scopes. I could use a break from white and black sometimes! Ready to capture some photons again!

 

20250616_092331.jpg

 

I haven't decided if I should paint the flange/tilt adapter yet though. Thoughts?

 

20250616_092401.jpg

Looks great! But it will look more done if:

at 2:50

https://www.youtube....h?v=O4irXQhgMqg

Edited by Kasmos, 17 June 2025 - 01:54 PM.

[jragsdale]

Looks great! But it will look more done if:

at 2:50

https://www.youtube....h?v=O4irXQhgMqg

Ok, done and done.

 

"I wanna see the sun, flying high in the sky." 

 

[Kasmos]

What's the 3D printed ring near the focuser for? A weight?

[jragsdale]

What's the 3D printed ring near the focuser for? A weight?

Yeah, just a little 8lb weight for 7" tubes to add back weight when I don't want to view from the ground. I can use it on my Jaegers 6" f/15 as well. Gets the scope a little higher in the saddle. Easy to remove when needed.

[tag1260]

Yeah, just a little 8lb weight for 7" tubes to add back weight when I don't want to view from the ground. I can use it on my Jaegers 6" f/15 as well. Gets the scope a little higher in the saddle. Easy to remove when needed.

Did you make that or what exactly is it? I could use one for both my 6" scopes.

[CHASLX200]

I needed 7 lbs of back weight on my blue tube 6" f/9 AP.

[jragsdale]

Did you make that or what exactly is it? I could use one for both my 6" scopes.

Yeah, I made it, 3d printed a shell for it, then filled with a slurry of lead shot and epoxy. Has built in nuts for the knobs to tension. I'll probably make them like low profile hinged rings next time I do them for easier one handed add/remove.

[tag1260]

Ever share .stl's? What are you printing on and with (material) ? 

[jragsdale]

Ever share .stl's? What are you printing on and with (material) ? 

Yeah, I can share STLs on the random parts I make. I printed this in PETG and I'm using a pair of Bambu P1S printers. But I'm going to redesign it a bit to streamline it.

Edited by jragsdale, 17 June 2025 - 08:13 PM.

[tag1260]

I'll dm my email. I appreciated it. I'm using a Prusa MK3+ at the moment. Still trying to teach myself design.