Making a white light filter

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Montana
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Making a white light filter

Post by Montana »

I am sure plenty of folks are going to want to do this in the next few months so it would be great to gather together some info here.

My main question is, I have the Baader ND3.8 astro solar film but I want to make a filter out of it to fit the outside of my telescope which is 90mm. I like this https://www.firstlightoptics.com/solar- ... ilter.html but I would like to buy the cell as I have the film already. Does anyone know where to buy a nice filter cell that is cheap and cheerful, or something similar, otherwise I may as well buy the whole thing instead, although it doesn't say what ND it is. I would prefer to make a sturdy secure one rather than a cardboard cell as I can see a cardboard one being immediately squashed in the suitcase on a flight.

Hoping for some good suggestions :)

Alexandra


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Re: Making a white light filter

Post by marktownley »

I'm just going to get a sheet of the Baader film and attach it to the lens / scope I use with a 'postmans elastic band', easy to keep flat in suitcase etc (slip it in a magazine). Not sure where you can get an empty cell from, if you really do want a celled filter I think I would just buy the one you linked from FLO.


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Re: Making a white light filter

Post by Carbon60 »

Hi Alexandra,

I went and bought one (a glass version) to save making one. Not brilliant quality, but good enough to protect the scope/camera leading up to totality at which time it will be removed, enabling me to image the corona, all being well.

Finding/making something to fit could be tricky if you need it to be robust.

Stu.


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Re: Making a white light filter

Post by PDB »

Does not look as anyone is selling cell only. (But always good to have some spare sheet of film) The filter cells I use come from EURO-EMC in Germany (http://www.euro-emc-astro.de/pdf/sf100.pdf document is in German) Think these are very good, and you can replace the Solar Film fairly easy. They are normally sold ND5 but can also be ordered with ND3.8 (some dealers have them in stock)
Think dealer in the uk is Astrograph (I bought mine from astromarket.org in Belgium).

Rgrds,

Paul


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Re: Making a white light filter

Post by Montana »

Thanks for that, they look fairly reasonable in price and flat too :) might just give Rupert a mail :)

Alexandra


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Re: Making a white light filter

Post by MapleRidge »

Hi everyone...

Kendrick Astro Instruments sell complete WL filters using Baader film. Not sure how widely they are distributed outside of NA, but if anyone is interested and can't get their hands on one let me know and I'll see if I can help get them out. In the IK, Altair Astro Ltd is listed as a dealer.

They used to sell the rings to make up your own filters, but I see they are now discontinued.

The dealer list URL is:
http://www.kendrickastro.com/dealers.html

The link to the filters and cells is under the solar tab:
http://www.kendrickastro.com/

I have a few of these and they are well build, nice workmanship.

Brian


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