Can I mod my Lunt 2inch hershal wedge?

Frankenscope? Let's see it!***be advised that NOTHING in this forum has been safety tested and you are reading and using these posts at your own peril. blah, blah, blah... dont mess around with your eyesight when it comes to solar astronomy. Use appropriate filtration at all times...
Post Reply
User avatar
Stardust5858
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 1500
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2019 11:44 am
Has thanked: 803 times
Been thanked: 1182 times

Can I mod my Lunt 2inch hershal wedge?

Post by Stardust5858 »

Hi all, I want to use a 1.8nd in my Lunt 2ich hershal wedge instead of the 3nd which is glued in place. Is there any way to get this filter out or is it a question of hitting it and destroying the filter? I've a current baader k- line that I could do with extra light to reduce frame rate. I can easily buy a new 3nd filter if I wish to use visually but I don't do visual hardly ever.

Am I mad to do this?


10ft x 6ft Solar RoR with Warm Room
Lunt 60mm Double Stack HA
80ed WL+ Lunt Hershal Wedge + Badder K-Line filter.
100mm AR + Lunt b1800 Ca-K module.
Neq6 Eq Mount.

2.7m Pulsar Dome.
11in Celestron SCT + White Light Filter.
70mm AR Stellavue.
12inch OO Newtonian.
Eq8 r Pro Mount.
User avatar
MapleRidge
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 10199
Joined: Fri Jan 13, 2012 11:58 pm
Location: Cambray, ON Canada
Has thanked: 64 times
Been thanked: 4340 times
Contact:

Re: Can I mod my Lunt 2inch hershal wedge?

Post by MapleRidge »

Nigella...

I can't comment on the ability to remove the ND filter, but just want to double check your plan for the mod.

You are wanting to allow more light through to image with the K-Line filter, but add in an appropriate ND filter for WL visual/imaging? Is that right?

Brian


Brian Colville

Maple Ridge Observatory
Cambray, ON Canada

Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/185395281@N08/albums

10'x15 Roll-off Roof Observatory
Takahashi EM400 Mount carrying:
C14 + Lunt 80ED
Deep Sky Work - ASI294MM Pro+EFW 7x36/Canon 60D (Ha mod), ONAG
Planetary Work - SBIG CFW10, ASI462MM

2.2m Diameter Dome
iOptron CEM70G Mount carrying:
Orion EON 130ED, f7 OTA for Day & Night Use
Ha Setup: Lunt LS80PT/LS75FHa/B1200Ha + Home Brew Lunt Double Stack/B1800Ha on the Orion OTA + Daystar Quantum
WL, G-Band & CaK Setup: Lunt Wedge & Lunt B1800CaK, Baader K-Line and Altair 2nm G-Band filter
ASI1600MM, ASI432MM, ASI294MM Pro, ASI174MM, ASI462MM
User avatar
Stardust5858
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 1500
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2019 11:44 am
Has thanked: 803 times
Been thanked: 1182 times

Re: Can I mod my Lunt 2inch hershal wedge?

Post by Stardust5858 »

MapleRidge wrote: Fri Feb 12, 2021 11:46 pm Nigella...

I can't comment on the ability to remove the ND filter, but just want to double check your plan for the mod.

You are wanting to allow more light through to image with the K-Line filter, but add in an appropriate ND filter for WL visual/imaging? Is that right?

Brian
Hi Brian, yes, but 95% imaging, don't really do visual and happy with the mod being used solely for imaging. I think with the Lunt wedge it works out at 5ND with the installed 3ND. Recommendations for imaging with the baader k-line is 3.8ND. So I'd like to take out the 3.0ND and replace with a 1.8ND thus giving me a total output of 3.8ND. Does that make sense?


10ft x 6ft Solar RoR with Warm Room
Lunt 60mm Double Stack HA
80ed WL+ Lunt Hershal Wedge + Badder K-Line filter.
100mm AR + Lunt b1800 Ca-K module.
Neq6 Eq Mount.

2.7m Pulsar Dome.
11in Celestron SCT + White Light Filter.
70mm AR Stellavue.
12inch OO Newtonian.
Eq8 r Pro Mount.
User avatar
marktownley
Librarian
Librarian
Posts: 42269
Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2011 5:27 pm
Location: Brierley Hills, UK
Has thanked: 20424 times
Been thanked: 10243 times
Contact:

Re: Can I mod my Lunt 2inch hershal wedge?

Post by marktownley »

Hi Nigella.

REally easy, just unscrew the 2" ep holder from the top, you will need to replace it with one without the filter, if memory serves is a 2" sct thread. I've done exactly the same as you with my Lunt wedge for exactly the same reasons.

You might get away without using a ND filter at all when imaging with the K-line for really short exposure time, try it.

Mark


Image
http://brierleyhillsolar.blogspot.co.uk/
Solar images, a collection of all the most up to date live solar data on the web, imaging & processing tutorials - please take a look!
User avatar
Stardust5858
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 1500
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2019 11:44 am
Has thanked: 803 times
Been thanked: 1182 times

Re: Can I mod my Lunt 2inch hershal wedge?

Post by Stardust5858 »

marktownley wrote: Sat Feb 13, 2021 8:07 am Hi Nigella.

REally easy, just unscrew the 2" ep holder from the top, you will need to replace it with one without the filter, if memory serves is a 2" sct thread. I've done exactly the same as you with my Lunt wedge for exactly the same reasons.

You might get away without using a ND filter at all when imaging with the K-line for really short exposure time, try it.

Mark
Thanks Mark, really appreciate this, good idea.


10ft x 6ft Solar RoR with Warm Room
Lunt 60mm Double Stack HA
80ed WL+ Lunt Hershal Wedge + Badder K-Line filter.
100mm AR + Lunt b1800 Ca-K module.
Neq6 Eq Mount.

2.7m Pulsar Dome.
11in Celestron SCT + White Light Filter.
70mm AR Stellavue.
12inch OO Newtonian.
Eq8 r Pro Mount.
User avatar
Stardust5858
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Way More Fun to Share It!!
Posts: 1500
Joined: Tue Oct 29, 2019 11:44 am
Has thanked: 803 times
Been thanked: 1182 times

Re: Can I mod my Lunt 2inch hershal wedge?

Post by Stardust5858 »

Just an update. The retaining ring on the inside of the eyepiece holder was easy to undo and remove the ND3 filter completely. I now can use the hershal wedge for imaging without an ND filter or with a recently bought ND1.8 filter. It turned out to be really easy to change the ND filter.

Thanks again all who replied.


10ft x 6ft Solar RoR with Warm Room
Lunt 60mm Double Stack HA
80ed WL+ Lunt Hershal Wedge + Badder K-Line filter.
100mm AR + Lunt b1800 Ca-K module.
Neq6 Eq Mount.

2.7m Pulsar Dome.
11in Celestron SCT + White Light Filter.
70mm AR Stellavue.
12inch OO Newtonian.
Eq8 r Pro Mount.
User avatar
marktownley
Librarian
Librarian
Posts: 42269
Joined: Tue Oct 18, 2011 5:27 pm
Location: Brierley Hills, UK
Has thanked: 20424 times
Been thanked: 10243 times
Contact:

Re: Can I mod my Lunt 2inch hershal wedge?

Post by marktownley »

Interesting, the retaining ring in mine was jammed solid and I risked damaging the ND3 to get it out, good to know it is an option in some situations.


Image
http://brierleyhillsolar.blogspot.co.uk/
Solar images, a collection of all the most up to date live solar data on the web, imaging & processing tutorials - please take a look!
Post Reply