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Disclaimer: All the how-to directions below are for information only. They are not intended to be sold or used for unlawful purposes. The author takes no responsibility if they cause the reader bodily harm, loss of life, or cause the damage of any property, person, dog, cat, or any other animal. They are presented for information only and all liability is on the part of the reader.
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Materials needed:
2 cardboard poster board sheets - Cost 1.00$ each
Glue
Scissors
Filter material (baader material is the best)
Velcro
Tape
HOW TO: Trace the diameter of the telescope's front aperture (typically the dew shield) on the poster board and cut out 2 circles this size with a couple of tabs on the ends (see image below). Next cut out the center of the circle to the diameter of the aperture of the scope. If the lens or mirror is almost the same size as the circle just make the inner circle cutout at least an 1/8" or larger. You'll lose a little aperture but with the sun you really do not need too much to get a really good view. Next sandwich a piece of the material cut to size between the two circular cutouts and glue all 3 of them together. For this step I usually use rubber silicon because it sticks to plastic as well as paper.
Next cut some 2 inch strips from the poster board. Here is a trick I leaned from
my mom :) after the strips are cut take one and press it between your
thumb and the edge of the one of the blades of the scissors. Put some
pressure on it and pull it through while pressing down. The strip will
begin to curl. This makes it really easy to wrap around the scopes dew
shield. Do this to all the strips. Wrap one of the strip (or strips if one
is not enough) around the front of the scope and tape the first layer once it is
around completely. You can glue it also but be careful not to get any glue on
your scope, just make sure the strips are well tacked together. After this first
layer place the filter material housed in the circular cutouts over the front of
the scope and bend back the tabs and glue them in place on the first layer of
strips. Place another layer of strips around the front again and glue it down.
Let it dry over night before you remove it from your scope and you'll have a
really nice solar filter. I have made 6 or 7 this way and they work really well.
Make sure there are no gaps between where circular cutout meet the strips. You
do not want to let any unfiltered light through the scope. Doing so could damage
your eyes. After the filter dries and you take it off I usually put a bead of
black silicon rubber around the inside diameter of the filter to make sure its
blocked off. I use the kind that is used to seal bath tubs.
Put a velcro piece on the outside of the filter that goes around the filter
perimeter and also around the edge of scope just below where the filter stops.
Once the filter is installed I use the hook strip of velcro to keep it in place.
*** See my discussion on White Light imaging in the How-To section for tips and tricks on how to use the filters to obtain results like the one below.
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