Solar Filter using Baader AstroSolar Film

[Gary]

Hi Friends, just bought the Baader solar film and preparing myself for Venus Transit and upcoming Solar Maximum.



Super excited to DIY the film from my scopes and binoculars!

Will be sharing my DIY results in this thread. Those who are interested to share theirs can reply in this thread too.

Firstly, big thanks to (in no particular order):

(1) James -- For loaning me his Thousand Oaks solar glass filter with was my first live view of the Sun on my own 80mm refractor!
(2) Mr Chia -- For posting solar images and info in this forum over the years, especially the last few months of "poisoning" my inbox with his latest captures!
(3) Alfred -- For showing me my first Hydrogen Alpha view of the Sun in Punggai. WOW! Enough said!!

James and Alfred will be at the NUS event for the Venus transit and bringing their best Solar gear there. So those who are keen, please include the NUS event in your Venus Transit tour that day. Queue early to avoid disappointment.

Time for me to pass on the solar "poison" to others during my sidewalks.

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I bought the Baader A4 solar film (visual version) from Joo Beng last night. It is the LAST piece! He still have limited stock for the astrophotography version.

Btw, Joo Beng will be chasing the Annular Solar Eclipse and astrobargains will be temporarily closed from 15 May to 6 June (Venus Transit!). So if you need to grab any astro/solar gear from him, you have 4 more days!

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For starters, I will be trying out Baltier's method to create the solar filter for my Maksutov 127. This is his video tutorial:



Do check out his other great astro videos in his youtube channel --> http://www.youtube.com/user/Baltier2705

Nice video showing DIY method for spotter/small scopes and binocular. May not be secure in the sense that itchy fingers can easily pull the whole box out. So perhaps taping the back of the box to the scope body itself can prevent that from happening.


Time to pay Art Friend at Bras Basah a visit and buy some nice thick cardboard. If anyone has any other good recommendations of where to buy good cardboards, feel free to share.

[Gary]

Added one more youtube vid in the original post.

Bought some super tacky glue and cardboard from Art Friend at Bras Basah Complex (near National Library). https://twitter.com/#!/astrosg/status/2 ... 08/photo/1

Art Friend there have plenty of colored and thick cardboards. So for those who do not wish to paint the cardboard, can find the colored matching one for their scope OTA. But of course, it is more expensive.

The one I bought is 26 x 31 inches. 900 grams. Grey (no color). Only $1.50 per piece. Bought 6 pieces. They also sell a super thick one-piece cardboard which thickness is about 4 of this $1.50 version sticked together. So you can buy this to save some time for the front circular cover. But is very thick so not sure if you need a powerful penknife or scissor to cut it in circles.

The super tacky glue 40z is $2.50.

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Art Friend outlets (http://www.artfriend.com.sg/locates.html):

Bras Basah Complex (8,000 sq. ft):
Blk 231 Bain Street, #03-33,
Singapore 180231
Tel: +65 6336 8338
Fax: +65 6337 0743
Operating Hours:
Weekdays : 10.30am - 7.30pm
Weekends & Public Holidays: 10.30am - 6pm
Now open on Public Holidays!

Takashimaya Shopping Centre (10,000 sq.ft):
391 Orchard Road,
#04-20M, Ngee Ann City,
Singapore 238872
Tel: +65 6733 8482
Fax: +65 6732 9180
Opens Daily from 10.30am to 9pm

Buona Vista MRT (8,000 sq.ft) – NEWLY OPENED! :
100 North Buona Vista Rd,
#02-01, Buona Vista MRT,
Singapore 139345
Tel: +65 6777 0353
Fax: +65 6777 0378
Opens Daily from 10.30am to 9pm

Middle Road – NEWLY OPENED!
268 Middle Road,
Singapore 188992
Tel: +65 6336 2332
Fax: +65 6336 8797
Operating Hours:
Monday - Friday: 9am - 6pm
Saturday: 9am - 4pm
Closed on Sunday & Public Holidays

[superiorstream]

Hi,Gary
Danger!One layer of film-Baader--may/is not be enough!! and if use a 8 ins or 80mm scope more light will be concentrated at the focal point.Dont risk your eye--put extra--stack 4 to 5-- ND filter at/in front of the eyepiece before viewing and if too dim;take off one by one.Number of filter available depends on te diameter of your scope.A couple of IR cut filter and contrast booster filter will definitely reduce the invisible infra-red and uv light to protect your eye.A talk from experience as I do make such filter before.Safety first.Thanks for reading.

[Gary]

Thanks for the warning! Will do more research on this issue.

[Bergkamp_]

Thanks for Chia raising this concern. Do take note and take care~

[superiorstream]

Hi,All
Your Baader astrofilm will partially reflect but NOT absorb IR and UV radiation.Thus to LOOK DIRECTLY is dangerous.If you are looking thr the eyepiece;do insert at least 2 to 3 Uv and IR cut filter(by way of stacking) for safety.Also if the visible light is too strong--so put in say 3 colour filter eg green/ND to cut down the light.OK,if you are not sure--dont risk your eye---put a compact camera in the position of your eye.;if it show up too bright inspite of you seeing an acceptible image;maybe too many IR or UV is going thr.If unsure,dont look.The same applies to ND filters;including ND400 filter.(for your info,you will discover that stacking 2 ND400 will NOT be enough for the sun).Thanks.

[Mariner]

How bout the Thousand Oaks solar film sold by Astro Scientific? Is that safe enough for visual?

[superiorstream]

Hi,All
Thouand Oak solar film give a dimmer image of the sun.However,do use additional filter if image seem too bright and use a camera to 'see'if the image is too bright--if it does,probably too much IR or UV is going through--insert necessary filter then.The safest of course is their type 2 glass filter but a bit expensive.As a rule,if you use baader/thousand oak film--whatever brand--to look at the sun,try to restrict to SMALL aperture scope--Less than 80mm.Thousand oak glass filter however has no safety issue because each is specialised for that aperture.Thanks.

[Clifford60]

Hi Chia, what about Baader AstroSolar Film for the bino or scope and the user wear one of those solar “spectacles” and see through the eye pieces，one not enough wear two.

Worry about UV, wear glasses or sunglasses over the solar "spectacles" to have 100% UV cut. IR, not sure if all these "glasses" will help, otherwise, need to get those 3M solar film for the car, can reduce about 70% IR and 100% UV, also up to 60% light cut like a ND filter.

I guess, one layer of Baader AstroSolar Film and one layer of 3M solar film may solve the problem.

[weixing]

Hi,
Just to point out that there are two types of Baader AstroSolar Film. Make sure you get the Baader AstroSolar Safety Film for visual use. DO NOT get the Baader AstroSolar Photo Film for visual use.

Have a nice day.