Has anyone used the Thousand Oaks solar filters?

[White Rabbit]

I'm thinking of getting one these as a cheap way of getting into solar observing. Are they any good?

http://www.astroshop.com.au/products/solar-filters.asp

Thanks

[sheeny]

Yes, and Yes.

:)

Al.

[White Rabbit]

Thanks Al.

I have an a 102 refractor that I was thinking of getting one for but I also have an old Meade ETX 125 maksutov cassegrain the aperture is 5" would I be better with that. I believe the focal length is about 1900mm.

Thanks

[casstony]

The filters made with Baader Solar film give the best views of the front mounted white light filters and they're cheaper than glass filters.

[Kunama]

It won't matter which you use, as soon as you fit it to your scope the clouds will roll in and the rain will begin. :mad2:
My latest purchase, a Baader Click-Lock Cool Ceramic Prism arrived this morning (thanks Matt42s) and for the first time in eons it is raining in Canberra. :sadeyes:

The 1000 Oaks filter would be my pick, the main thing is to ensure the surfaces are not damaged by careless handling and that when it is fixed to the scope it is secure.
I recommend a secondary retaining system. On my last objective lens solar filter I attached velcro strips to the filter (use a hole punch to make a small hole in the velcro strip and place the filter retaining screw through the holes. The other half of velcro was adhesive backed and was wrapped around the scope tube. If you use this method use the soft 'loop' part of the velcro system on the tube and hook part for the strips,
that way your OTA won't collect every bit of lint and hair around. With the 1000 Oaks filter which is a slip fit I suggest you use the adhesive backed loop velcro around the filter perimeter as well and then use the strips to bridge between the two bands of loops.

If you are looking through the scope and someone should pass by and knock the filter from the scope the devastating effect on your eyes is instantaneous (like a 1000 welding flashes at one time).

[Larryp]

The Thousand Oaks are very good quality

[Merlin66]

I've owned and used almost all the solar filters -JMB, 1000 Oaks, Baader...
Bang per buck and for great performance you really can't go past the Baader Solar Film. 110% safe (when fitted properly).
Highly recommended.

[brian nordstrom]

:) I have used both the 1000 oaks and Baader film and the Baader film shows a tiny bit more surface detail but I liked the yellow/orange colour the 1000 oaks glass filter gave rather that the white colour of the Baader ( its a personal preference ).
I now have a Lunt Hershell wedge and these , like Matts Baader wedge are even better at viewing subtil markings , surface detail and sunspot details are easier seen but that's at a price :eyepop: they are NOT ! cheap .

One more thing the 1000 oaks glass filter is much sturdier than Baader solar film .
Welcome to the wonderful world of solar observing ,,, I am out looking at the sun now ( Lunt wedge and Tak sky90 ) and there are some huge sun spots visible :thumbsup: at the moment .
Brian.

[AussieSky]

Just got a Thousand Oaks for my small Celestron SCT. Highly recommended.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Hey Brian,

Got my TO Solar Filter this week. I went for glass type to ensure integrity of the film, as I have never been a big fan of the film type filters. The film type is too easily damaged. Will try the filter out over the weekend.

Next step, a Lunt Pressure Tuned Ha telescope :D

Cheers Pete

[brian nordstrom]

:D Thanks Peter , here is a shot taken thru my Takahashi sky90 and Lunt Hershell wedge taken this afternoon , high tech as usual , 12mm ED , Nokia windows phone held up to the eyepiece .
Ain't that sun spot a beauty ?
Brian.

[Merlin66]

Just a comment...
Some of my Baader Solar film filters are now almost ten years old.
If stored in a dust proof box and handled like any other optical filter, they are very robust.
Never had an issue with any of them.

[Peter Ward]

I have owned and used Thousand Oaks, Baader and Lunt white light filters.

The Lunt Herschel wedge gives the best result, but is the most expensive option. Baader film is the next best, but being a film, is very difficult to clean and extreme care must be taken with handling the stuff.

Being a hard coating on glass the Thousand Oaks, while not optically great, give a pleasing visual image and you can't kill them with a stick...I have one which is 20 years old and still looks/works like new.

[casstony]

After making a filter I had off-cuts from the Baader film - it's quite difficult to tear even on purpose so there's no problem with accidental damage and it can't break if dropped like a glass filter. The only potential problem I can see is if the film wasn't properly secured at an edge and managed to separate from the holder.

[White Rabbit]

Thanks guys.

I like the look of the Herschel wedge, but I have a kid on the way and I think the wife would divorce me. My astro budget has been slashed too $0.

I think I'll get the TO version just for safety.

Any advice on setting up an astro slush fund would be appreciated ;).

Thanks
Sandy

[Kunama]

I only got the Baader Herschel wedge on Friday (cloudy and rain) and only managed a few hours yesterday before the clouds rolled in again, today it's raining again ......... but the solar views through the Tak Teaser120F7.5 with Vixen LVW 13 & 17mm are superb.
I previously only used home made solar film filters and this is certainly a giant leap for mankind ahead of those days in the 1980s.

Sandy, looking at your signature, I can see a means to an end for you, there must be something there that gets no use that could be converted to $$$.

Once again my thanks to Matt (matt42s) for selling this wedge to me.
Hoping for some breaks in the clouds today to try out the SC filter to see if there is an advantage in using it for visual.
A public thank you also to John Wilkinson (JohnW) for his excellent review of the Baader Cool Ceramic Wedge, great reading that led me to pounce on the first wedge to come up for sale in the IIS classifieds.

[rodmollise]

Are they good? Yes. Are they quite as good as Baader Solar film? No...but they are more durable, and in my fumble fingered case that is important. ;-)

Uncle Rod

[allan gould]

Had one for over 15 years and still in pristine condition. Not used all the time but it's there when I need it so I can't ask for better.

[Capricorn1(Tom)]

Yep agree there with Al.....used mine at the time to watch the transit of Venus on my C8....Cheers Tom:D