[AdrianF (Adrian)]

This is my version of a solar filter for the Orion 80mm scope.
I wanted to make something a little more robust than making the filter holder out of paper and cardboard so I went to the local plumbing supplies and bought a 90mm storm water cap and threaded tube (cost $6.80). The tube fits inside the dewshield on the scope, but the dewshield is about 3mm bigger than the stormwater tube, but no problems.

Step 1 find a piece of cardboard about 1-2 mm thick and mark out 2 discs OD 97mm and ID 80mm. Cut out. Make sure the rings fit inside the storm water cap then remove.

Step 2 Drill the Storm water end cap with a series of holes. I just put the storm water tube and cap together and used the tube as a guide to drill the holes. Knock out and use a file to smooth the edges.

Step 3 Use a piece or emery cloth and roughen up the inside of the storm water tube and paint matt black. I used Pot Belly Stove paint as this was what I had lying around.

Step 4 Using the instructions that came with the AstroSolar Film use the 2 cardboard discs to make the filter element. The instructions call for double sided tape to mount the film to the discs but I used a little silastic carefully applied to the rings instead. Works OK.

Step 5 While you are waiting for the silastic and paint to dry go have a beer.

Step 6 Carefully place the filter element in the end of the Storm Water cap and screw in the tube. But not overly tight.

Step 7 Raid your wife/girlfriend/mums sewing basket and find a piece of felt and cut 4 strips about 10mm wide and approx 50mm long and glue to the filter casing (the part that goes inside the dewshield) at 90 degree intervals.

Step 8 When glue is dry push into the scope dewshield. Viola a quick solar filter.

The felt on the storm water tube makes the completed solar filter firm in the dewshield and will not dislodge easily I have held the scope with the filter downwards and it had shown no signs of falling off.

Here are the first 8 pictures the last 2 are in the next post.


Adrian