Protect your big newt

[Varangian (John)]

I have to store my 12" Newt in the shed and I keep getting these really annoying spiders spinning webs inside the OTA. I hadn't used the Newt for a while and looked inside the OTA for the first time last night as it was dark and clear and shock horror full of spider webs! And spiders! I tried to vacuum them all out and got the spiders but the webs were everywhere including the primary! I had to take it out and rinse it in distilled water to get them all off.

Simple solution, I went on eBay and bought a padded surfboard bag with a zip and a carry handle for around $30. No more spiders. Just a thought if you have the same problem.

[MichaelSW (Michael)]

I pointed my 12"Skywatcher up, ducked inside to get a jumper and came back to find an adult Brush-Tail possum sitting on the spider. The little bugger was hanging on tight and reluctant to let go. Thankfully, there were no ablutions to dirty the Primary mirror before it relented.

Lesson: If you have to leave your Dob, lower the tube first - or put the tube hard cover on.

(Also minimises risk of mirror-strike from those sticky bombs the Flying-Foxes drop on my washing occasionally).

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

They suck don't they those spiders webs , I used to use 2 shower caps one top and one bottom on my old 10 inch , these worked well and cheap .
Brian.

Originally Posted by Varangian

I have to store my 12" Newt in the shed and I keep getting these really annoying spiders spinning webs inside the OTA. I hadn't used the Newt for a while and looked inside the OTA for the first time last night as it was dark and clear and shock horror full of spider webs! And spiders! I tried to vacuum them all out and got the spiders but the webs were everywhere including the primary! I had to take it out and rinse it in distilled water to get them all off.

Simple solution, I went on eBay and bought a padded surfboard bag with a zip and a carry handle for around $30. No more spiders. Just a thought if you have the same problem.

[Pinwheel (Doug)]

Try this, Get a good quality removable masking tape spray two long strips with surface spray, when dry attach tape around top & bottom of the OTA tube circumference, on the outside. Spiders and bugs die on contact.

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

I would be extremely careful before going anywhere near any optical surfaces with any sort of fly spray or insecticide. The active ingredient can literally eat optical coatings

Malcolm

[Pinwheel (Doug)]

Originally Posted by barx1963

I would be extremely careful before going anywhere near any optical surfaces with any sort of fly spray or insecticide. The active ingredient can literally eat optical coatings

Malcolm

My suggestion was to spray masking tape away from the scope & when dry put on the outside of the OTA tube..Not inside.. also to use a surface spray not fly spray. Surely nobody would be that silly to spray inside their scope..
The idea is to kill spiders to stop them getting in the scope in the first place.