It is amazing how much PVC pipe gets used in Scope making! I have made 2 scopes using it for nearly every part.
For my old Reflector I used 6" Sewerage pipe for the tube and I made a finderscope for it out of 1.75" waste pipe with a dew cover from 2" waste pipe. To hold the finder in place I fashioned mounting rings from 3" spouting. The main tube dust cover and mirror cell holder were 6" sewerage pipe end caps.
For my old Refractor I used 90mm heavy storm-water pipe and
for the focuser I used 2 sizes of PVC tubing from a kids swimming pool frame!
Good stuff PVC.
Last edited by ballaratdragons; 28-01-2005 at 10:47 PM.
Unfortunately after a rather wet night and not letting it dry properly the entire inside of the wood tube is covered in mould. It's eaten into the paint and won't wipe off. Getting at this type of tube with inner rings seems impossible to clean. The mould smell is a bit overpowering also.
The mirror has been taken out and put away. Any ideas of last minute rescue before the tube goes to the dump?
To get ride of the mold , try using some pool chlorine .
You will have to soak it down for a few hours or more with the chlorine , which will kill the mold and then a repaint but use a wood sealer first before the flat black.
Make sure it is well and truely dry before painting.
Use the dry chlorine and mix up a slurry , but do this out in the open and use gloves as the stuff is very corosive. Eg skin and body parts tend to fall off and don't breath the stuff .
I know it sounds terrible but it works.
p.s. remove metal parts as well or don't get it on metal parts .
If this is not possible smear grease over them first.
Mmmm, thanks for that, though it's going to be difficult to get to some places inside the tube.
Would I sponge the stuff on? How would I get the chlorine out/off afterward?
Yes Vermin about 1K or a little more. The main mirror blank I think was $200 back then. It's 30mm plate glass. I made the main mirror mount, made the spider too so saved $ here also.
Unfortunately it's also in very run down condition lately, and so am I so I don't really have the energy to fix it. Mirror need a recoat and the bearings need cleaning.
Since I've been unwell I've been drifting to smaller and smaller scopes these days. I love my 6 inch F5 and F6 Newtonians. Very light and still good for astrophotography. A bit dim for the eyes though, especially after being spoilt by a 16"!!
Originally posted by Vermin An ATM forum would be appropriate as I've just heard that my Telekit has shipped and I should get it in the next week to 10 days!!
Wooohooo!
Thats great enjoy the construction. I know it's a pleasure to do your observing through a telescope that you put together yourself.
You could either use a sponge or a paint brush and use plenty of the solution.
After an hour or so wash it down with a hose and use plenty of water to flush all the chlorine out.
Just monitor the timber to make sure that it doesn't deform from the solution .
if in doubt use a week solution first and see how that goes.
Lucky it's summer , so just let it dry in the sun for a few days and then seal it before a new coat of flat black.
It got moldy before , most probably because flat black by nature is porous and would not have done much to seal the timber.
When I made the middle section and the rings for my Newtonian (see avatar) I actually painted all unfiberglassed timber surfaces with fiber glass epoxy resin to seal the timber.
Hope this helps as it looks like you spent some time and effort to make that tube and it would be a shame to see it thrown out.
Mix the Caustic Soda with the bottle of water. Make sure it is completely dissolved.
Spray lightly inside scope tube.
If mold does not turn black, spray again (heavier coat).
Once mold is black use an old broom or Hand-broom, and brush the mold of the surface. Give interior of tube a final clean out with a sponge or rag and clean water. Dry.
When the wood is dry, paint with anti-mould paint made for bathrooms. When paint is dry you can paint over it with black if you want to.
Even if you never use it again, don't chuck it out. Someone will want it one day.
Okay thanks, I will give it a go when my energy levels are up to it.
I reckon rifle scopes make great finders. I like the zoom ones best and they are right way up. I'll use a good rifle scope any day rather than the average astro finder. I have rifle scopes on most of my telescopes.
