A couple of year ago we did a side by side shoot out with two 8" dobs, one flocked and the other unflocked. The difference in contrast was dramatic, flocking makes a huge difference in reducing stray light.
Hi Martin, thanks for the very instructive video. I've just bought a Sky-Watcher Startravel 102T rich field refractor. Flocking the tube is one first things I'm going to do when it arrives, That and blackening the edges of the lenses. With this scope being a achromat, keeping dodgy, stray photons at bay, has to be a plus. The actual flocking process should be interesting because I've gorilla hands. I think the wife's super skinny filo pastry rolling pin, is going to find a new role. Have great week and clear skies!
Good luck in your new flocking project, I can guarantee you now!! You will see the results, the refractor will probably improve even more to reduce colour fringing as well and make it much sharper. Remember to replace the lens elements placed back into the original positions, that you should be more careful.
@@MPAstro Thanks Martin. Yeah, I'm going to be really careful to get the lens elements the right way round. I'm also going to be careful not to torque down the lens element retaining ring. I saw a video showing how to tweak a Sky-Watcher Startravel ST80. I figured the process will be the same for the Sky-Watcher Startravel 102. The bloke who made the video sounds like he's from your neck of the woods: ruclips.net/video/Ylb7xnc_03U/видео.html . When you think about it, flocking a tube is a common sense thing to do.
Great video. Pretty much exactly what we did. Although we did wash the inside of the OTA to help the flocking paper stick to the inside. On the 8" Dob we used a broom stick to help lay it down evenly as we rolled it out on the inside of the OTA. You need at least two people to get a big tube done. Don't forget to flock the inside of your focuser as well. That also reduced the light scatter.
Hi Hernando, Good News!! The starblast 4.5" will fit on the IOptron Smart EQ Pro mount. Providing you use the batteries, you can balance the whole set-up with just one counterweight. Point to note that if you fit the DSLR or CCD, it will be in the way of the polarscope, so it's best that you rotate the main tube first and then polar align. It's also light enough with a miniguide scope system, you're well in the limits and you're not exceeding with max 5Kg payload. You should be fine dude!! Stay Safe and Clear Skies!!!
What a nice news! So it is one more step and now I am more confident in acquiring that mount (iOptron Smart EQ Pro), for my 114mm, especially since it is very easy to take anywhere and do visual observation and astrophotography. I will follow your new videos because you teach very well. Thank you very much Martin!
Yes indeed. I've been thinking about adding flocking to my dobsonian for a while now . Darn streetlight where I live gets in the tube especially when I view planets.
Don't know if you said it in the video, but remember that the fiber have a direction so that it has different mate-ness depending which direction you are looking from. It most be placed such that it is the darkest seem from the primary mirror.
Easiest way I found was roll the flocking on a stiff tube say 50mm round contact side facing out. You roll the flocking on with the tube as you pull off the backing..avoiding most of the wrinkles
Great video Martin! I really appreciate the detail with which you describe the steps. The video seems dauntingly long to watch at first but boy is it worth it. I've ordered flocking material for my 8" newtonian, I'm in australia and we've got different suppliers but I hope its the same kind of material. It was marketed as the same flocking material you've got. I'll try flocking and hope for clear skies :)
GO FOR IT, it is easy and if you check my last video I did the flocking on my new 250P Dob!! Please check that video out!! ruclips.net/video/rJhmu_-xanQ/видео.html
g`day martin nice job on the video the flocking looks like it worked a treat.. nice improvement on the budget scope do you think you will cover the seam with flocking as you can see the seam is giving a little bit of light reflection ?? cheers james D
Thanks James for watching. Too be honest mate it doesn't really affect the performance, though I did cut a strip to check to see what it looked like if the seam was covered. And to be honest James it looked naff, and messy. So I left it out. So the best cheap upgrade I've ever done and worth every penny. The Skywatcher Mak 127 will defo need to GET FLOCKED!!!
would you flock the inside of the focuser draw tube as well? as you said, it s shiny silvery, might improve contrast even further together with darkening the outside of it too. great video!
great job Martin you are heads and tails over other back yard teachers edit your stuff a bit more to quicken your vids those who cant get the info in one pass can go back and remit info.
A couple of year ago we did a side by side shoot out with two 8" dobs, one flocked and the other unflocked. The difference in contrast was dramatic, flocking makes a huge difference in reducing stray light.
This video will prove actually what you have experienced. This will reinforce the evidence that this performance mod really works!!
Hi Martin, thanks for the very instructive video. I've just bought a Sky-Watcher Startravel 102T rich field refractor. Flocking the tube is one first things I'm going to do when it arrives, That and blackening the edges of the lenses. With this scope being a achromat, keeping dodgy, stray photons at bay, has to be a plus. The actual flocking process should be interesting because I've gorilla hands. I think the wife's super skinny filo pastry rolling pin, is going to find a new role. Have great week and clear skies!
Good luck in your new flocking project, I can guarantee you now!! You will see the results, the refractor will probably improve even more to reduce colour fringing as well and make it much sharper. Remember to replace the lens elements placed back into the original positions, that you should be more careful.
@@MPAstro Thanks Martin. Yeah, I'm going to be really careful to get the lens elements the right way round. I'm also going to be careful not to torque down the lens element retaining ring. I saw a video showing how to tweak a Sky-Watcher Startravel ST80. I figured the process will be the same for the Sky-Watcher Startravel 102. The bloke who made the video sounds like he's from your neck of the woods: ruclips.net/video/Ylb7xnc_03U/видео.html . When you think about it, flocking a tube is a common sense thing to do.
@@AndyinMokum You'll be OK, the lens cell is different on the 102 than the st80, I think there is a thin spacer which separates the 2 glass elements.
@@MPAstro Cool, that's good to know. I like tearing things down and rebuilding them better. I've done it enough times with Land Rovers.
You are a genuine bloke. Love your vids
Thanks again for watching this video, there will be more tune-up videos to help improve on this budget starter equipment.
@@MPAstro love it Mate. I will be making a video on how to restore an old tasco scope
Great video. Pretty much exactly what we did. Although we did wash the inside of the OTA to help the flocking paper stick to the inside. On the 8" Dob we used a broom stick to help lay it down evenly as we rolled it out on the inside of the OTA. You need at least two people to get a big tube done. Don't forget to flock the inside of your focuser as well. That also reduced the light scatter.
Flock inside of the focuser, that is a good tip never even thought of that idea, Thanks bpm990d, I'll give that a go without a doubt.
Excellent, excellent ..., Thanks Martin
Hi Hernando, Good News!! The starblast 4.5" will fit on the IOptron Smart EQ Pro mount. Providing you use the batteries, you can balance the whole set-up with just one counterweight. Point to note that if you fit the DSLR or CCD, it will be in the way of the polarscope, so it's best that you rotate the main tube first and then polar align. It's also light enough with a miniguide scope system, you're well in the limits and you're not exceeding with max 5Kg payload. You should be fine dude!! Stay Safe and Clear Skies!!!
What a nice news!
So it is one more step and now I am more confident in acquiring that mount (iOptron Smart EQ Pro), for my 114mm, especially since it is very easy to take anywhere and do visual observation and astrophotography.
I will follow your new videos because you teach very well.
Thank you very much Martin!
Amazing difference!
You know it makes sense to "GET FLOCKED!!"
Yes indeed. I've been thinking about adding flocking to my dobsonian for a while now . Darn streetlight where I live gets in the tube especially when I view planets.
Don't know if you said it in the video, but remember that the fiber have a direction so that it has different mate-ness depending which direction you are looking from. It most be placed such that it is the darkest seem from the primary mirror.
Easiest way I found was roll the flocking on a stiff tube say 50mm round contact side facing out. You roll the flocking on with the tube as you pull off the backing..avoiding most of the wrinkles
Great tip!
Great video Martin! I really appreciate the detail with which you describe the steps. The video seems dauntingly long to watch at first but boy is it worth it. I've ordered flocking material for my 8" newtonian, I'm in australia and we've got different suppliers but I hope its the same kind of material. It was marketed as the same flocking material you've got. I'll try flocking and hope for clear skies :)
GO FOR IT, it is easy and if you check my last video I did the flocking on my new 250P Dob!! Please check that video out!! ruclips.net/video/rJhmu_-xanQ/видео.html
Another quality video. Thank you!
Thank you Jim, Congrats on your new 114mm Skyhawk scope, And Remember to UNLEASH THE POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
g`day martin nice job on the video the flocking looks like it worked a treat.. nice improvement on the budget scope do you think you will cover the seam with flocking as you can see the seam is giving a little bit of light reflection ??
cheers
james D
Thanks James for watching. Too be honest mate it doesn't really affect the performance, though I did cut a strip to check to see what it looked like if the seam was covered. And to be honest James it looked naff, and messy. So I left it out. So the best cheap upgrade I've ever done and worth every penny. The Skywatcher Mak 127 will defo need to GET FLOCKED!!!
For removing dust... just use those for clothes, the roller ones.
would you flock the inside of the focuser draw tube as well? as you said, it s shiny silvery, might improve contrast even further together with darkening the outside of it too. great video!
Yes, absolutely
Great video
Does it helps also at astrophotography? Or not?
Yes, absolutely
Nice video. Does it need to be the velvety type or can it just be matte?
Unfornately flocking comes like that, but it is matt when it is installed in the optical tube.
great job Martin you are heads and tails over other back yard teachers edit your stuff a bit more to quicken your vids those who cant get the info in one pass can go back and remit info.
Thanks for the tip
What the flock is he on about?
This is flocking easy man?
@@MPAstro hehe 😜