You're obviously related to me because as I sit in my bedroom doing the upgrade installation I'm asking myself why didn't my AD8 come with this stuff installed...I would've even paid the amount of the kit so it's already done.
The AD series was made a while ago so I’m guessing it was first designed the way it is when we initially purchase it, and probably over time they started to find new things to update without having to design a new telescope? 🤷🏻 Just a thought…
Just got the ad8 in the mail Friday from you guys and assembled tonight. I’ll be installing these upgrades tomorrow and then gifting it to my girlfriend this weekend as her first scope. Looking forward to enjoying the skies with her. The more I watch videos and mess with the scope, the more I’m getting into it myself!
Great video. It may have been better for the secondary mirror to wrap it in a silk cloth or something similar to prevent your hand accidentally touching the mirror while manoeuvring the flocking paper around. Or just remove the secondary altogether.
Excellent idea. I did my my entire tube focus tube. Any where I saw a reflection of "flash light" even cut off primary mirror clips that over hungover the mirror. I DO NOT RECOMMEND. But it improved 100% I could tell it was well worth the effort. A complete dismantle was required.
I've gone down the road of fine tuning an 8" newtonian and this kit will improve your experience with your telescope. Flocking does improve contrast at the eyepiece and the springs and knobs will improve collimation task. In my case I insulated the entire OTA with 3mm foam inside then overlaid 65# flocking paper for contrast and tube current control. I then modified the primary cell to a clipless 6 point suspension that removed off axis diffraction effects with bright stars in the field of view. This kit is a good intro to "hot rodding" your telescope!
Just finished my upgrades. Overall it went pretty smooth. I messed up the flocking a little bit. I didn’t see the smaller piece of paper inside the roll that was intended for the secondary mirror and instead assumed it was just one big roll that you cut pieces from. The result was I didn’t have enough material to fully encompass the primary mirror. I ended up using the smaller sheet of material to fill in the gap I was missing. It’s a little janky. I’m hoping I didn’t do anything to damage the OTA functionally. I haven’t had a chance to test it out since upgrading the components.
Great scope I decided on the stellalyra 8 dob compared to the skywatcher as it has a right angled finder a fan and superior eyepieces and it’s a bit cheaper!
I done better job flocking the hole tube, remover the main mirror and painted matt black, also did it to secondary mirror painted and flocking paper to. and painted the focuser draw tube, and many focusers have a straw light leak watch out for does.
Hi Martillo, Yes! They are "stronger" meaning collimation will shift less as you move the scope from target to target. In addition to this, collimation will last longer as your view through the night and will not need to be adjusted as often.
This doesn’t make sense. Obviously they have found the needed improvements over the current product why do they not incorporate those needed upgrades into the new manufacturing processes? Help me understand that.
Seriously why doesn't the telescope just come with decent springs and knobs?
You're obviously related to me because as I sit in my bedroom doing the upgrade installation I'm asking myself why didn't my AD8 come with this stuff installed...I would've even paid the amount of the kit so it's already done.
The AD series was made a while ago so I’m guessing it was first designed the way it is when we initially purchase it, and probably over time they started to find new things to update without having to design a new telescope? 🤷🏻 Just a thought…
Just got the ad8 in the mail Friday from you guys and assembled tonight. I’ll be installing these upgrades tomorrow and then gifting it to my girlfriend this weekend as her first scope. Looking forward to enjoying the skies with her. The more I watch videos and mess with the scope, the more I’m getting into it myself!
Great video. It may have been better for the secondary mirror to wrap it in a silk cloth or something similar to prevent your hand accidentally touching the mirror while manoeuvring the flocking paper around. Or just remove the secondary altogether.
Excellent idea. I did my my entire tube focus tube. Any where I saw a reflection of "flash light" even cut off primary mirror clips that over hungover the mirror. I DO NOT RECOMMEND. But it improved 100% I could tell it was well worth the effort. A complete dismantle was required.
I've gone down the road of fine tuning an 8" newtonian and this kit will improve your experience with your telescope. Flocking does improve contrast at the eyepiece and the springs and knobs will improve collimation task. In my case I insulated the entire OTA with 3mm foam inside then overlaid 65# flocking paper for contrast and tube current control. I then modified the primary cell to a clipless 6 point suspension that removed off axis diffraction effects with bright stars in the field of view. This kit is a good intro to "hot rodding" your telescope!
Apart from flocking , I'm considering light baffles as well (lasercut from thin aluminum)
Be nice if High Point sold a complete roll of flocking to cover the whole inside of the OTA.
What would it take to make this a go to system?
Just finished my upgrades. Overall it went pretty smooth. I messed up the flocking a little bit.
I didn’t see the smaller piece of paper inside the roll that was intended for the secondary mirror and instead assumed it was just one big roll that you cut pieces from. The result was I didn’t have enough material to fully encompass the primary mirror. I ended up using the smaller sheet of material to fill in the gap I was missing. It’s a little janky.
I’m hoping I didn’t do anything to damage the OTA functionally. I haven’t had a chance to test it out since upgrading the components.
wish you also made a goto upgrade kit
Great scope I decided on the stellalyra 8 dob compared to the skywatcher as it has a right angled finder a fan and superior eyepieces and it’s a bit cheaper!
Will this kit work for the Celestron 10 inch Dob.Or is this manufactured brand specific?
I done better job flocking the hole tube, remover the main mirror and painted matt black, also did it to secondary mirror painted and flocking paper to. and painted the focuser draw tube, and many focusers have a straw light leak watch out for does.
So,.. these new springs, are better than the original that came with the Dob??
Hi Martillo, Yes! They are "stronger" meaning collimation will shift less as you move the scope from target to target. In addition to this, collimation will last longer as your view through the night and will not need to be adjusted as often.
Informative video. Thank you !
This doesn’t make sense. Obviously they have found the needed improvements over the current product why do they not incorporate those needed upgrades into the new manufacturing processes? Help me understand that.
You said it is recommended to install flocking paper in temperature above 40 degrees??!!!!!
40 degrees Fahrenheit. . .
I flocked my entire tube
I need help! I have the Apertura AD8 but I'm unable to see anything. I tried every eye piece and nothing. Please help 😭😭😭
Please shoot us an email or give our product experts a call. We will be more than happy to assist!
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