So. Any telescope builders/users here? Got a question for you.

There is a special kind of flat black (light-absorbing?) paint you guys use to kill all reflections on the inside of your tubes. What is it called and where do I get some?

Thanks!

cvanc said:

There is a special kind of flat black (light-absorbing?) paint you guys use to kill all reflections on the inside of your tubes. What is it called and where do I get some?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Are you talking about this stuff

Deep Black Optical Paint For Europe Market

If State side, a lot of telescope builders use Krylon Ultra Flat Black, or Krylon Camo Flat Black, both with very good result. Your local Walmart may stock it.

David

I've read a lot of people use flocking to line the inside of their otas.

Like this stuff:

https://www.scopestuff.com/ss_flok.htm

Obviously a little more expensive than spray paint, though.

cvanc said:

There is a special kind of flat black (light-absorbing?) paint you guys use to kill all reflections on the inside of your tubes. What is it called and where do I get some?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

What size telescope are you talking about?

Darian Rachal said:

What size telescope are you talking about?

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It's not a telescope at all, my need is to solve some reflection problems in a lens. (well, actually, NEAR the lens - external screws in the light path are silver and seem to be causing trouble).

Refracting telescopes generally use baffles to keep the light in the "cone". I believe cameras use similar baffles. Not sure of the application you're trying to solve.

I know Edmund Scientific used to sell some flat black optical paint, probably similar to the European brand in an earlier post. That's the route I'd go.

Its done by either flocking which is a felt like material, look up protoboard on Google. There are various optical paints as well but most people would use Blackboard Paint. blackboard paint is cool because it applies to a flat black thats quite durable on just about any surface. Warning here, blackboard paint needs to be stirred and stirred and stirred before use. If its not fully stirred it tends to dry shiny. Hope thats some help.

I built a reflector telescope years ago and used flat black Krylon I believe. It's cheap and effective. No complaints at all.

You can get the flocking from Woodcraft.com.

If the shiny screws are the main source of trouble you can just try replacing them with black anodized ones.

cvanc said:

It's not a telescope at all, my need is to solve some reflection problems in a lens. (well, actually, NEAR the lens - external screws in the light path are silver and seem to be causing trouble).

Click to expand...

1. Use black oxide steel or stainless steel screws.

2. Make a black baffle from medium grit silicon carbide or aluminum oxide sand paper painted with Krylon Ultra Flat Black, or use black flocking.

Bob