DIY Dew shield for the ED80

[Chris]

Hi, if you wan't to make a light and sturdy felt lined dew shield for under 5 pounds, heres how I did mine.

Ingredients:

• 1x A4 piece of black craft foam
  
• 1x A5 Jet black felt
  
• 1x pack of velcro
  
• 1x Roll of double sided tape
  

Tools:

• Scissors
  
• Craft Knife
  
• Metal ruler or anything with a straight metal edge
  
• Tape measure
  

Instructions:

• Cut the felt in half so when you put the two bits together its enough to reach around the circumference of the ED80's dew shield.
  
• Lay strips of double sided tape on one side of the craft foam\
  
• Stick the felt to the foam and place heavy books ontop and leave for a few minutes.
  
• Lay strips of double sided tape half way along the remainder of the bare foam and fold the foam over onto the tape, again weighting down with books.
  
• Wrap the foam around the ED80 so you can measure and cut to length
  
• Stick the velcro onto the foam remembering to put strips on opposite sides and ends so when you bend the foam into a tube the two bits of velcro meet.
  
• Wrap it around the end of your scope and enjoy!
  

I hope this helps anyone who wants to make their own:)

Thanks

Chris

[emadmoussa]

Pretty cool indeed!

[tonedeaf]

hehe...me like this...

btw cool books as weights

[Helite]

Ohh, Might try one of these for the ST-80! Looks a little neater than the camping mat style on a smaller scope.

[emadmoussa]

Lol...I was actually looking for a dew shield for the ED80...I've just realized I don't have much time at hand to make one myself. So can anybody guide me to the right trader please?

[Chris]

Lol...I was actually looking for a dew shield for the ED80...I've just realized I don't have much time at hand to make one myself. So can anybody guide me to the right trader please?

Hi, one of the smaller dew shields from FLO should fit, just drop them an email and ask them to check which one would be suitable for the ED80:

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/dew-prevention/astrozap-flexible-dew-shield.html

hth

Chris

[emadmoussa]

Hey, what kind of dovetail you've got there?

[Chris]

Hey, what kind of dovetail you've got there?

Hi, its a 350mm Altair Losmandy type dovetail, I got it for my 200p before I changed back to using an ED80 so it might be a bit overkill but it aint half rock solid:D

Here it is:

http://www.altairastro.com/product.php?productid=16490&page=1

Cheers

Chris

[emadmoussa]

You're right, Chris, an overkill. I am checking which dovetail is best suited for piggy backing the ST80 on the ED80. My SW 13" seems also like an overkill. It's too long and sticks outside rhe safety limit Well, seems I'll settle for a SW 21cm dovetail...bit overpriced though.

[Chris]

I think some people just bolt the ST80 rings directly on top of the ED80 rings, might be something to consider?

[scitmon]

I think you are listing the dimensions of the foam incorrectly.  A piece of A4 foam is not long enough to wrap around the aperture of my ed80.