Tube ring liner problem

[Helen]

I've been keeping my 14 inch OO DOb in the conservatory (nowhere else to keep it!) under a reflective cover, vertically in its OO base.  It hasn't been out for months, but today I checked it (I've just picked up a DSC set off ABS for it ) and found to my horror that the scope had slipped through the tube rings, taking the tube ring liner with it and was resting on the stellar cat module on the base     If it hadn't been for that I think the protrudence for the encoders might have come into contact with the mirror cell .  So it could have been worse!!

So, I need to replace the liner for the OO rings.  Any recommendations please?

Thanks

Helen

[Uplooker]

I would suggest that you use the same material that people use for flocking the OTA. I suspect that the heat build-up within the conservatory has caused the adhesive of the existing tube ring liner to soften and slip within the tube.

You can get the flocking material either from FLO or Wilko's

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/misc/black-velour-telescope-flocking-material.html

http://www.wilko.com/sticky-back-plastic/d-c-fix-original-deco-self-adhesive-film-velour-black-348-0005/invt/0309578

I suspect that when you do replace it the same thing may happen due to the heat. Only way to combat it would to use an expoxy type adhesive. The reason I suggest epoxy adhesive is that it will not soften on being heated

Edited August 23, 2016 by Uplooker

[Helen]

Thanks Ian

[John]

I agree with Ian re: re-lining the rings with flocking material. The original stuff is quite thin and peels off the rings reasonably easy although some white spirit or similar might be required to remove stubborn portions. An alternative replacement would be to get some decent quality felt from a haberdashery or craft type shop and then epoxy that in place of the old stuff.

A precaution against future slippage, if the scope is to be left for long periods unused, would be to add some form of stopper / feet to the end of the tube and then deliberately loosen the tube rings and let the tube end rest on those rather than on more sensitive bits.

 

 

 

[Helen]

Thanks John   It looks like the current liners were replacement ones rather than the original OO thin felt, and the heat and weight combined overcame the sticky force!  I'll clean all residue off beforehand.

I need to think about storage, because of the stellarcat motor on just one side I can't just rest the bottom of the tube on the bottom of the mount.  So I may need a support to slot under the scope to take the weight.   

Helen

[Alien 13]

Hi Helen, cant you fit a lanyard between a couple of suitably placed mounting screws? it wont stop it moving but will limit any real damage.

Alan