Plastic bits

[jonbarr87]

Has anyone ever had plastic parts of a scope/eyepiece break in cold weather? Because It sometimes will go to -50 C here (only in winter though) so just wondering if you figure it would be safe to go out then. Because I mean the skies are clearest then...

[The Warthog]

I have used my scope at -20 without incident, except that my focuser got stiff and my zoom ep froze entirely. Still, nothing broke. Another scope showed no ill effects at all. I imagine plastic parts would break if you bashed them around, but reasonable care should prevent that. Believe me, it's possible to break stuff at +20.

Where the heck are you?

[Talitha]

-50°C ?? :shock: Good grief, that's cold!

I've had my ETX 90RA out for about three hours in -10°F with no damage to the plastic parts, but there wasn't any torque involved. I imagine if extremely cold plastic is twisted or has pressure applied to it, it might break or shatter.

[jonbarr87]

Lol in Canada of course. I mean it rarely does -50 but -20 to -35 isnt that uncommon come my favourite season. I guess I wanna be safe rather than sorry so figured Id check. Thanks for the input/comments lol

[The Warthog]

You get -50 in New Brunswick? Ye Gods! It hits -30 here occasionally, but it takes something really interesting to get me out behind a scope if it's below -10.

[jonbarr87]

Lol yea I wasnt able to stand the warm winters in Ontario.... Im a bit of a "cold wh*re" lol

[gary1968]

-50, OMG!!! bbbrrrrrrrr, you lot are mad...............

Gary

[Jeff RV]

THATS COLD!!

Double thermal pantaloonies i reckon.

Jeff.

[jonbarr87]

Nothing an old army parka (good for 60 below), homeknit wool socks/hat/gloves and a good thermas full of coffee wont handle lol

[Sam]

-50, that's rather cold!

[George]

Think your biggest worry apart from getting frostbite would be the grease freezing in your mount. :mrgreen:

[jonbarr87]

Yea I have that problem at -5 with my current mount... I dont suppose a person could get hooked up with grease like they use on the martian rovers??? lol j/k It really sucks when swing sideways you have to pick up the whole thing....

[rigel1]

Over tightening in cold temps is a problem. When said tightened items then warm up, expansion takes place and great pressure is exerted causing damage. Hark at me, time for bed me thinks.

Rigel1

[Talitha]

Jon, (it is Jon, isn't it? ) a few years ago I took my LX-10 apart and replaced the 'glue' with Arctic Cat snowmobile grease and it made a world of difference. Now instead of stopping when it's +35°F, I can keep going till it hits -10°F.

The Rover grease sounds good... anyone have connections at NASA?

[The Warthog]

I haven't had a problem with it, but I've heard people recommend white lithium grease, which is the stuff I use to grease my bicycle axles. Easy to obtain.

[jonbarr87]

arctic cat.... I never would have thought! and yes it is Jon lol. Sorry never heard of lithium grease..... c'est quoi ca?

[The Warthog]

C'est une graisse qu'on peut acheter a votre Canadian Tire locale. On la trouve dans un tube dans la rayon de sports. Elle a "Bicycle Grease" a l'etiquette.

Ca va?

[jonbarr87]

Thank you very much Warthog. I'll definately have to look into it!