Film or herschel

[Louis D]

Going back to the original title question without reading the post, can you even use a Herschel wedge with a non-refractor?  How would you fit it to a Newtonian with limited back focus, and then, how would you look through it?  Would concentrating all that solar energy onto a secondary mirror damage it?  Same thing for CATs.  Wouldn't all of that concentrated solar energy damage secondary mirrors and baffles?

So, assuming solar film is the best way to go for Newts and CATs, has anyone tried Thousand Oaks's new(ish) solar film on a telescope?  I used their solar glasses for the eclipse, and everyone agreed that they gave much sharper views naked eye than cheap mylar solar glasses.  I've been using Baader visual solar film since it first came out nearly 20 years ago to replace a Thousand Oaks glass solar filter.  My main gripe has been that with an 8" scope, it seems like not enough light is being blocked, and I have to use a moon filter and an IR cut filter to cut the brightness and IR, respectively.