Viewing the sun

[kev]

I would concur with those comments. despite being an avid solar observer, after I fit the filer on the front of the scope I always first check no unobserved small teers -and then without the eyepiece in, check for pin holes (cat claw holes or bird poo holes!!) even.

Id rather use a new bit of solar film than take any chance.

When its windy I have a back up "proper" full aperture thousand oaks solar filter that I use, but personnaly I find that it gives a less contrasty view than astrosolar film.

(at that I also used to use it at any star parties cos you know that no kids can poke a hole in it!)

[Altair40]

I have a 'crinkle' in the Baader film on my monocular. Not using that again until I've made a filter for the newt. And used the last bit for my 'spotter'.

Danger is it's invisible under normal lighting - only visible when viewing the sun so I'll scrap that bit of film in case it's tempted to turn into a tear.

One thing I have done to test for macroscopic holes in the film is to point the mono at my 150W metal halides on my reef aquarium...

That's by no means anything like the sun but might give me an indication. Maybe I should use a piece of card or as you suggest, a hand, to check before direct solar observation.