Re: [APML] Scrubbing a Schmidt

[KGKIRKLEY@aol.com]

In a message dated 3/22/02 11:12:02 PM, reeves10@swbell.net writes:

>For you Schmidt camera owners....
>
>
>
>At Okie-Tex last year I was commenting to Kent Kirkley about how nice his
>
>Schmidt camera looked even though it was 15 years old.  He said it was
>
>repainted during its Epoch upgrade.  My Schmidt is orriginal, 25 years
>old,
>
>and looked like hell.  It has scuff marks and blotches of tape stickum
>where
>
>I had to seal up the camera in the observatory to keep ants out of the
>tube.
>
>The little suckers would crawl up the pier, get into the camera, then tap
>
>dance on the mirror and die from the heat.  That left a nice mess on the
>
>mirror.
>
>
>
>I have been building a whole new mount for the Schmidt and was embarrased
>at
>
>the thought of this scroungy thing beeing seen at TSP this year.  So tonight
>
>I said enough is enough and brought the camera into the kitchen and gave
>it
>
>a bath.  Well, let me tell you that SoftScrub cleanser made by Clorox does
>a
>
>great job of cleaning up the outside of a Schmidt camera.  It looks pretty
>
>good now.  The abrasive in the liquid cleanser acts kind of like rubbing
>
>compound does on old car paint.  It took off the soft oxidized outer layer
>
>of paint and took 99 percent of the trash with it.  Of course, just don't
>
>get any cleanser inside the tube or on the optics.
>
>
>
>Kent, you going to be at TSP this year?  Your new Astrophysics is what
>
>inspired me to make the new mount for this monster.

Hi Robert:
Concerning TSP, I'm planning on going if the weather cooperates and I can 
keep my wife out of the hospital. She has had a rough Jan. & Feb. with three 
hospitalizations and two surgeries.

I look forward to seeing your new mount.

Kent Kirkley

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