Re: [ATM] sonotube flocking

[Mike Shuken <mikeshuken@value.net>]

In comparison, how good does paint/flocking stick to the inside of a 
sonotube?  I have seen it mentioned that it is best to "strip" the waxy 
inside of a sonotube before painting it so you will have a better surface 
to adhere to - but is it difficult to strip the inside of a sonotube?  What 
paint works best?

For my first telescope I was lucky and found an actual cardboard tube 
manufacturing plant near my home.  They gave me a extra they had for free 
(score!) and I just used a paint brush and bar-b-que flat black paint for 
the inside.  Paint seems to be sticking fine.

My next scope will be much bigger (10" mirror vs. 4.5") than the first, I 
wonder if I should get a 12" cardboard tube from the manufacturing plant or 
buy a 12" sonotube?

One of the nice things about the tube factory is that they can custom 
fabricate the wall thickness, but perhaps a sonotube is already the 
"perfect" thickness?

Thanks,

Mike

At 01:33 PM 11/22/2005, you wrote:
><<  It's the best unless you intend to use it to line the inside of a
>tube that has already been painted.  In my experience, adhesion is poor
>to painted surfaces (particularly flat black), which is on the inside of
>almost any dob.  (It seems to stick fine at first, but then gradually
>it loses its grip.)  >>
>
>Application technique is everything.  That includes a thorough
>cleaning!  I've had one piece stuck in a tube for 15 years...... maybe
>longer.  That telescope gets used regularly.  I bought the flocked
>covering when it first came out with the new adhesive (15 yrs IIRC).  I
>have one piece in the fiberglass tube of my 12.5" when it was in that
>configuration.  That tube as been outside for 6-7 years now, and I just
>checked, the edges are coming loose, but it is still firmly attached to
>the PAINTED inside of the tube, opposite the focuser.
>
>*****-----
>Dan F.
>Former Secretary/MAS
>Memphis, TN
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>ATM mailing list http://www.atmlist.net/



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