Re: ATM walnut shells for OTA - how to apply?

[Dave Bevel <davebevel@mindspring.com>]

Hi Don,
>
>I have read in the past about people that have applied crushed walnut
shells to
>the inside of the OTA and I have decided to do this also.  I have a bag of
the
>shells.  Now I want to know what method I should use to apply them to the
inside
>of the cardboard tube that will eventually be my telescope.

Now hwere is an area I know something about.<g>

Rule #1. Put down a big sheet of plastic for house painting around your
work area.
This can get messy! 

Rule #2  Leave plenty of room around the work area. You will need it.

Rule #3  Wear cloths you hate or don't mind messing up.

Things to buy.  

1. A couple of small paint rollers.  The 3"s or so in length.
2. Applicator handle long enough to reach at least the middle of the tube
so that
your arms do not have to travel up inside the tube. Keeps the paint in the
tube and off of you.
3. Flat black paint of your choice. 1/2 gallon at least for a 1 ft. dia. tube.
4. Two saw horses or a couple of chairs, what ever will work to secure the
tube in a horizontal position. I used bungy cords to hold the tube to the
sawhorses. Try and make them long enough to hold the tube but not so tight
you can't easily rotate the tube.
 
Step #1 Spread a liberal amount of paint down the bottom side of the tube.
Step #2 Toss in the walnutshell and spread around with as even a
distribution as possible.
Try not to do with as little physical contact as possible.
Step #3 Let paint dry.
Step #4 Repeat process till entire inner surface is covered.
Step #6 Apply paint again and repeat process untill desired coverage has
been met.
This may take three or more rounds before all is done to a satisfactory level.
Besure to protect the area where the primary will be mounted. The walnut
will make installing the primary most difficult. I know!! I had to remove
it. SIGH!

P.S. Have you considered flocking paper?

Most of all. Have fun.



David H. Bevel
davebevel@mindspring.com
Norcross, Georgia
My humble little WEB site:

http://www.mindspring.com/~davebevel/index.html