Hi Rob,
I'm going to give some different advice than the other post.
I took a seminar on solar filter building with baader film at our local astrofest last summer. I made a set of slip-on binocular filters. What I learned is that in fact you get better image results if you leave the film very loose, to the point where there are numerous wavy wrinkles. Here is an image of one of those filters:
http://www.macnmotion.com/solarfilter/filteronbinoculars.jpg
I also recently made a second set, where I sandwiched the film between two UV filters. This provides protection for the film and also provides more safety in that the screwed-on filters are in no danger of falling off the binoculars. The down side is that the process of screwing the sandwich of filters together tightens up the film, no wrinkles! Here'a an image:
http://www.macnmotion.com/baaderonbinocs.jpg
As for covering holes, I learned that I should use an opaquing fluid, like a white-out type of coverup liquid. I was told that small fixes like this shouldn't cause much degradation in the image.
Good luck, and always be careful looking at the sun!!
macnmotion
I'm going to give some different advice than the other post.
I took a seminar on solar filter building with baader film at our local astrofest last summer. I made a set of slip-on binocular filters. What I learned is that in fact you get better image results if you leave the film very loose, to the point where there are numerous wavy wrinkles. Here is an image of one of those filters:
http://www.macnmotion.com/solarfilter/filteronbinoculars.jpg
I also recently made a second set, where I sandwiched the film between two UV filters. This provides protection for the film and also provides more safety in that the screwed-on filters are in no danger of falling off the binoculars. The down side is that the process of screwing the sandwich of filters together tightens up the film, no wrinkles! Here'a an image:
http://www.macnmotion.com/baaderonbinocs.jpg
As for covering holes, I learned that I should use an opaquing fluid, like a white-out type of coverup liquid. I was told that small fixes like this shouldn't cause much degradation in the image.
Good luck, and always be careful looking at the sun!!
macnmotion
