Refractor Baffles

I have a 4" f/10 refractor that has 3 baffle rings inside. I think they are too restrictive and are reducing my illuminated field for a 2" 40mm eyepiece. Is there any way to check this? Could I remove the baffles and replace them with black flocking paper with the same net result (as far as reducing glare, etc).

Walt

You can do the little trick that Mike Hosea posted somewhere sometime ago. Place relatively bright star close to the edge of your 40mm ep and have it defocused. You'll see clearly enough how much of the defocused circle is cut off (missing) due to the baffle blockage for an approximate estimate of the severity of vignetting.

More precise method would be to measure up baffle diameters and positions in regard to the lens and focal plane, and apply appropriate formulas to the obtained values. But the quick look at the defocused star is much easier to do, and usually sufficient.