How to Make a Solar Filter for Telescope or Camera

This is how I made my filter for my 80mm telescope but you could also make one this way for your camera lens.

[@imarat21]

Shiny goes out to the sun!!

[@RonComstock]

thank you, however everything I have read says the reflective (silver) side faces the sun

[@Jimmy_Cavallo]

💥Thank you greatly for the effort to share this very helpful info. A couple of things though stated kindly… 0:41 you mentioned that you shot the partial in 2017 but for this one you are making a solar filter. It implies that one was not needed the last time but yet the same identical filter requirements are needed for both. Also, I watched another video showing how to make a homemade filter like yours and he said to put the shiny silver side towards the sun and you say the opposite. One is right and one is not.

[@ronjenkins4257]

I second these two points. The instructions on my Thousand Oaks Optical Mylar filter says the shiny silver side faces the sun.

[@paulbrancato8262]

@@ronjenkins4257So does mine. Maybe the difference is in the manufacturer.

[@GarySizer]

At 1:06 he shows his old filter, the one used for his 2017 photos presumably.

[@davelister796]

I believe that the shinny side needs to face the sun. (Otherwise the mylar filter will get too hot, and maybe melt).

[@richpaul8132]

Thanks for the video. Of all the ways to make a filter housing, I liked yours the best. HOWEVER, the instructions for my sheet of film explicitly stated that the shiny side goes towards the sun. Also, the other videos I've watched said the same thing; shiny side out, towards the sun. Do you have some brand that instructs the opposite? Thanks again, Rich

[@xro5841]

Anyone every wonder why the shadow travels south to North at such a high angle?

[@nateitscake88]

If the wrinkles don't matter, would a large rubber band suffice to keep the filter on?

[@heisenballs]

I got some solar film from Thousand Oaks and it says on the mounting instructions that a rubber band is sufficient. Remember though, during totality you will want to take the filter off as there is not enough light during that time to take photos with the filter on. If you want to take photos of totality, you should make a simple housing like this so you can quickly take it one and off.

[@waynethebarber1095]

Outstanding video! You make it look so easy! And it turned out great! I have an old Mead Shcmidt catagrain 4.5 inch scope. I hope to view the sun after the eclips too. I hope to give my filter a good workout over time. I also want to make a filter for my 6 inch Refractor scope too. You did a great job with your video. Thank you for putting the time in to help us all learn...

[@terred999]

Hey bud, pretty sure the shiny side faces the sun

[@ElmoUnk1953]

Very Instructive Thank You

[@mikejung3908]

Thank you sir, that was very helpfull, you did an excellent job, very well done.

[@cookiebaker8361]

Shiny side faces the sun. After all that you got it backwards, you can't use it. Ennnnnnnt! Wrong!

[@t8sh]

Thank you! This is really helpful and I'm so excited to make my own now ☺

[@waterdogtg]

Very good instructional video

[@natevisuals4120]

Very in depth, great video

[@jimwilliams-wb9um]

Excellent presentation!

[@gigicostlow4414]

I used to live in Cherry Creek and am now in MS. Wish I was still up on my hill for this. Shiny reflective side of Mylar always faces out towards the sun. Tip: Leave sheet between the cardboard it came in. You can draw the pattern right on the cardboard part and cut it out then remove the film and mount it. Another thing you can do is mount the whole sheet on the back of the frame then attach the front part. When it dries trim off the extra film.

[@JulieHerrick]

Is contact cement the same thing as rubber cement?

[@davelister796]

No. Rubber cement is different from Contact cement. But contact cement is readily available at Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, and probably Walmart. Look in the glue department or ask. (It might be available at Hobby Lobby, Michael's too.)