SkyWatcher Quattro 10CF Tweaks And Mods

A collection of tweaks and mods done to my Quattro 10CF telescope, however these are not limited to the quattro and apply to most newtonian scopes

[@mrbridges32]

i appreciate the fact that you took the time to teach us all of these mods and upgrade. thank you very much.

[@universalsailor]

Loved the bit with the blue cardboard strip -- just SO practical and clever. Great stuff.

[@grahamalgeo3867]

I hadn't realised all those years ago when I upgraded the focuser on my 200P that the focuser needed collimating also. (28 mins in.) I followed this along with your other collimation videos, and it has noticeably improved the performance of my 200P. I would advise anyone with a Newtonian telescope to watch these videos, the results will speak (Even though they're pictures.) for themselves. A great deal of thanks to you for your video guides.

[@stickey4590]

Great video, extremely instructive for improving any serious reflector, not just a Quattro 10CF. I really like AstronomyShed videos

[@Tylerjrb]

Great tips. I plan to hopefully get one of these scopes 10" carbon before winter so nice to have some good explanations on potential mods i could make and overall setup of the scope.

[@naskies]

Thanks for making the video - your reviews and tips are always great!

[@Carl_Mansfield]

Great video Dion, definately going to make one of those DIY dew shield/light shrouds. Hope you get your scope sorted out soon as I'm sure you have a cracking scope there, best of luck!

[@ENGAGEXR]

Fantastic Video. I have been having issues with collomination. Looks as if my focuser was out of alignment. This helped alot.

[@freddyacosta2358]

Awesome tips. Thanks for taking the time.

[@shaneskelts80]

Great video Dion, I am gutted for you , hope you get the replacement asap!!

[@geoffers77]

Fabulous and imformative, you do it so damg good mate keep them videos coming and it wasn't too long either,Geoff

[@astronomyshed]

3 months to arrive from China! I wasn't a happy chappy, glad you like the vids.

[@xe1zlgg]

Excellent vídeo

[@astronomyshed]

@MindOfDreams I'm a big fan of flocking, when I fully flocked my 200p scope, the difference in contrast especially on lunar was amazing.

[@davebillybish]

On working through the various tweaks and mods, I am finding the laser collimater is showing focuser position, when collimating it, to be in a different position to the Lifecam with SharpCap running with the red reticle turned on...mmm puzzling. lol nb the cheshire does agree with the laser col. :-)

[@geoffers77]

Thanks Dion for your reply,Geoff

[@blobrana]

Good upload

[@antonsinitsyn6420]

Awesome, thank you.

[@iapa3419]

Just watched this and at 12m, I had to stop because I was crying. That must have been painful.

[@onefortherazorbacksjenkins6731]

Hi there Dion, Excellent video. Which coma corrector are you using with your Quattro? I've been using the Baader MPCC Mk. III and I'm wondering if it's worth upgrading to the Televue Paracorr. I would welcome any comments you might have on coma correction (apologies if you've covered that in another video).

[@msimmonsmcse]

I propose a new drinking game -- take a swig every time Dion says "right!" You'd be quite pissed by the end of this video :) -- Seriously, great video. Sucks about busting the secondary. When you were waving your screwdriver around the primary, I got a bit nervous too. You can never be too careful with mirrors and optics.

[@astronomyshed]

When you consider that not one of the videos ever had a script, I thought I did well, only notes I used to have were like figures and sizes on post it notes.

[@astronomyshed]

@RangerParus It's laminated so is double thickness, also i added viagra to the adhesive when laminating

[@astronomyshed]

@SaturnArk Yes I agree, but you do get the rough with the smooth with me lol

[@whydidyouresign]

A bit tedious, but super informative!! Thank you for your hard work putting this together. Could you possibly add links to your suppliers, e.g., the flocking material and the blackboard paint? The scope that I see advertised in the U.S. is the 250P. I guess that in order to get the carbon fiber tube, it needs to specifically be the 10CF. But I guess that's a question for Skywatcher. I enjoy your videos!

[@mar504]

They no longer offer the CF tube as an option

[@shaneskelts80]

Hi Dion , My telescope is 114mm aperture so would the flocking material you used be ok or would the black board paint be better as the aperture is quite small?? Let me say a big thank you for your channel. I have been blown away with your discoveries!!!!!!

[@daviddahlke3293]

You are the best!!!!!

[@astronomyshed]

Well thank you lol

[@astronomyshed]

@CalanRoupe No, it's in a tin and is brushed on, it's called "international paints one coat blackboard paint' def not a spray.

[@wesleydonnelly2141]

oh i cringed at 12m when that secondary slammed down! lol. Great vid though, really helpful thanks!

[@astronomyshed]

@shaneskelts80 Hi and thanks, if you can get your hands in there I'd still use the flock, the blackboard paint is VERY black but I still consider it an accompaniment to flocking, not a replacement. It's also water based, and although pretty stable I wouldn't like to have a full tube done in it out in the cold and wet (dew)

[@donaldkasper8346]

My key concern with collimation when replacing the secondary mirror is that all the adjustment screws were extending out the primary mirror side by a half inch. When I put the mirror back in, I set them just a hair protruding outside the mount. How far they extend to adjust the secondary mirror location is the key concern for me.

[@wkomar]

Oops, I thought the secondary mirror broke at 12:30 when the second spider bolt came undone. Great video though, I will do a few of these tweaks (I've got a 10" SkyWatcher truss dob) but I don't think I'll be pulling it completely apart.

[@JezHughes]

Great thanks mate! I've got some M4s now so i'll try them out. Thanks for the video, i've just flocked my 250p. Marked the primary though, was too tired and not concentrating :( no big damage though. The screws were so factory tight, im not sure how you got yours out so easily, 3 of mine sheared off when i tried.

[@kingdom777866]

Yer mrs had a heart attack when you used the Hoover ha ha !! Great !!

[@astronomyshed]

I did it at night so she still thinks I don't know how to work it ;)

[@naskies]

There may have been stress/micro fractures underneath the surface of the mirror glass, which propagated with time and temperature changes.

[@onefortherazorbacksjenkins6731]

I was also wondering if you've used a barlow with the Quattro and if so, whether the mirrors need to be moved or not? I tried a Televue 4x and could not achieve focus. Apparently with two-element barlows with 2" thread, it is possible to screw one element into the back of the focuser near the secondary mirror but I have not tried this.

[@ROY-COLLEY]

Good Day from Cardiff and thank you for all your helpful tips. I'm a complete beginner. But I do have a Skywatcher 250pds. I have flocked the inside and blackened the edge and back of the secondary mirror. As for the focuser, on the 250pds. I cant see the collimator screws that you said you can easily get to. Are the 250pds supposed to have one there. ? I cant post a photo on here sorry to show you my focuser. I got this 250pds secondhand. I've never used it yet,as I wanted to flock it ( which has been done now ) first and clean the mirrors before I use it. Thanks again for your helpful Vids Regards Roy

[@astronomyshed]

If you go to the link I'm going to post, look at the focuser, you will see 2 holes which are where bolts would fix it to the OTA then just inside from those where you see a circular ring, you can see 2 dark bolts with largish heads with tiny grub screws right beside them, those are focuser alignment/collimation screws. If your focuser doesn't have them, the only other way is to shim under the fixing bolts if the focuser is out of alignment. www.astroshop.eu/focusers/skywatcher-2-crayford-focuser-for-explorer-newtonian-reflectors/p,22264

[@kirkster501]

Gee whiz you are a brave man Dion! Brilliant set of mods but the scariest bit is getting the old center spot of the primary - how did you do that? How much did the replacement secondary cost may I ask?

[@helgenordal3506]

Hello mister! Great videos you have posted. Very informative and in an easily understandable way. Can I ask for your help regarding the purchase of new Newton reflector to my LXD75 mount? 8 "SKYWATCHER quattro F / 4 carbon or the GSO Carbon Fibre Newtonian Telescope 8 "F / 4? I like 8 "SKYWATCHER quattro F / 4 CF. Do you think my LXD75 mount will be able to carry the OTA? I will probably do some photo 30-60 sec? Anything more is not well possible without guiding? I hope you can answer me, it would mean a lot to me. Best regards Helge Nordal Norway, Bergen

[@plejermt2]

Hi. Could you recommend a collimation camera? I have a ZWO ASI 120mc-s but the built-in magnification is not suitable for viewing the inside of the tube

[@sbooder]

Did your secondary possibly break when you were removing it? It made quite a bang when you took the top screw out first, and maybe the fracture was there but then broke off later?

[@andrewkim5054]

I love your mods! By the way, how did you baffle the scope?

[@SamTanXYZ]

DONGWOOK LIKES SKYWATCHER!

[@andrewkim5054]

... Dude I am modding my telescope... relax...

[@CalanRoupe]

@astronomyshed.... I've rechecked the internet and I can't find a supplier of that here in the U.S. I guess I'll try and old trick and spray some in a deep lid and then use a brush to put it on secondary. Thanks for the quick reply.

[@mx0mania]

After this now im just worried that my focuser is out of collimation... :D I have some c-d-fix matte satin for flocking. Maybe i do that mod to my scope. Is it supposed to cover whole scope from inside? I have sw 200p so it does not have those rings inside like quattro.

[@QU4DP1MP]

Hi Dion, Can you point me in the right direction for one of those Precision Centering Adapters, please?

[@CalanRoupe]

Dion, the only chalkboard paint I've found (and bought) was a spray can. Is that what you used? And, if so, how did you avoid overspay on the secondardy mirror? That's my biggest concern. My flocking material should arrive today and I'm excited to get it flocked and every darkened and seei the results. Thanks!

[@kirkster501]

Well, 80 quid not too bad I suppose. Expensive mistake though - did they supply it quickly? Will take a look for the mirror spotting thread. Keep up the videos please Dion, they are highly informative and helpful.

[@flybuyfilms]

Wow Have I now got a lot to do. This was very helpful but I have a couple of questions. 1. When painting the second and primary mirrors, how did you paint them with out getting the front or dripping to the front( just mist it)? 2. How did you get the white circle off of the primary mirror? 3. Where did you purchase the new triangle circle for the primary mirror? 4. Where can someone purchase the flocking material? 5. Where can I get the material for front tube that has velco,

[@astronomyshed]

That's at 1:01:51 all you need to do is take one of the existing bolts to a hardware store or engineering shop and tell them you want the same size but in cap head socket screws. From memory i think they are M4 thread. These are not grub screws, grub screws have no head

[@astronomyshed]

@flib08 KZbin doesn't allow links in comments but all the info is available on my site at astronomyshed, mine is approx 4mm thick but I laminate it. You also need about 670mm width to fit round a 200P

[@astronomyshed]

Got a few more planned ;)

[@geoffers77]

Thanks for your reply Dion, Geoff, Btw do you have any experiance with the Vixen Polarie Star Tracker please, and if so can you Recommend me to Purchase it, Tia.

[@Carl_Mansfield]

Dion, where did you get the neoprene sheet from for the 200P? I've seen some online which is 300x300 and is 10mm thick will that be ok for the job?

[@JezHughes]

Hey! Would you be able to let me know where you got those replacement grub screws for the primary mirror, or what size they are? Mine are bent and 2 sheared off! So i need to replace :(

[@flybuyfilms]

And how did you affix the velco to the material? There always many more questions but I will stop for now. I have a dob 10" orion that I am looking to mount to a tripod soon.

[@astronomyshed]

There's another video that covers re spotting primary, the new secondary was about 80 pounds

[@JezHughes]

No i meant your part at 0:51:00 where you mention you had replaced your mirror clip grub screws with replacements?

[@davebillybish]

Hi Dion, I'm a late comer to your video, not sure if you're still monitoring this page but thanks belatedly, its very informative and done in an expert way. I've had a 10" S.W. QUATTRO for a while now but really glad I've found this. You flocked the back of the PRIMARY MIRROR, would you mind saying how you clean it in time to come? Surely the water will seriously degrade the flocking? It would be good to know how you paint/flock the edges of the mirrors too. Thanks for all your efforts again. Best, Dave

[@astronomyshed]

Hi, the flocking sticks like shit to a blanket! Water didnt affect it, but be sure to clean first with something like isopropyl alcohol. I seem to remember the blackboard paint didn't do too well when wet so I would use an oil based matt black paint.

[@davebillybish]

Hi@@astronomyshedits good to know about the 'extreme' sticking power of flocking! I'm impressed. Did you mean you cleaned the mirror back with Isopropyl before flocking it to ensure a good adhesion? For the painting I use Humbrol matt black enamel , which I guess should be fairly waterproof. Can you remember how you masked the mirror itself to avoid over-painting on the edges? Unfortunately the secondary mirror cant be taken out on my scope as there's a dew heater on it wired to a jack socket on the OTA 'outside'.

[@astronomyshed]

@@davebillybish Yes, mirror back with isopropyl, or methylated spirits etc would be fine. I didn't mask the mirror, surgeons hands lol ;)

[@star57gazer73]

astronomyshed cheers, I'll be trying that and choose a day when my hands are nice and steady 😷

[@davebillybish]

@@astronomyshed Hi Dion, when flocking your primary back, the mirror must've been 'face' down on a firm surface I would gather, but I'm afraid of damaging the silvering with scuffs, dust and marks if I do mine while its out. Did you use anything special as a 'safe' surface to place it on while you were doing the job? Are you still using the telescope and do you get some good images with it? Best, Dave

[@scirocco79]

my EQ6 mount is belt-modified and I'm using about 10kg of equipment with succes (no probl. with round stars at 10 minutes subs and 900mm fl). do you think it's possible to do astrophotography with this setup and another 3kg of equipment (camera, filterwheel, autoguider/etc). thank you.

[@astronomyshed]

Only a mini heart attack? I had to change my underwear!

[@QU4DP1MP]

@astronomyshed Ok, thanks.

[@sbooder]

Just to let you know I get my flocking in the UK from abmshop 5 meters of self adhesive for £20 and it is top stuff, no loose fibres and it is sticky as hell. I don't get it because it is cheap, just because it is good. My uncle did his 16" newt with this too.

[@TiberiusWallace]

@astronomyshed lol I've never seen stiff neoprene before.

[@astronomyshed]

KZbin doesn't allow posting links, but if you join the forum on my site at astronomyshed, there's info there but if you ask in the forum or drop me a PM I can send you a link to a really good one.

[@astronomyshed]

@ATGxQuadPimp KZbin don't allow links in comments but do a google for orion precision centering adapter or antares precision centering adapter and it should point you to them.

[@phillipjensen4362]

my question is how much dose it weigh

[@astronomyshed]

@RangerParus Well I'm right next to it and you're miles away so chances are, it's neoprene.

[@astronomyshed]

Do you mean secondary?

[@TiberiusWallace]

Are you sure that's neoprene? It looks like funny foam from where I am.

[@Wub892]

you shoulda painted the fan blade in the back, black just in case.

[@troytranter3701]

A must - for any discriminating newtonian owner.

[@gaby2759]

that is an F/3.9 ?

[@TiberiusWallace]

Is it just me or can you see a flaw in the glass at 13:33 ?

[@donaldkasper8346]

The key thing I see is his mirror is painted black all around the outside. None of mine are.

[@astronomyshed]

No, that is an F4 ;)

[@rakhalkincaid6069]

Consider me a disciple! --- Rakhal Kincaid, Maui

[@donaldkasper8346]

As you pushed down on the paper, you probably moved it.

[@astronomyshed]

All I see is the silvering overspray on the edges

[@astronomyshed]

Nope, i gave it a real good checking.

[@gaby2759]

ok.

[@mareprah]

I had a mini heart attack at 0:12:27 ...:S

[@NGC7000]

Hell no... I’m going to sale immediately my telescope. I can’t collimate the damn thing

[@astronomyshed]

I know nothing of the polarie at all, sorry.

[@knarfster]

Really? An hour and 15 minutes? Why wouldn't you break it down into parts?

[@astronomyshed]

knarfster why wouldnt you just watch it in parts, its no biggie, just moaning for the sake of moaning!

[@knarfster]

astronomyshed I don't see any index. What if I am only interested in one part. List and index of topics, with time point

[@astronomyshed]

knarfster get a grip man, I dont get paid to do these vids, You dont pay to see them, like I said, moaning for the sake of it and ungratefull.

[@knarfster]

astronomyshed I am grateful you made the video, but no one else makes hour plus bodies. I wanted into on a coma corrector for that speed telescope. Would be nice if this was done in multiple parts is all. Then you might get more views