Questar, leather and alcohol

On Sun, 28 Mar 2004 02:40:56 GMT, "Michael White"
wrote:

So, a word to the wise: always test solvents on a spot that doesn't
show!

When I read the subject line to this thread, I didn't know what to
expect!


Paul Below
Battle Point Astronomical Association
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
http://bainbridgeisland.org/ritchieobs/

"Paul Below" wrote in message
...
When I read the subject line to this thread, I didn't know what to
expect!

Me either! I was expecting some story of too much drinking and an accident
that ended the life of an innocent Q. (I wasn't sure how the leather would
fit it, and wasn't sure if it would be safe for the family!)

;-)

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try the Lunar Observing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************

Paul Below
Battle Point Astronomical Association
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
http://bainbridgeisland.org/ritchieobs/

"Paul Below" wrote in message
...
When I read the subject line to this thread, I didn't know what to
expect!

Me either! I was expecting some story of too much drinking and an accident
that ended the life of an innocent Q. (I wasn't sure how the leather would
fit it, and wasn't sure if it would be safe for the family!)

;-)

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try the Lunar Observing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************

Paul Below
Battle Point Astronomical Association
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
http://bainbridgeisland.org/ritchieobs/

Paul Below wrote in message . ..
On Sun, 28 Mar 2004 02:40:56 GMT, "Michael White"
wrote:

So, a word to the wise: always test solvents on a spot that doesn't
show!

When I read the subject line to this thread, I didn't know what to
expect!

Ditto. I thought it'd be one of the "sexy biker chick" threads that've
been plaguing some of the Yahoo groups recently.

Paul Below wrote in message . ..
On Sun, 28 Mar 2004 02:40:56 GMT, "Michael White"
wrote:

So, a word to the wise: always test solvents on a spot that doesn't
show!

When I read the subject line to this thread, I didn't know what to
expect!

Ditto. I thought it'd be one of the "sexy biker chick" threads that've
been plaguing some of the Yahoo groups recently.

In article ,
"Michael White" wrote:

You learn the darndest things in backyard astromony. After 40 years of
waiting, I finally broke down and bought a Questar telescope. It's an oldie
from the 60s, but a real goodie. The problem was that the leather cases were
a mess, especially the outer "dust cover". However, some alcohol took all
the tape residue right off, so I then applied it to the black goo on the
inner case. Big mistake. The leather of the inner case is dyed, and the
alcohol took the pigment right off. Left a big blotch right on the front
cover. So, a word to the wise: always test solvents on a spot that doesn't
show!

PS: the Questar is everything I ever hoped and believed it would be.



Michael,

I bought my Questar new in the early 80s. I once cleaned the miniscus
corrector with acetone, taking the painted secondary right off the
glass....EEEK!!

I love my Questar, and it has accompanied me all over the world, but now
use it more for nature studies than astronomy.

Starry Skies,
Rich

I believe that it should be fairly easy to re-dye the leather. Go to a
Michaels Hobby and Craft or Hobby Lobby and ask them for black leather dye.

Read the instructions, and try it on a not so obvious place on the case to
make sure that it works ok and then fix the area that you damaged. Or, if
your brave enough, re-dye the whole case interior.

Good luck,
F Marion

"Michael White" wrote in message
...
You learn the darndest things in backyard astromony. After 40 years of
waiting, I finally broke down and bought a Questar telescope. It's an
oldie
from the 60s, but a real goodie. The problem was that the leather cases
were
a mess, especially the outer "dust cover". However, some alcohol took all
the tape residue right off, so I then applied it to the black goo on the
inner case. Big mistake. The leather of the inner case is dyed, and the
alcohol took the pigment right off. Left a big blotch right on the front
cover. So, a word to the wise: always test solvents on a spot that doesn't
show!

PS: the Questar is everything I ever hoped and believed it would be.



I can sympathize with you big time. I have never done that with astronomical
equipment, at least not yet, but it has happened to me unexpectedly with
other expensive items. For example, I used an alcohol swap to clean the
outside of an expensive voice recorder. Worked wonderfully. Then I went over
the plastic window over the LED display. Huge mistake. It fogged up the
plastic and gave it a dull hazy look. Who knew? Well, now I know....

On Sun, 28 Mar 2004 02:40:56 GMT, "Michael White"
wrote:

So, a word to the wise: always test solvents on a spot that doesn't
show!

When I read the subject line to this thread, I didn't know what to
expect!


Paul Below
Battle Point Astronomical Association
Bainbridge Island, WA, USA
http://bainbridgeisland.org/ritchieobs/

Or, contact Questar and order a new case?
Just a thought.
orion

"Michael White" wrote in message
...
You learn the darndest things in backyard astromony. After 40 years of
waiting, I finally broke down and bought a Questar telescope. It's an
oldie
from the 60s, but a real goodie. The problem was that the leather cases
were
a mess, especially the outer "dust cover". However, some alcohol took all
the tape residue right off, so I then applied it to the black goo on the
inner case. Big mistake. The leather of the inner case is dyed, and the
alcohol took the pigment right off. Left a big blotch right on the front
cover. So, a word to the wise: always test solvents on a spot that doesn't
show!

PS: the Questar is everything I ever hoped and believed it would be.




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