Binocular solar filters.

[Mark Wagner]

I've been playing around with this idea for a while.  I have a bunch of eclipse glasses (cardboard with filter material), and keep thinking of placing them in a holder (safely) over the binos.

Then today I thought why not check online, and this.  PET? And $19?

Turns out these are a number of such items available.  Just want to find something assuredly safe.

-- 
Mark

[John Pierce]

On Tue, Feb 17, 2026 at 8:39 AM Mark Wagner <itsmar...@gmail.com> wrote:

I've been playing around with this idea for a while.  I have a bunch of eclipse glasses (cardboard with filter material), and keep thinking of placing them in a holder (safely) over the binos.

some years back (ok, 2017), I asked a friend to 3D print these holders for the club's Oberwerk 25x100's...

they worked quite well.   thats thousandoaks solar film....

[Frank Graham]

For the 2024 eclipse, I made this temporary holder for my binoculars out of cardboard and painter's tape, while fellow TACO, Rod, made the one for the camera lens using hot glue.  Years later these temporary solutions are still going strong.  Easy to replace the Baader film if punctured, because it's a simple rectangular cut for my sandwich holder. Photos below show me replacing the film (I purposely gouged out the film so that no one would use them until replaced).  The larger rectangle relative to my small 8x42s provides some facial shade too.  There is some give on the cardboard for people with differing inter pupillary distances, but if going between children and wide-eyed adults, you may want independent holders for the binocular lenses (or make 2 holders as it's only cheap cardboard).

I do like John's elegant 3D print.  Maybe it's time to head down to my local library to convert my "temporary" one into a 3D print with hinges/clasps to ease the occasional Baader film replacement.

You can get the Baader film (sold in various sizes/quantities) at your preferred vendor.  Here's the small sheet I got:

https://agenaastro.com/baader-astrosolar-visual-filter-film-nd-5-eco-sheet-2459286.html

Have fun!

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[Mark Wagner]

You guys are convincing me.... that solar film is da kine.

I just turned my Windows desktop backgound into a white light live solar image. Not much sunspot action today, but now I'll see 'um coming.

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-- 
Mark

[Ted Hauter]

Check out Explore Scientific's Galileoscope solar filter for $5!

Buy two ;)

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[Randy Pufahl]

There are quite a few printable binocular solar film holders out there.

Here is the first of many available. (search with "binocular solar”)

https://www.printables.com/model/752917-binocular-solar-eclipse-filter

Mark if you want a set printed just let me know.  I can scale most of these models larger or smaller fairly easily.

randy

[Jeff Crilly]

Mark — you want to use Baader Solar film.  

Accept No Substitutes.  

(I think I still have a fair amount from sometime after the turn of the century… but I’d have to check when I get home.)

Here’s my filters for the Canon IS binos.  

On Feb 17, 2026, at 8:40 AM, Mark Wagner <itsmar...@gmail.com> wrote:



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