About this product
Model: protostar_flock_board_10cm
Part Number: FBR09
Protostar Flocking Board (10cm increments, custom cut)
The blackest flocking material we've ever found!
Applying an ultra-black lining to your telescope tube has never been easier.
Flockboard is a light trap surface on a low-density plastic sheet.
Simply roll it up, then let it snap out against the tube wall. It stays in place without glue or tape.
Flockboard cuts easily with scissors or a utility knife, and also drills cleanly.
Small screw holes can also be poked through cleanly using just a pointed tool.
Typically used to line the interior of a Newtonian telescope's tube for enhanced contrast.
Made in the USA.
Please get in touch if you are unsure how much flocking material is required for your telescope.
Dimensions
This is for a 10cm (3.93") long piece with a 61cm (24") width.
To order a custom length simply round the length you require up to the nearest 10cm and then divide by ten to find out how many 10cm increments to order.
Thickness: 0.76mm (0.030").
FlockBoard Properties
- Weight: 0.09g/cm2 / 0.02oz/in2
- Avg. visible reflectivity @ 0º incidence angle < 0.4%
- Avg. visible reflectivity @ 80º incidence angle < 0.7%
Spectral Reflectivity Graph
FAQ
Is the improvement really that noticeable after applying flocked light trap material?
On bright planets like Jupiter and Venus, you should easily see an improvement in field glare surrounding the planet (assuming your original condition was a simple painted tube wall). Contrast on the moon is also noticeably improved. The improvement is more subtle on deep space objects, though the flocked paper does a good job at reducing glare from nearby bright objects like streetlights, house lights, etc.
Does dew or moisture damage the flocked material?
Protostar flocking is a completely synthetic-based material, so moisture won't deteriorate it.
Does the flocked material have good thermal insulation properties?
The flocking material is a poor insulator by itself. If you are trying to insulate your metal telescope tube, you should first line it with an insulating material (e.g., cork) before applying the flocked light trap. The FlockBoard has a better insulating property, so is often recommended for metal tube applications.
What are the light absorbing properties of Protostar light trap material?
Protostar light trap products are designed for the visible spectrum (~400-700 nm) where it absorbs over 99% of incident light. It also attenuates in the near-IR and near-UV by over 80%. (See spectral reflectivity graph above.)
Downloads / Manuals
The following manuals and downloads are available for this product:
Manuals
FlockBoard Installation Manual (PDF)
Customer reviews
| Average Rating (2 Reviews): | |
So much easier than the sticky stuff 16 February 2024 | Nick
I bought this to flock my old SW 150PDS.
The 61cm width exactly matches the length of the tube between the primary mirror and up to the spider vanes, so I rolled it the opposite way and only needed 70cm (7x10cm).
You need to overlap the join a few cm's to make it neat. This is not a problem and does not in any way intrude into the optical path. You have to remove the primary mirror in it's cell, focuser and finder bracket (just undoing a few bolts). Combined with a backyard universe spider and mirror wash this put new life back into an old scope. I always end up with bubbles and wrinkles with the sticky stuff. In contrast this was a total breeze to install and it is now very black inside the tube.
Protostar FlockBoard Flocking Board 12 March 2023 | Brian
looking down the inside of My Unistella eVscope I knew that it need to be matted down for ultimate images. . I was lucky that First light Optics sent me a Complete Board , without the cutting into strips that was offered. So I measured out several times because the board is very stiff and would need to hold itself in place , from the moment it was inserted.
I was delighted to find that I had measure it Almost perfectly. I would be very difficult to Remove it out again.
I was Lucky ,the board clicked into place and it has perfectly covered the inside. and I also had enough over to make a lightweight Lens Hood. Alas with the really Bad weather I have been unable to test it out. But It must be the Best way you can do it without damagine the scope. NOTE it is Really Necessary to Cut It Accurately ! It is Well worth the cost
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