DIY Flats Cap

Everyone who takes flats for imaging has their own techniques. Many use the White Tee Shirt method: stretching a white tee shirt over the telescope and taking exposures against an evenly lit surface. I use this method with an old sheet aimed at an A3 sized light box. But what about when your tee’s in the wash and you can’t find a rubber band in the dark? As this is often done at the end of the night with cold fingers and a sleepy head, I set about designing some Flats Caps for my scopes to save time and take the fiddle out of this process.

Step 1

Find some roll material that can be placed around the end of the scope. I bought a cheap roll mat from a camping store to line a toolbox to use as a telescope case - so I had off its I could use. The edges are soft against the edges of the scope.

Step 2

Roll material into a continuous circle and secure with tape so that makes a snug fit, but can be slipped on and off easily.

Step 3

Find some white material. I used an old white sheet. I cut a piece out and doubled it over, then ironed it. Dressmaking scissors are best for cutting material like cotton.

Step 4

Stretch over the cap and secure with an elastic band. Ensure the white material is taught. You have now reached the ‘Nativity Play’ stage.

Step 5

Trim off any residual material. You could stop here but to tidy it up a bit…

Step 6

Use tape to secure the material to the roll.

Step 7

Using another piece of material - this time an off cut from the BLT roof - cut to size and wrapped around the cap and secured with another piece of tape.