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Maier ITF - first failure?!

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 5:12 am
by Merlin66
I, like many others, have replace failed Coronado ITF filters with the Maier ITF.
Over the years I've been very happy and impressed by the Maier performance.
Well, this morning I was presented with my first Maier failure......
The central 40% is "burnt out" - not easily visible from the bright front surface but very noticeable when inspecting the rear of the filter.....

(This is a "H-alpha ITF Blocker -ITF0143# 1")

Has anyone else experienced failure of these ITF???????

Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 6:35 am
by GUS
That's interesting Ken, any pictures?

Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 6:45 am
by Merlin66
A couple of quick images.
First the rear surface against a bright background.....
Rear surface
Rear surface
Maier_failure1.JPG (241.96 KiB) Viewed 5789 times
The front surface....difficult to see the failure.
Front surface
Front surface
Maier_failure2.JPG (234.48 KiB) Viewed 5789 times

Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 6:55 am
by GUS
Looks like the Beloptik might be a better option, hard coatings on KG3 and RG630, cost a bit more, and the whole filter diameter is utilised, you don't need the O ring.

Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 10:24 am
by Merlin66
My money would be on a Baader 35nm Ha CCD filter at the front of the blocking filter diagonal.

(No O ring was used in this fitment.....)

Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 10:59 am
by GUS
I tried the Maier originally, but replaced it with the Beloptik ITF for one BF and a Baader 35nm plus a Beloptik KG3 with IR/UV cut for the other.

Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 11:05 am
by Merlin66
You don't need any secondary filters with the Baader.....it gives good cut-off as is.
(I've used the UV/IR KG3 filter on it's own as an ITF......OK but I prefer the Baader solution.)

Just interested... why did you replace the Maier ITF??

Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 11:32 am
by GUS
I use my Coronado BF's with my Lunt scopes. The Maier filter had too much background glow, plus the O ring wouldn't fit which left an exposed bit of filter around the circumfrence. In comparison, the Beloptik filter image looked a lot cleaner without too much glow. Interesting about the Baader, I remember seeing a thread on here regarding the Baader not being sufficient as a stand alone ITF for visual. I know with the Lunt ERF which is RG610 that I can use the KG3 without the Baader.

Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 7:57 pm
by marktownley
I guess laminated filters are always going to fail sadly :(

Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2018 10:29 pm
by Merlin66
Gus,
I don't believe there are any safety issues using the Baader 35nm filter as an ITF.
I use the the "big brother" D-ERF version on my PST Mod.......

Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2018 2:36 pm
by Valery
Merlin66 wrote: Tue Apr 03, 2018 10:29 pm Gus,
I don't believe there are any safety issues using the Baader 35nm filter as an ITF.
I use the the "big brother" D-ERF version on my PST Mod.......
According to my experience the KG3 is essential. 35nm Baader alone as an ITF is not enough.

Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2018 4:46 pm
by Merlin66
Valery,
What exactly have you found that the KG3 gives that the Baader doesn't?
As tested with the spectrograph, there should be no issue.

Re: Maier ITF - first failure?!

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 10:01 pm
by DavidG
Both of my Maiers filters are still perfectly clear and my two are the first two he made.

- Dave