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Re: Bubble fluid - any difference in behavior between xylene and alcohol?
From: Noell Wilson
Date: 2022 Aug 9, 06:05 -0700
From: Noell Wilson
Date: 2022 Aug 9, 06:05 -0700
Hi Brian,
There CAN be differences in the use of alcohol and xylene.
With bubble sextants where the sight path goes through the bubble fluid, there have been discussions of the need for the refractive index of the fluid to match that of the glass.
In your A-12, and in an A-11, you look at the bubble and not through the bubble fluid so refractive index shouldn’t matter much.
The assembly of some bubble units is sealed with shellac and shellac is soluble in alcohol.
Xylene is easily available at paint stores in the US. Don’t breathe it.
For a more detailed answer: http://fer3.com/arc/m2.aspx/Fluids-for-Bubble-Sextants-Sealing-Methods-Morris-dec-2015-g33973
Regards, Noell
