NavList:

Geoffrey Kolbe <g.kolbe@btconnect.com> wrote:
>   The bubble is repairable. You will need to obtain a small bottle of
>   pure xylene and a (preferably glass) syringe with which to insert the
>   xylene into the  bubble chamber. You will also need to fashion a
>   screw driver to undo the small "Bristol" screw on the chamber. A
>   small Phillips screw driver is the usual starting point for this
>   exercise. There is a steel ball under the Bristol screw, so when you
>   get the screw out, don't loose that ball! A bubble exactly 5mm in
>   diameter in the bubble chamber is equivalent to one degree diameter
>   in the optical system. This is twice the diameter of the sun, so is
>   good for that, and is good for star sights as well.

Thanks!  My set screw had some sort of clear coating (lacquer?) which
came off with lacquer thinner.  That let me see clearly enough to
identify it as a .069 inch Bristol screw with four splines.  A 1.8 mm
standard screwdriver actually fits pretty well, but didn't break it
loose with the amount of torque I wanted to apply.  Presumably there
is lacquer on the threads. So I'll look for the right wrench - I
haven't found a local source for that yet.

I have also determined that I can buy xylene at Home Depot - but only
in a one gallon can.  Since I only need about a tablespoon, I will
look a bit further - maybe at a hobby shop.

BTW I assume they picked xylene for the low melting point and low
viscosity (both lower than water, according to
http://www.engineersedge.com/fluid_flow/fluid_data.htm).  However I
see from the Wikipedia article that xylene has three isomers, and that
one of them melts at 13 C.  I suppose Link was careful about which
isomer they used.  I doubt that Home Depot cares, but maybe there's
something on the label.

I'm also wondering if rubbing alcohol wouldn't be about as good for my
purposes :-)

I do have a syringe, but it's plastic.  I'll just have to hope it
doesn't dissolve in xylene.  Thinking ahead, it seems easiest to me to
fill the chamber completely, then inject an air bubble of the right
size, drop in the steel ball, insert the set screw, and finally coat
with clear nail polish.

                - Jim Van Zandt




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