Home Made Chronograph Sun Deflectors

[centershot]

I may be cheep but I still have a Oehler 33 that works just fine. Problem is I now live in Arizona and we have too much sunshine. I get a lot of false triggers. Has anyone fabricated difusors for this set up? Tried a few ideas that did not work. I assume you can not cover the screens with an translucent substance as it will not detect the bullet. Any ideas? My wife suggested panty hose!

 

[46and2]

When I had an upright chrono I made a one piece diffuser from plexiglass, I roughed up the top side with a scotchbright pad.

Then I bought an ( upside down) Caldwell that faces the ground, no more sun out errors. https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting...7lyHuWZPvlsK1dYaQSzXswtgcJT4-K_caAnNbEALw_wcB

Nowadays Labradar is my constant companion at the range. I do however keep the Gen2 Caldwell as a backup.

 

[TTE]

I also have an Oehler (mine is older than yours, and maybe be older than YOU).

I ordered a new set from Oehler to fit the Sky Screens. Not cheap but available.

Anyway, the new 'tops' are made from orange plastic.
The old ones were made of like some packaging tape.
So I think your idea would work. In any case it would not be expensive to make some and find out.

 

[Enosiophobia]

I had the some lighting issues. Solved it....

 

[divingin]

https://www.tapplastics.com/product/plastics/plastic-sheets/polypropylene_sheet/559

https://www.tapplastics.com/product/plastics/plastic-sheets/hdpe_m_m_opaque/258

https://www.tapplastics.com/product/plastics/plastic-sheets/led_ligh_panel/598

Any of these should work, but figuring out how to mount it will probably be the challenge.

 

[Fast14riot]

https://www.tapplastics.com/product/plastics/plastic-sheets/polypropylene_sheet/559

https://www.tapplastics.com/product/plastics/plastic-sheets/hdpe_m_m_opaque/258

https://www.tapplastics.com/product/plastics/plastic-sheets/led_ligh_panel/598

Any of these should work, but figuring out how to mount it will probably be the challenge.

Polypropylene sheet is very flexible, may sag
HDPE in natural color may work fine, its more rigid and translucent
LED Light panels are brittle and delicate, not good for transport.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I've often thought about building a box, open on both ends with an led light and chrono inside. Will this work? Anyone tried it? I assume you could paint the inside white and put the light(s) at the bottom, shining upward if leds messed with it. If it will work, light would be consistent.

 

[LRPV]

I just used a white coroplast sign over the top of my shooting chrony before I retired it. Seemed to be more consistent than it was with the original stuff. Not on par with the Oehler but same principle I reckon.

 

[centershot]

This is what I am starting with. The Dollar Store.

 

[centershot]

So here is my finished product. The two cuts on the plastic tub were made with the fine tooth blade on my table saw. Chipped out badly. Then I remembered a trick about cutting aluminum siding. Put the blade in backwards. Nice and smooth. I had to pop rivet the tabs because no glue would adhere to the plastic. I'll let you know how it works.
The parts cost $5.

 

[46and2]

It has to be TRANSLUCENT not opaque. It needs to transmit some amount of light through the diffuser.

 

[Xerothermic]

I'm waiting for the results from the panty hose. That's thinking outside the box.

 

[Fuj]

I used cheese cloth. Some days, two layers.

 

[AlNyhus]

I use a cheap furnace filter...works great.

 

[Brians356]

I use a cheap furnace filter...works great.

Really? You mean with a flimsy paperboard frame and lattice? Seems like there'd be opaque sections. A photo would be cool, Al.
-

 

[AlNyhus]

Really? You mean with a flimsy paperboard frame and lattice? Seems like there'd be opaque sections. A photo would be cool, Al.

Yep...just a normal furnace filter.

 

[Dimner]

I used cheese cloth. Some days, two layers.

Best idea I have heard. The problem with solid plastic, even thin sheets, it becomes a sail in high winds. your chrono will flip over in gusts. I love the cheese cloth idea.

 

[Dimner]

I have a labradar now and I do not miss those very sunny days where the chrono would say my loads were either 825fps or 5400fps. However, I do miss the battery on the optical chronograph. One 9 volt would last nearly an entire season and data was so much easier to export.

 

[centershot]

Best idea I have heard. The problem with solid plastic, even thin sheets, it becomes a sail in high winds. your chrono will flip over in gusts. I love the cheese cloth idea.

Do you put the cheese cloth directly over the sky screen?

 

[Fuj]

Do you put the cheese cloth directly over the sky screen?

Nothing fancy, Just drape it over and have a few of those spring
loaded clothes pins handy if needed......Another idea would be
bridal veil material. Probably pretty cheap at Wally World.