Wow! a fellow-sufferer. Just did similar mods to my 10-inch Starfinder, including light-block fabric in the tube etc. While reassembling the OTA i noticed that the primary mirror had gone blotchy. So i continued with the reassembly and checked out the scope. Jupiter appeared bright but surrounded with some haze, so i figure the mirror needs to be recoated.

What caused this? I thought of several possibilties

1) A few days prior to adding the light-block fabric i had spray-painted two coats of Krylon ultra-flat black inside the tube. This is very fumy paint. Possibly the fumes had an effect on the aluminium. Most ppl on these lists doubted this was the cause.

2) In the process of doing the above mods i washed the primary (it had not been washed in years, and had the usual thin film of greasy household dust). After washing it i had planned to rinse it with distilled water, but could not find the said distilled water (i blame the missus for this :}, so i used tap water to rinse. In the circumstances, I had no choice. Deep down, i think this is what did it in.

So, if i am ever again financial, i will send the mirror to Swayze Optical in Portland OR to have it checked, and let him get it recoated for me.

Hope you get it all sorted out.

regards

Bob