How to Make DIY Solar Eclipse Glasses

Watching a solar eclipse is a breathtaking experience, but it is crucial to protect your eyes from harmful solar rays. Commercial eclipse glasses can be costly or hard to find, making DIY solar eclipse glasses a practical and affordable alternative.

By using simple materials like solar filter film and cardboard, you can create your own safe viewing glasses in the comfort of your own home. This guide will walk you through some easy steps to make reliable DIY solar eclipse glasses that meet safety standards, ensuring you enjoy the eclipse without risking your eyes. Safety and preparation are key to a memorable eclipse viewing experience.

What are Solar Eclipse Glasses

Solar eclipse glasses are specifically made to shield your eyes during the gaze of a solar eclipse. The eyewear blocks damaging ultraviolet, visible and infrared light, so you can watch the eclipse without worrying about permanent eye damage.

These are not your standard pair of sunglasses, these glasses and the solar filters (which can be made of glass coated with thin mylar) bring the sunlight down to a safe level. You need to use these glasses because looking at the sun during an eclipse without protection can cause severe and permanent eye damage.

Also, serious eye injury can result from viewing the sun through telescopes, cameras or binoculars not equipped with proper low transmission filters.

Why You Should Have Solar Eclipse Glasses

It is important to wear solar eclipse glasses while looking at the solar eclipse because it can burn your eyes and cause permanent damage as the sun is unfriendly to see directly. Ultraviolet (UV), visual, and infrared radiation are emitted by the sun and can damage sensitive retinal cells, resulting in solar retinopathy.

As this destruction can occur instantly and with no pain, it becomes an extremely harmful situation indeed. Even the darkest sunglasses in normal sunglasses do not make your eyes safe. Eclipse glasses that meet ISO certification employ unique solar filters to block 99% of light and 100% of UV and infrared radiation.

Even a few seconds of looking at the sun during eclipse without these glasses is enough for producing permanent eye damage. Which is precisely why eclipse glasses are required to enjoy them safely.

How to Make DIY Solar Eclipse Glasses

Viewing a solar eclipse safely requires eye protection, as looking directly at the sun can cause permanent eye damage. While certified solar eclipse glasses are the safest option, making your own DIY solar eclipse glasses can be fun, educational and affordable if done right.

This guide will walk you through all the steps and safety tips to make your own DIY eclipse glasses at home.

Materials Needed

Before you start, gather the following:

• Solar filter film (ISO 12312-2 certified): This is the most important material to safely view the sun. It blocks ultraviolet, visible and infrared light. You can buy solar filter sheets or find used eclipse glasses with intact filters.
• Cardboard or thick cardstock: To make the frame for the glasses.
• Scissors or craft knife: To cut cardboard and solar film.
• Ruler: To measure precise dimensions.
• Marker or pencil: To mark cuts and shapes.
• Tape or glue: To assemble the frame and attach the filters.
• Template (optional): You can find printable eclipse glasses templates online to help with cutting.

Step 1: Prepare the Frame

1. Draw or print a template of eclipse glasses onto the cardboard. The frame should have two eye holes to hold the solar filter film.
2. Cut out the frame carefully with scissors or craft knife. Make sure the edges are smooth and comfortable to wear.
3. Create arms or straps from additional cardboard strips if you want your glasses to stay on your face. Or use elastic bands attached to the sides of the frame.

Step 2: Cut the Solar Filter Film

1. Place the cardboard frame on the solar filter sheet.
2. Mark the areas that correspond to the eye holes on the film.
3. Cut two pieces of solar filter film slightly larger than the eye holes to ensure complete coverage.
4. Be careful not to scratch or damage the filter film while cutting.

Step 3: Attach the Solar Filters

1. Position the cut solar filter film pieces over the eye holes on the frame.
2. Tape or glue around the edges to secure the film, making sure no gaps or loose edges where sunlight could get through.
3. Double check that the filters cover the entire eye hole area and are attached firmly.4. Optionally, add another piece of cardboard to the back of the filters for extra protection.

Step 4: Final Assembly and Safety Check

1. Attach the arms or straps if you haven’t already.
2. Inspect the glasses for tears, holes or scratches in the solar filter film. Even tiny damage can let sunlight through.
3. Test the glasses by looking at a bright light source (not the sun yet!). If the view is darkened, your glasses should be good to go.
4. Label your glasses clearly as solar viewing only.

Important Safety Tips

Here are some additional safety tips to keep in mind when viewing the solar eclipse:

• Always use ISO 12312-2 certified solar filter film. Do not use regular sunglasses, smoked glass, CDs, or photographic negatives — these do not provide sufficient protection.
• Check the solar filter film thoroughly for damage before each use.
• Never look at the sun through binoculars, telescopes, or cameras even while wearing eclipse glasses — these devices concentrate sunlight and can damage your eyes.
• Children should be supervised when using eclipse glasses to ensure they wear them properly.
• Use your DIY glasses only for direct solar viewing. They are not intended for general use.

How to Use Your DIY Solar Eclipse Glasses

Proper use of your DIY solar eclipse glasses is essential to safeguard your eyes while viewing the eclipse.

Don your glasses first before checking out the sun: make sure your glasses fit snugly so that you can’t see any light entering except through the solar filters. Never stare directly into the sun without them, doing so could cause severe damage to your eyes.

Throughout the partial phases of the eclipse wear your glasses at all times while looking at the sun. (The only time you’re safe not to look through your glasses is during totality, when the moon completely obscures the sun, but only if you’re in the path of totality.)

Do not wait until the sun is well out to put them back on. Just take it apart, clean it and check for wear damage before every use and it will be safe every time.

FAQs

Can you safely look at a solar eclipse?

You can’t stare at a solar eclipse. The bright light of the sun can harm your eyes – even cause permanent damage.

What can I use if I don’t have solar eclipse glasses?

Special filters, for instance solar filters, or welding glasses with a Shade 12 rating or higher can also be used to protect your eyes when watching a solar eclipse. But, the use of substitutes must be checked for safety before they are used.

Can I look at a solar eclipse through my phone or camera?

No, it is not safe to watch a solar eclipse through the lens of any kind of camera or phone. The intense light of the sun can fry the sensors, and you might hurt your eyes in an effort to look at it using a device. The proper way to view a solar eclipse is with the appropriate eyewear.

Conclusion

Creating your own DIY solar eclipse glasses is a fun and rewarding way to view this rare celestial event safely. With certified solar filter film, and a well designed frame these viewer’s supply what you need in order to view the sun in total safety. Always wear safety glasses, and check glasses for damage before use.

If you prepare a few easy supplies and take some care, you can enjoy the eclipse in safety and you can share this rare opportunity with family and friends. DIY glasses let you experience the eclipse in a unique way – creatively, safely and knowledgeably.