Re: Mirror grinding, anyone?
First off, please forgive if this message is HTML encoded--I'm crippled by AOL... I don't know if the mount designs for this mirror grinding class have been decided on already, but I previously decided that if this class was held again, I'd offer to any who might be interested use of my patterns, jigs and experience to assist in the construction of telescope mounts similar to those I make: http://blackknighttelescopes.com/BK_Black_Walnut_frames.htm I will say up front that making a wooden mount like this is a lot of work (easily dozens of hours, depending on how nice you want it), but I think it would be very rewarding to those willing to brave it. I can provide the following: - patterns to quickly and accurately route all the mount parts - training working with hardwood veneers (unless you want a maple or baltic birch mount, which is available pre-veneered) - instruction and assistance in finishing various types of wood - instruction on how to quickly make a very nice tube - helpful, friendly advice and access to some tools to help you with your own design - etc. I work from a smaller shop, so if invited, I would probably need to come to the hangar or to another location with more space for tools and room to work. It would also be good if I didn't need to bring every useful power tool, though I can certainly bring some of the more portable tools. It would be helpful if the cost of required bits, blades, etc. could be covered by those participating. I don't mean to crowd in on what might already be a well laid plan, so feel free to tell me if there is no interest. My personal schedule is pretty tight this winter, but if there is any interest at all in what I have to share, I'd love to squeeze in where I could. Finally, my design is best suited for 8" f/5 through f/7, 10" f/5 and f/6, and perhaps a 12.5" f/4.5 or f/5. You can probably go a bit longer for each aperture listed, but you lose the ability to shift the tube in the cradle to balance eyepieces, etc. and might need to make the mount a bit heavier to keep damping times low. Kind regards, Paul Stock
My motivation for the class this year is to get everyone to build a telescope, and not just finish a mirror. This is the reason for working on the telescope while we wait for the mirror kits to arrive. I just spent some time with Paul Stock, and saw the beautiful telescopes he builds. His offer to help out is very generous, and some may want to take advantage of that offer. We will talk about that at the first meeting. There are other avenues we could also pursue. I prefer everyone be working on the same mirror - a 10" or 12.5". This keeps the class together and everyone will be using the same procedures and materials at the same time. I have also allowed those who have experience grinding to work on mirrors other than the 10" or 12.5", provided that they do the work outside of class to stay at the same stage as those in the class. I'll consider those cases one by one, but generally speaking, it is good to have these more experienced folks there to help out too. The time frame is as follows: the first month we would build the telescopes while we wait for the mirror kits to arrive. Once the scopes are finished, we'll take the next three to four months to grind the mirrors. This involves a concerted time committment. I expect this to be a priority in the students' lives, and that everyone attend every class. All this being said, there is considerable room for design variation. Some may want to construct a truss tube scope, and others a scope like Paul Stock's. A third alternative is a classical Dobsonian. We can accomodate any of these designs. Total cost for the telescopes will be anywhere from around $550 for a bare bones 10", or $700 for a bare bones 12.5". This amount can go as high as you want it to go. I expect that a telescope like Paul's would run around $1000. This may seem like a bunch of cash, and it is. Consider, though, that when you are through, you will have a telescoope that will typically outperform anything you can purchase on the open market. It will also be YOURS in a way that no other scope can be. I also prefer longer focal ratios. The shortest you should plan is an f6. Many have built 12.5" f8 scopes and been very happy they did. We'll go over the pros and cons of all this in our first meeting. Well, sorry for the long winded response, but I hope you all have a better idea of the scope of the class. It WILL be a lot of work, but it WILL be worth the effort. Brent __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com
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Brent Watson -
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