[ATM] Wooden truss tubes

[Jay Kirkland <jaykirk2@compusmart.ab.ca>]

    Yes, in fact I did try the 1/4" thick single ring approach. It was 
24" in diameter and 12 feet long (20" f6) and I needed a mule to carry 
it. On the down-side, I didn't have a single observatory to house my 
single tube in. On the plus side,  the mid-1980s ended and ATM design 
moved on.
    No, not talking about solid tubes. Wondering if thin hollow square 
or rectangular beams could be a lighter, stronger, cheaper and easier to 
attach alternative to traditional aluminum and pole blocks, etc., but 
concerned if anyone has already gone this route and found flexure, 
warping, vibration, other problems. 
    But, darn, I wish I would have known that wood wasn't a material to 
be used in telescope making anymore. Here I just finished a wooden 
ground ring, wooden flex rocker, wooden mirror box, and wooden spider 
ring. All antique sailboat spar varnished, sure is gorgeous to look at. 
And I'm making an equatorial platform for my 12" out of wood, too! Too 
bad they'll never work. That was sure dumb of me.

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