Re: ATM Beginning my 16"

["Bob May" <bobmay@nethere.com>]

As to grinding with a iron tool, you might want to stop by my website and
take in the mirror making article there.  The only big gotcha is that you
may not make a spherical surface but rather a hole in the center with
nothing really taken out of the rest of the glass.
As to the FL of the mirror, take a look at the amount of glass left in the
center after you have done the hole and see if you are comfortable with that
much taken out.  You're going to be taking .2" out with a 80"FL and that is
a fair bit but that leaves 80% of the material in the center which won't be
that bad.  I'd go for the longest FL that you can put up with tho as short
FL scopes are always need just a little bit more of an EP than longer FL
scopes do.  A two or 3 step stool is not all that dangerous to have about in
the dark as opposed to a regular ladder.
Bob May
http://nav.to/bobmay
bobmay@nethere.com