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ATM [Fwd: Removing scratches and pits from coated mirrors.]



JACQUES LORD wrote:

> I am currently repolishing my F/6 6-inch and f/4.5 8-inch mirrors.  I
> made
> them 19 years ago at college and never kept the tools.  {:~(   I found
> Newport
> Glass in the yellow pages some time ago and acquired the tools and
> grits they
> supply to begin regrinding.  I have started the 6 inch a week prior to
> finding
> the ATM digest.  The Newport tool with the channels is astounding.  Is
> it my
> imagination, or do the additional edges of the channels make for a
> more
> efficient tool and less time between grit sizes?  I had my 6 inch
> stripped by
> QSP (?) in Santa Ana.  My 8-inch is still coated.  Do I have to get it
>
> stripped, or can I wipe it out in a session or two of 180 grit?
>
> The postings in the digest and the archives have been a great help.
> Here is
> my summary of the most helpful bits of guidance I gleaned from my
> searches in
> hopes it helps future searchers.  I am currently fine-grinding:
> 1.  Two seconds per full cycle on the stroke rate.
> 2.  Keep the surface wet - once I feel a tug I drip some more water on
> the
> working surfaces or wash up and start a new wet.
> 3.  Be VERY mindful of cleanliness - some great hints and procedures
> for
> keeping the mirror and tool free from cross-contamination in the
> archives.  I
> think I'll shave my head between grits....
> 4.  Cover the mirror and tool after each session with a fresh sheet of
> plastic
> wrap - dispose of it -  don't use a towel, paper or cloth, to
> "protect" your
> glass; they only harbour scratches-to-be.
> 5.  The sharpie test is wonderful.  A real confidence builder when all
> wears
> away evenly and pits are identified and slowly wear away.  If that
> doesn't
> happen I know where to get help (here!).
> 6.  Don't push too hard or go too fast while grinding - irregular
> surface will
> result (some interpretation here; I could be off base)
> 7.  2 hours per grit size. (This would seem to be diameter dependent?)
>
> 8.  I am keeping a log/record of my grinding and observations - I read
> a good
> one in the archives by someone from New Jersey - the keeping of a
> journal
> keeps me mindful of lessons learned and how much (or little) grinding
> I have
> actually done.
>
> I hope I have got the above summary as accurate or at least not too
> distorted
> - but these got me going from worrying to grinding.  I believe that
> NOT doing
> the above things 19 years ago gave my f/4.5 the irregular surface and
> 3/4-1
> wave error that it has (if I am reading Suiter correctly).   On to the
> 5
> micron! (another good search topic in your archives!)
>
> Jacques Lord


-- BEGIN included message

I am currently repolishing my F/6 6-inch and f/4.5 8-inch mirrors.  I made 
them 19 years ago at college and never kept the tools.  {:~(   I found Newport 
Glass in the yellow pages some time ago and acquired the tools and grits they 
supply to begin regrinding.  I have started the 6 inch a week prior to finding 
the ATM digest.  The Newport tool with the channels is astounding.  Is it my 
imagination, or do the additional edges of the channels make for a more 
efficient tool and less time between grit sizes?  I had my 6 inch stripped by 
QSP (?) in Santa Ana.  My 8-inch is still coated.  Do I have to get it 
stripped, or can I wipe it out in a session or two of 180 grit?

The postings in the digest and the archives have been a great help.  Here is 
my summary of the most helpful bits of guidance I gleaned from my searches in 
hopes it helps future searchers.  I am currently fine-grinding:
1.  Two seconds per full cycle on the stroke rate.
2.  Keep the surface wet - once I feel a tug I drip some more water on the 
working surfaces or wash up and start a new wet.
3.  Be VERY mindful of cleanliness - some great hints and procedures for 
keeping the mirror and tool free from cross-contamination in the archives.  I 
think I'll shave my head between grits....
4.  Cover the mirror and tool after each session with a fresh sheet of plastic 
wrap - dispose of it -  don't use a towel, paper or cloth, to "protect" your 
glass; they only harbour scratches-to-be. 
5.  The sharpie test is wonderful.  A real confidence builder when all wears 
away evenly and pits are identified and slowly wear away.  If that doesn't 
happen I know where to get help (here!). 
6.  Don't push too hard or go too fast while grinding - irregular surface will 
result (some interpretation here; I could be off base)
7.  2 hours per grit size. (This would seem to be diameter dependent?)
8.  I am keeping a log/record of my grinding and observations - I read a good 
one in the archives by someone from New Jersey - the keeping of a journal 
keeps me mindful of lessons learned and how much (or little) grinding I have 
actually done.

I hope I have got the above summary as accurate or at least not too distorted 
- but these got me going from worrying to grinding.  I believe that NOT doing 
the above things 19 years ago gave my f/4.5 the irregular surface and 3/4-1 
wave error that it has (if I am reading Suiter correctly).   On to the 5 
micron! (another good search topic in your archives!)

Jacques Lord

-- END included message