RE: RE: ATM

[cheatham@ionet.net]

Yes, Coulter is a solid tube scope on a Dobson mount. The mount is extremely 
heavy made out of 3/4" compressed board chunks called waferboard in USA. 
Half inch birch plywood would have cost them about only another $30 per 
scope, looked MUCH more professional and lowered the weigt consederably. 
Tube and mount are about 120# When I go truss tube I will go all the way with a 
new secondary cage. This would be lighter and look more professional (using 
Kydex and birch plywood rings). I'd like a scope that doesn't look "normal" 
(grin)(if you've been following the definition).

Kent Cheatham
cheatham@ionet.net
-----------



> Forgive my ignorance, but a Coulter scope uses is a solid tube
> Dobsonian, right? I assume it is. I've never seen a solid tube Dobsonian
> (the one using Sonotube, or other similar material), but is it possible
> for you to cut the upper end of the tube, just a few inches below the
> focuser, and use it as the upper cage? Maybe it's not practical because
> maybe you still have to make an upper ring to attach the upper clamps
> to. 
> 
> Bob P. Sumitro
> Jakarta, Indonesia
> 
> visit my still-under-construction astronomy and telescope making page:
> http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hall/2670/
> 
> 
>