ATM Can an 18" mirror be made by hand?

[Lawrence Sayre <lsayre@stratos.net>]

Now that I've completed my introductory 8.6" 'Candle Holder' mirror, my
sights for down the road are set on a far loftier goal.  Can an 18" f/4
mirror be made by hand, or is this the exclusive realm of grinding
machines?  

Would the appreciable softness of 'BVC' make hogging out be hand (and
fine grinding, polishing, finishing also) a bit easier, vs. plate glass
or Pyrex?  At only $349 + shipping for a 1.75" thick BVC blank of 18"
dia., the price of BVC is quite tempting.

Lawrence Sayre
 
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"Man's mind is his basic tool of survival!"
(a quote from the famous 'John Galt'  speech 
in the equally famous book "Atlas Shrugged")
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