Re: [ATM] 24" f/4 lightweight Dob

[NGC704@aol.com]

Cord,

What you have accomplished is right after my own heart... and it's 
magnificent! But you may as well go ahead and switch to an offset spider now; otherwise, 
you'll always be wishing you did (if you're anything like me).

Since we're talking about featherweight instruments here, I thought refresh 
the collective memory of my own superduper lightweight Dobby, a 16" f/5. Thing 
here is, it's made from good ol' baltic birch plywood, since I'm  kinda 
composite-challenged at present.

All up, including a 20x80 finder, Telrad, filter slide, even a Nagler Type II 
20mm eyepiece (2 lbs right there), it hardly puts a dent in the Earth with 
its mighty 90 lbs. The heaviest component to lift when disassembled is 35 lbs. I 
have dispensed with wheelbarrow handles-and-wheels altogether, and move 'er 
around with a two-wheel dolly at home, and with the help of one other person 
(practically anyone will do) when in the field.

http://members.aol.com/NGC704/16.htm

I have submitted this for the consideration of anyone who desires to build a 
lightweight scope, but feel more at home with plain ol' wood (than metals or 
composites). In the meantime, my apologies to Cord for hornin' in on his glory, 
heheheh.

You guys (Cord, Bruce Sayre, Mel, et al) just blow me away! If I wasn't so 
darn happy with my simple little 16, I'd get back in the shop and endeavor to 
catch up!

And you glass pushers are true artists! I'm definitely in awe of y'all.

Happy Hollydays to all you ATMs everywhere, from snowy Galveston (no, really).

Kurt Maurer
League City, Texas
http://members.aol.com/NGC704/
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