Re: ATM Mirror weights

[Andy Wallace <andywallace@home.com>]

Art--

One more thought-how about a Stabilite mirror?--that might really be manageable
by one person in a 24" size--at least with respect to weight. The one 24" I have
been around would present a challenge to get all its parts in a Jeep
Cherokee--everything seemed substantially larger than the components on my
smaller dob. Many trailers don't have suspensions--I would think it would be
relatively easy to design a system that would let the mirror ride on
air--inflateable inner tubes, air mattresses, etc. The other advantage of a
trailer is a place to store the beast--perhaps with a small heat source to keep
the temp stable.

Best,  Andy

Art Russell wrote:

> Andy,
>
> Thanks for the comments. I've been thinking about that same issue and am
> considering the possibility of a 24 inch F4, 1.5 inch mirror which would
> considerably reduce the weight.
>
> A good mirror cell would be required, but properly fabricated might offer
> the ability to separate load the mirror support system and result in a
> system that would be transportable in my Jeep Grand Cherokee. Whenever I
> think about trailers I'm reminded of a large mirror that got chipped when in
> transportation (Louisiana roads I seem to recall), hence an emphasis on
> being able to load it into cargo compartment of my vehicle.
>
> Clear Skies!
>
> Art Russell
> Atlanta, Georgia
>
> mailto:artrussell@mindspring.com
> http://Education.gsu.edu/spehar/
> Big Dobs - "Size Does Matter"
>
> SUBSCRIBE TO THE BIGDOB LIST!
> Send message addressed to:  listserver@ucsd.edu
> Leave the SUBJECT LINE blank
> In the FIRST LINE of the MESSAGE type: SUBSCRIBE  (your email address)
> bigdob-l
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Andy Wallace [mailto:andywallace@home.com]
> > Sent: Thursday, December 03, 1998 10:29 AM
> > To: Mel Bartels
> > Cc: Art Russell; Atm@Shore. Net
> > Subject: Re: ATM Mirror weights
> >
> >
> > Art--
> >
> > With its frame, your 24" mirror assembly is going to weigh well over 80
> > pounds--for me, that would be a pretty good load to pick up and walk
> > with. At my darksite, I have watched the assembly of an 18"
> > Starmaster--took two people to move the mirror box and all of the back
> > of a pickup to stow the various components. With a 25" Obsession, and
> > its wheelbarrow approach to moving it, you pick up 50 pounds at the
> > handles plus you don't move the mirror out of its base. If I were going
> > to get a dob in this size range, I would get a small trailor to
> > transport and store the scope--this would cost well under $1,000 and
> > would allow you to use any vehicle to pull it. I personally have easily
> > put a 20" Obsession in the back of my Explorer using ramps.
> >
> > Clear skies,  Andy
> >
> > Mel Bartels wrote:
> >
> > > Art, that 24" x 2" mirror is going to weigh about 72 lbs.
> > >
> > > --
> > > Clear skies, Mel Bartels
> > > http://www.efn.org/~mbartels
> >
> >
> >