ATM a tube stretcher

[Ina Ron Lippard Renaissance Reproductions <renrepro@surfglobal.net>]

    EXTENDING A TUBE on 1 or both ends can be done using a lathe or drill 
press and router.
The whole idea pivots on just that, a pivot. A wood extension can be routed 
using
a lathe or drill press as a holder for the tube. Using a 4-lip X 2" end 
mill, the router can be mounted on a crude fixture and slowly fed out to 
make the exact finishing I.D. You get a
nice slip-fit that keeps your mirror in the center of the parent tube. 
Makes it look like you
intended to do it. Drill 3 holes in the tube and rotate the assembly as 
necessary to place the
optical axis where you want it.
REAMING TO SIZE in thin wood is easy. Rough cut your filter-hole so it's 
1/16 under the finish size. Now get a piece of dowel and taper it on any 
kind of sander. It don't have to be perfect
so much as slightly tapered. Now glue a piece of 80 grit to 1 side only 
PSA-back is best.
Ream the hole to below size,(reamer should be no more then 5 degrees 
taper). Insert filter.
   Another method of making wooden reamers is to coat the blank with wood 
glue, then press
whatever size grit on to the tool. Epoxy would probably work as well.
PLANING A MOUNT can be a bit overwhelming if your new to the art. It is 
best begun by
asking a very simple question. What do you really need? Keep it a short 
list.Lately I have
come back to this simple method in designing, and it works very well.
God I love this job! Ron