[ATM] Working up a TDE and semi-figuring

[russjocoy at hotmail.com (Russell Jocoy)]

  To the list of experienced glass pushers...

              I have been working on a 9" diameter f4.7 piece of plate glass
that is 5/8" thick for going on 2 years. It is not that this task would take
this long , it is just other tasks hold back the progress. Also in the wings
a twin 10" diameter f4.7 awaits polishing at 5 micron. I produced both 
mirror
blanks at the same time, and grinded them in tandem through the process.
     My 9" mirror came down with the FLU last year, after a real heat wave 
and
heavy polishing to complete its task , I turned the edge... Big time..
    I have been working part time to fix the TDE(mirror flu). I have taken
many strokes and alot of advice, and I do respect it all.
    I must say that I am making progress (I think), I have been using Bob 
May's
advice and using Tool on top and stroking in the 50 to 70% zone and have 
made progress at reducing the TDE. As I test on the Ronchi I see the edge 
flares
get thinner and longer around the circumferance of the mirror. I also see 
the
side reflections double as if a diffraction is happening. I do believe that
I am pulling this edge up , but have no experience comming from down to up 
on
a mirror edge. I have not taped the edge off and tested but I will if I need 
too.
    I placed the mirror in its Dob cradle and was pleased with the star 
light
being pinpoint, and being able to get two stars out of the Trapizium with a
2" 50mm eyepiece. I know that this mirror needs more edge work , but , man I 
have
been working on this awhile. My inspiration was sparked tonite when I 
actually
"star gazed" with an optic that only reflects 5% of the light that it is 
capable
of a 80% increase of light. Yes I know that the figure is incomplete but my
working on this F--ing TDE has somehow pushed my sphere towards the 
Parabola,
and optically it is a little bit of a huraah for my eyepiece's
                     Russ Jocoy working on his first mirrors, thin and deep.

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