[ATM] Strip planked telescope tube

["Rod Brackenridge" <rjbr@lycos.com>]

I was thinking about tube ideas for a 14 inch cassegrain and came across an S&T article from November 1991.  I also saw a couple references to the idea by Kurt Maurer in the archives.  The process inolves building a form from strips of wood (usually cedar) and then applying fibreglass cloth and epoxy to the inside and outside, creating a composite tube. I understand the strip plank approach is commonly used to build boats. 

For my purposes I am looking for something reasonably light and that is thermally stable enough for visual observation at moderate to high magnification.  For me cost is also a factor.  I haven't checked the price of cedar yet but I do have a saw table so can rip my own strips.

I would be interested in hearing about what others see as the pros and cons of this approach to building a tube.

Thanks,

Rod Brackenridge.  

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