Re: [ATM] Strip planked telescope tube

["tony gondola" <acgna@comcast.net>]

Some foams are not compatible with standard fiberglass resin (the cheap kind
that smells like airplane glue). If you use a low viscosity epoxy laminating
resin such as West Brand you can use any foam you like. It's easier on the
nose during application (the wife won't hate yu) and the resulting bond will 
be stronger as well. The
stuff is very versatile. Add a thickening agent and it makes a dandy glue.
Add microballons and you have a very strong but light filler that's great
for filling gaps and creating fillets.

Tony

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kevin MIchael Zabbo" <chaosopher23@yahoo.com>
To: "Rod Brackenridge" <rjbr@lycos.com>; <atm@atmlist.net>
Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2006 8:14 AM
Subject: Re: [ATM] Strip planked telescope tube


> Strip planking is excellent, if you're going to build
> a boat.  I've seen it done with telescopes, and if
> you're going to use cedar, I don't see why you would
> want to add fiberglass to the nice, pretty, and
> possibly aromatic wood.
>
> If you want to do strip planking and keep it light and
> cheap, 1/2" foamcore insulation sheeting will work
> great with fiberglass.  There are at least two kinds,
> however, and one of them (the styrofoam variety) makes
> excellent food for the resin used in the fiberglass
> process.  Don't use styrofoam.  Use the other kind,
> and if in doubt, ask for a small sample and expose it
> to the chemystery involved with the fiberglass
> operation.  If it holds up, that's the stuff to use.
>
> Personally, I would like to build my telescope out of
> aluminum framework and cover it in cloth like an
> airplane wing.
>
> Kevin of Eastern Iowa
> Seeker of the Darkness
>
> --- Rod Brackenridge <rjbr@lycos.com> wrote:
>
>> 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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