Re: ATM "Un-scratching" a mirror?

[UC007@aol.com]

In a message dated 98-06-28 16:02:32 EDT, ran@netgate.net writes:

<< Of course,  no one on the list has ever had to do anything like this  ;-)
 But,  perhaps someone has a "friend" who has,  and can relay his 
 experience with what worked well for covering the scratches,  and  whether
 there were bad side-effects (like,  say,  diffraction from the edges of
 the paint/ink?). >>

Hi Ran,

I doubt if you will be able to detect the scratches in the eyepiece. Don't
paint them as it will add still more defraction to that of the spider  and
secondary. It would take a bushel of big scratches to scatter enough light to
seriously affect contrast for casual observing. Obviously, if the figure is as
crude as the optical surface, you might as well go back to polishing,
refiguring. Fine grinding may be necessary to clean up the scratches.

Give 'em both a try in the tube first and good luck,
Bill