> Well, thats the other thing. Can I grind a mirror that the same
> quality as an Orion on my first (or second) try? Keeping in mind
> that I know no one to ask for advice (except the list) and would be
> jumping in blind? Plus the fact that I can keep sending the Orion
> mirrors back until I get one I'm satisifed with. I grind it, I keep
> it :-).
>
> Now, maybe some will say that there is a 99% chance that, if patient
> enough, I will be able to grind a mirror superior to anything I
> would be able to get from Orion. Maybe not a "quality" optical shop,
> but better than a "mass maker". But, how long until I get so bored
> or frustrated correcting the little flaws until I put it in a box and
> say to hell with it (then being down $70 with no mirror).
> These are just all things I considered when deciding which components
> to buy and which to make in my project, and why I've decided to buy
> my primary rather than grind it.
>
> -A very budget minded ATM
Well, for one thing - if you buy your first mirror, you are seriously diminishing your chances of making the bigger one (and price difference between homemade and commercial becomes significant once above 14"). Now, that's not always true (I remember someone from TM magazines, I think it was Oskar Knab who started with 20 inch!), but most of the time it _is_ true. The second thing is you won't learn anything by buying the mirror. And third and most important, you'll miss some SERIOUS fun !
Bratislav
P.S. if you go for plate glass blank, together with all the abrasives it should cost MUCH less than Willmann-Bell kit. And if someone starts plate/pyrex argument, just send him to check Hooker 100 inch ...