Re: [ATM] Silicone Failure

[Guy Brandenburg <gfbrandenburg@yahoo.com>]

Dave,
In my opinion, silicone works better than the normal
clip-and-metal-bolt type of mounting for small
mirrors. Large mirrors might be another story.

I think that your remarks about how all shortcuts make
things worse is excessive. Some shortcuts are very
elegant and save lots of time and cause a better
product in the long run, not only in amateur telescope
making but in other areas as well. Of course, some
other shortcuts don't make things better at all. Not
all shortcuts are created equal.
Guy B

--- David Harbour <scarab2@cox.net> wrote:
> Gilbert, all:
> 
> Ritchey would have laughed at the silicone trick, I
> believe. Go back to
> first principles (absolutely no offense intended:
> there is a principle in
> craftsmanship: "shortcuts" degrade the end product).
> Silicone is a shortcut
> for mounting mirrors; but it is SUPERB for making
> polishing lap molds.
> 
> Dave
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Gilbert Gagne" <gil5941@earthlink.net>
> To: <atm@atmlist.net>
> Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2005 9:06 AM
> Subject: RE: [ATM] Silicone Failure
> 
> 
> > Jay Kirkland wrote:
> >  >...Siliconed the mirror onto its cell about two
> weeks ago and let it
> > cure.... As soon as the mirror neared verical, the
> top 18 support
> >  >points sheared away from the metal. ... But what
> did I do wrong? Wrong
> > silicone?
> >
> > I would suspect oily contamination of the metal
> parts. Next time, try
> > using a good degreaser like trisodium phosphate
> (TSP), available from
> > Home Depot/Lowe's.
> > Gil Gagne
> > Port Orange, FL
> > _______________________________________________
> > ATM mailing list http://www.atmlist.net/
> >
> 
> 
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> 

Guy  Brandenburg
Washington, DC
My home page:
http://home.earthlink.net/~gfbranden/GFB_Home_Page.html
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