[ATM] New to list, I want to make my own mirror

["JM O'Neill" <hanabi@cox.net>]

Hi folks,

 

  I just joined the list although I've been searching the archives for a
bit.

My name is Joe O'Neill and I'm a medic in Southern Nevada.  I have 

been a binocular amateur for a long time but have always wanted

a scope.  A large scope at that.  Anyway, I have a seven year old, The

Boy as he is known, and since he was born I've been telling him we are

going to build a telescope.  He now asks me on a regular basis when we

are going to take the plunge so to speak. A few years ago I bought 'The
Dobsonian

Telescope' from Obsession and have read it thoroughly.  Problem is

I cannot purchase a large mirror.  Recently I have been thinking about

making my own mirror to keep costs down.  I have looked around a bit,

trying to decide what to do as far as a blank is concerned.  Parks blanks.

blanks from Newport Glass Works, raw blanks, rough generated curve blanks,
etc.

I decided to get a book to learn the ins and outs of mirror making.  I
bought

'Amateur Telescope Making 1'.  I thought it a tough read with large gaps,
for

the beginner in the mirror making sections (in the archives some of you have

had some not-so-kind words for the three volumes).  Tomorrow I'm going to
order

'A Manual for the Amateur, Telescope Making' from Willmann-Bell. Good
choice?

  Ok, enough history.  A couple of weeks ago I wrote a letter to a well
known

mirror\lens  manufacturer and inquired about purchasing a 10" blank. How
much, fine

or precision annealed, etc.  This is the reply I received about a week
later:

 

'received your request for a 10" mirror blank.  We can offer to send you one
of 

our precision annealed molded blanks at no charge as a donation since it is
for 

your personal use'

 

It arrived today.  Its beautiful.  It's the largest piece of Pyrex I've ever
seen. I think 

they took pity on me. I don't want to ruin it and have decided to make 6" as
a 

learning experience (I can't cut a strait line to save my life).

 

Go here to see it: http://members.cox.net/hanabi/images/mirror_blank.jpg

 

 

My questions:  

Is the book I mentioned a good choice?  

Most of what I have read so far describes the making of an f\6 or f\8
mirror, I want 

to go a bit faster, like f\5 or so.  Is that ok for a first mirror?

Any tips from you veteran mirror makers?

 

I just think it would be very neat to say 'I built this, mirror and all'.

 

 

Sorry about the long-winded post,

Joe O

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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