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Re: [ATM] New to list, I want to make my own mirror
Hello Jim;
So, we love to see your kind of post, and this is a
good example of just how great this ATM list is.
Everyone has been where your are, at some point, and
we have all dug in and made that first mirror. Just go
for it, figure out what kind of tool you are going to
want, read a lot, worry less, grind more.
As pointed out, Texereau's book 'How to Make a
Telescope' has been a primer for a lot of us, a bit
techinical in some spots, but a good read in general.
On the other end of the spectrum is Sam Brown's book
(not sure of title, All about Telescopes or something
close) which is what I used in 1968 to make my first
telescope when I was 15. I still refer to its section
on figureing. Very easy read.
As you have probably seen, there are a myriad of web
pages from people who have built all kinds of
telescopes. There is so much information available,
as compared to 11 years ago when this list started.
(Wow, its hard to believe its been over 10 years and
stil going strong)
To me, a 10" f5 mirror is a great place to start.
Yes, it may help to do a 6" first, to work out all the
bugs as you develop a system that works for you, but
at the Chabot Science Center Telescope Making
Workshop, MANY people have come in with 10" or 12"
kits, and have sucessfully made an outstanding mirror,
with a bit of help.
So, GO GOR IT!
Best regards
Bill Marriott
VA Optical Labs
--- JM O'Neill <hanabi@cox.net> wrote:
> 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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>
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