[ATM] I still have all of my fingers!

["Francis J. O'Reilly" <foreilly@verizon.net>]

After years of making optics, I finally decided to do something with them, but what?

I decided to make a telescope.

I took my 8" f/6 mirror that I completed at Dick Parker's telescope workshop in Tolland CT earlier this year and Aluminized at Guy Brandenberg's workshop in Chevy Chase DC and I thought about what to do with it. 

I searched various plans including an article in Mechanix Illustrated published in December 1955 written by a very young Albert Nagler when he was attending the Bronx High School of Science, but I finally decided to use a more contemporary design, a sidewalk telescope, as published by Ray Cash.

I soon ofund out that fabricating the optics is the easy part.

I had the wood, Baltic Birch, cut at Home Depot, where I bought it. (No extra charge) Of course, I needed a whole new set of tools, a band saw, a table saw, a hand sander after getting one too many splinters doing it by hand, a drill, which I had, numerous screws, a Router, which I still haven't quite figured out, two hole saws. (One 1 1/2 inch for the focuser, one six inch for the bearings. Cutting curves proved to be a challenge so I caved in and had the bearings and a tube ring fabricated by Richard Beasley, who is quite responsive, and I have begun to piece everything together. I purchased some teflon from a vendor on ebay and an old LP from the Goodwill store for the grand sum of $0.98 (The band was called General Public, I may be their greatest fan).

Tonight I made a 1/4 inch liner for my tube box as the box was too large after following the directions to the letter. Cuttimng the wood on my table saw proved to be an interesting project that required my full undivided attention. No close calls, but I don't want to mistake luck for competence.

The tube is now at the Powder Coater, It cost $75.00 to coat it a deep rich luxurious Maroon with gold specks in the clear coat. It should be ready in a couple to three weeks. The coater is very backlogged.

The focuser, diagonal, it's mount and the four vane spider were purchased years ago from a professional vendor. I forget who.

Drilling the tube was not too bad, I missed on the placement of the spider originally, so I had to reposition it. I'll see if the Powder Coater can fix the extra holes for me.

Hopeully, I am approaching the end of the project. I'll announce first light when I'm done.

Francis J. O'Reilly
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