Re: Re[2]: ATM [Fwd: BOUNCE atm@shore.net: Non-member submission from [

["JoAnn Nanof" <hennypenny1@hotmail.com>]

>
>Hi
> No, wait, Wait! A few minor pits and scratches are almost
>always present. Most recomemend using a black marker to
>dot the pits. I'm not sure this would be as good for the
>scratches. Unless there is troubles with off axis glare,
>I'd just leave them. Coating a mirror will bring out any
>surface flaws that were hard to see when just polished.
>Check it with a tester first, if it is good, it would
>need a lot of flaws to convince me to regrind. If the
>scratches were small, just making a lap and polishing
>might be in order if the figure was off.
>Dwight
>
I have an ATM  8" that i bought at stellafane. After aluminizing and 
building the rest of the scope, I was ready to get first light. Trouble 
came when I left the tube standing upright  while I was at work. I HAD 
two cats and a dog. When I got home the scope was lying on its side :( 
All was ok except the crayford focuser had been pushed all the way in. I 
stood the tube upright and messed with the focuser. What I failed to 
notice was the secondary had come loose from the holder. Yup, my 
secondary fell 48" on to my primary. I ended up with a () looking gouge 
in my primary and serveral scratches on the coating. The point ?? Don't 
drop your ... After I blacked out quite a gouge I still can't beilve how 
nice that mirror is. Trust your star test and your eyes. Also be sure 
your scope is properly collimated and cooled down etc. before you judge 
mirror. I would get some use out of it first before you decide to go 
abck to grinding. You might feel differently. 
Good luck, 
JoAnn.
ps. I kept my kitty, but he recently met his fate with a car, maybe bad 
karma. 


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