Re: [ATM] Willman-Bell Mirror Kit(s)

[Mike Lockwood <melockwo@uiuc.edu>]

Hi,

Bobby Heid wrote:
> Just an FYI here.  A few guys got together to build scopes about 12 years
> ago.  The sizes ranged from 6"-12.5".  The one guy that built the 6" seemed
> to have a harder time grinding the mirror than with the larger sized
> mirrors.

In my experience, for a first-timer, a 12.5" mirror is going to take 
several times more work to finish than a 6", it will cost several 
times as much, and it is several times less likely to actually get 
finished into a useable mirror.  :)

I like to encourage my students to make a 6" or 8" first.  I also 
encourage them to avoid 4" and 4.25" mirrors, because I find those 
quite a bit more difficult due to the size of adults' hands.  For 
children, though, they are a nice size.

Of course it is possible to successfully make nearly any size mirror 
as a first project provided your technique is solid.

I will note here that AJ's Telescope Workshop, the maker of BVC, is 
now offering mirror grinding kits for sale.

	Mike Lockwood

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