Re: ATM Cost of building vs. buying

[Bob Madden <madden@netcom.com>]

Harry, making a telescope is a labor of love and an opportunity to learn 
about a new field - optics. Having a mentor helps tremendously in 
grinding a mirror the first time, you can do it alone with the proper 
references and help from the folks here on the list. If your goal is 
observing then by all means purchase one as it is the quickest way to get 
out looking. Lurk on this list and see the Q's and A's, _or_ ask away. It 
seems to me that about 40 hours are needed to grind a mirror (give or 
take away a few), then send it away to have it coated, all the time 
amassing the tube, mirror holder(s) and focuser. Learn how to collimate, 
which is necessary anyway. BUT its fun and self satisfying - great 
therapy during long winter over cast nights. Oh! The cost? It can't be 
measured when some asks, "Did you make that telescope?", but it is always 
less expensive to make your own equipment (when your time isn't counted in).
Cheers,

Friendly Bob

):-{])) <----   madden@netcom.com
                madden@svpal.org
 Remember amateur astronomers:
"keep looking for the next Universe"

On Sat, 21 Oct 1995, Harry Boswell wrote:

> How does the cost of building, say, a 6, 8, or 10" Dobs compare to buying
> one?  It looks like I could get an 8" from Orion for under $500 - do the
> dollars make it better to build, or is the advantage more in the intangibles?
> And what about the cost of buying a finished primary vs. grinding a blank?
> 
> Harry Boswell                 hboswell@netdoor.com  
> Home Page:  http://www2.netdoor.com/~hboswell
> 
>