ATM Coating places and "Ebony Star"

[Gordon Baldwin <gbaldw@illuminetSS7.com>]

Two questions in one post. I was out at Carl Zambuto's place today
(Nisqually Valley Telescope Makers Workshop) and it looks like I am
really close to being finished. (for Carl: I made up about 3/4 of the
distance this afternoon and now am going very light to smooth it up and
finish it.) After working with him for a few days it is no wonder all 
his students won the awards up at Table Mountain.

Question 1. Mirror coating houses, any place that must be avoided? Any
real great places? About how much will a 6" cost to be coated? Is
enhanced coated much better than regular? (Today I realized that coating
is one part of my 'scope that I had not given much thought.) I plan on
this 'scope being in use for many years.

Question B. For the bearing pad on the base of my Dobsonian I hear lots
of references to "Ebony Star". I assume that is a type of formica. I
asked at Home Depot and I got blank stares. I had my little pieces of
teflon with me and most of the laminates felt quite slippery. Will just
about any one do, or am I looking for certain charecteristics?

--
Gordon Baldwin                      gbaldw@illuminetSS7.com
Olympia Washington                  http://www.halcyon.com/gordon
Key fingerprint =  BD B5 D6 83 01 64 9C 1A  EB 3D BD 29 09 7B EA FD