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Old 10-02-2021, 04:32 PM
astro744
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astro744 is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,244
I used coal tar pitch (came with my kit) to make my first mirror which was 8” f9 back in 1986. The pitch you listed components for is called tropical lap. I had enough coal tar pitch to complete my mirror so didn’t need an alternative.

Whatever pitch you get, buy extra in case you need to pour a new one whether it is too hard, too soft or simply set on you too quickly or you need to pour a new one if you’ve left the project for too long. If you get coal tar pitch use a pot you don’t want as it’s never going to be used for anything else again. The whole house will smell like roadworks pouring new bitumen. I recommend you get a portable gas or electric single element hot plate and heat it outside to avoid fumes in the house.

I found that Koppers is the only Australian manufacturer of coal tar pitch but where you can get some I’m not sure. Perhaps email them.

See https://koppers.com.au/carbon-materi...cals/#CMC_News

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