The Kunama Reflector

[rrussell1962]

Pretty damn close to my 18 inch Obsession. No surprises there!

[Kunama]

Originally Posted by rrussell1962

Pretty damn close to my 18 inch Obsession. No surprises there!

Your book has been quite handy in that, although I worked out all the sizes before the book arrived, I have been able to get confirmation that my planned measurements were close enough to work.

Coincidentally the waste pieces from the cutting of the rings ended up being exactly the same size as the mirror, so I now have a dummy mirror for fitment checks. (this was as a result of using a larger router bit).

The waste pieces will also be the basis of the rings for the "Little Kunama Reflector" should I decide to make a 12.5" copy of this one later!

[rrussell1962]

I may end up picking your brains for a 6 inch copy. I have my lovely old Broadhurst Clarkson 6 inch F8 mirror here waiting for a telescope.

[Kunama]

Only a little progress today:

UTA struts seated and assembled (Weight as pictured 2129 grams)
Alt bearings mounting holes drilled
Mirror box corner braces cut and drilled

Bought a DeWalt Plate Joiner (local toolshop had a sale, resistance was futile )

[LewisM]

NICE work so far Matt.

You'll home-build a FCT-250 yet

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

At the rate your going Matt, you'll be having ' first light ' by next weekend.

Good workmanship ...

Col...

[Kunama]

Originally Posted by FlashDrive

At the rate your going Matt, you'll be having ' first light ' by next weekend. Good workmanship ...
Col...

Alas we are now in a holding pattern Col......
Waiting for the focuser to arrive, in the meantime I better get started on the secondary spider .......

[Kunama]

Thursday 2 July:

A bit of work on the mirror box today:
Sides with bearings, front and back panels and corner gussets ready for the biscuit joiner tomorrow ..........

[Kunama]

Friday 3 July .......... Arachnids R Us !!!!

Araneae Kunamatis, the four legged spider is born,

Ingredients:
125mm x 480mm x 0.7mm Stainless steel sheet
12.7mm SHS S/S 1.6mm wall (fits 3/8th secondary holder perfectly)
4 s/s M5 turnbuckles ( only use the right hand thread end !!! )
1 cutting disc (1.5mm thick)
and 2 hours

The right hand threaded ends of the turnbuckle were first cut off, then a slot cut into the two prongs, the ends then filed round and crimped tightly.
The vane was then pressed into the slot ready for welding. Weight of components is 259 grams + a few spots of weld
Total cost: $11.85

Just need to build a little jig to hold everything in place and TIG it together

[LewisM]

You almost look like you know what you are doing Matt

WELL DONE - you'll give Alexander a run for his money

[Kunama]

Originally Posted by LewisM

You almost look like you know what you are doing Matt WELL DONE - you'll give Alexander a run for his money

After 40 years of DIY I feel I am starting to grasp the concepts .....
This 18" is a little project to prepare me for the mega lightbucket to come

[Kunama]

Saturday 4 July (Happy 4th of July Scott et al )

Oh how nice is it to get parcels on a Saturday, my thanks to Wayne Schroeder at Starlight Instruments for the beautiful FTF2015BCR LW 2" Focuser, only 456 grams including the base and screws

[troypiggo (Troy)]

Oh my. That focuser is gorgeous!

[LewisM]

What, no custom engraving or titling like "The Great Kunama Reflector"?

Lovely though.

[Kunama]

Thanks Troy, turned out just how I wanted it

Originally Posted by LewisM

What, no custom engraving or titling like "The Great Kunama Reflector"?

Lovely though.

The engraving and gold leaf signage will be done by 'Yours truly', once I learn how...... (and buy a Dremel )

[Kunama]

This has now become rather addictive , I find myself grabbing any excuse to cut more bits for the project ............ Jennifer is not always impressed

On the agenda this afternoon:
Rocker box sides panels marked out and cut (freehand with a jigsaw as my router wouldn't fire)

I am making the rocker a bit deeper than really needed so I can install some Lithium Ion power packs inside the rocker rather than using external power.
( it works in theory ...... ) these two panels are the 16mm Hoop Pine marine ply outer panels which will be laminated to some 18mm hardwood marine ply for the necessary strength and thickness. The inner panels will rest on the base panel while these outer panels (18mm deeper) will join to the edge of the base for the ultimate in strong joins.

[LewisM]

Decided what colour to stain the ply, or leaving it au naturel? UV set marine varnish or ???

Be nice in Jarrah red-brown

[Kunama]

At the moment Black Japan by Feast Watson is the leader of that race Lewis, I also have antique walnut and a very dark Jarrah stain here, not yet decided though.

[LewisM]

Maybe Brown Japan? I use that one a LOT.

[Kunama]

Originally Posted by LewisM

Maybe Brown Japan? I use that one a LOT.

I am doing a test piece with the FW sealer, two coats of Black Japan and three coats of clear over the top, sanding between coats and a final cut&polish. If I end up going with that, it will take a few weeks just to do the stain/varnish ..... glutton for punishment?