1. Laminated the Rocker Box sides to a second sheet of marine ply and routed the edges to match. (the inner board on both side is 18mm shorter to allow for the sides to sit on the base panel rather than just being dowelled to it.
2. Cut the top baffle for the Mirror Box (6.5mm marine ply)
3. Cut the lid for the Mirror Box (9mm overlap to the baffle)
4. Cut an annulus from the waste piece to be glued to the lid to strengthening.
Some surgery on the spider today, the stainless legs are now TIG welded to the 12.7 SHS s/s stem and the M5 s/s 'nuts' ......
also made another bag of sawdust and in the process managed to finish the mirror box gussets and cut the internal corner braces (4 @ 200mm above the gusset and 2 @ 195mm and 2 @ 245mm for below the gussets.
Hardwood marine ply groundboard also routed out ( 602mm ø x 18mm )
Matt that spider looks good, you could have a business there making those, I'd buy one. My hacksaw blade spider is too flimsy I think.
Thanks Glen, I am pleased with how it turned out. The vanes are now just 0.65mm ( I took the gloss off them with the belt sander to give some bite to the primer). Total cost will be $29.85
Thanks Flash, I think it is time I got myself a workshop...... so far everything has been done on a 600x600 chipboard panel screwed to a bit of pine sleeper and locked into a Triton Superjaws out on my back patio.
Everything looks good. Really good actually. But what did the reference to the light bucket mean?
Thanks Richard, I am looking forward to some assembly this weekend, the boxes will be joined with biscuit and dowel reinforced joints.
I've had lots of great advice from the master himself, Pete Read, along the way.
He has volunteered great tips along the way that have meant I have not wasted materials or time.
'Lightbucket' ........... now that will depend on the planets aligning 'just so' over the next few years .......... and also the success of this project. How much aperture is enough
a. cut #20 biscuit slots at 100mm centres on joining edges
b. lots of glue into slots and joins then assemble box and install tailgate
c. check for square
d. check all panels are in full contact with bench
e. clamp loosely and recheck for square
f. tighten clamps and check diagonals
g. make cup of coffee and wait for glue to set .....
Not quite Graham, but I did manage to get the internal corner braces and gussets glued in and installed the 'T' nuts for the Alt bearings today and at the moment the mirror box baffle has been glued into place and clamped down ........
Check measured the diagonals, I was out by 0.5mm so not perfect but it is my first Dob.
Progress looks good, not that I know anything about Dob's.
0.5mm out....I'd be pleased with that.
Your nearly steampunk focuser....very sharp
So is it going to be a black and Red Cedar beauty with lots of brass scews?
Thanks Matt, I am a lot further with this than I expected when I started but there is still so much to do. No first light at Mt Stromlo for the record attempt but certainly by spring
I had a rest day today, spent the day with my beautiful little granddaughter, even managed a nap on the couch for a couple of hours. Back into it tomorrow with the mirror cell installation and rocker box assembly ..........
Mirror cell/tailgate fitted today
Pole clamp mounting reinforcement plates installed (12mm hardwood marine ply) even bevelled the pieces for a more professional look - not that anyone will ever see them , but I will know ! )
Mirror box lid and reinforcement annulus bonded together
Rocker sides are 2 layers of 16mm Hoop pine marine ply
Base is a single layer of 18mm hardwood marine ply
The inside layer of the side panels is left 18mm short so the sides sit on the baseboard. Each side is the dowelled to the base with 10 hardwood fluted dowels and lots of polyaliphatic pva glue.
.....
now that will depend on the planets aligning 'just so' over the next few years .......... and also the success of this project. How much aperture is enough 
! )
