Mirror recoating information - Saintech

[iborg]

Hi All

I hope posting this is OK, apologies if not.

After looking at a scope in the classifieds I contacted Saintech to get an idea of pricing for recoating a mirror.

Since there have been a number of queries over the years, for those interested, here is a PDF of their current pricing.

I have no connection with the company.

Philip

[sn1987a]

I had this 20" mirror recoated by Saintec. I couldn't be happier with their service and the results. We are very lucky to have this service available here in Australia and I highly recommend them. :thumbsup:

[rrussell1962]

Another happy customer here. Drove down and dropped off my mirror at around 10 a.m, drove off that afternoon with my recoated mirror.

[sopticals]

Seems quite:eyepop: expensive. Just about buy a new coated mirror for the same price. I was able to buy a new 14"f5.1 Hubble optics mirror for US$366 a few years ago. If I was to recoat it would cost AU$460.

Stephen.

[tonybarry]

The Evans 30" telescope main mirror (from Linden Observatory) was recoated by Wayne about a year ago. Very good job.

And grateful thanks to Peter Read of SDM Telescopes, who was kind enough to ferry the mirror to Wayne along with another of his growing brood of Big Glass Mirrors.

Regards,
Tony Barry
WSAAG, Penrith.

[gunsworth]

Hi All,

My Lightbridge 16” mirror started to deteriorate from the day it was unwrapped. After 7 years it had pinholes everywhere.
Wayne Sainty recoated it 3 years ago. Still no blemishes! Wayne said that this was because he applied protective titanium and silicon overcoats after coating the mirror.

It was a pleasure to deal with Wayne. He now has a new company – Palmway Optical – in Tuncurry NSW. http://palmwayoptical.com/

Hope this helps some people
Cheers, Geoff

[Kunama]

Thanks for the update, I hope to get mine done pre-Xmas....

[ColHut]

My 10" f5 GSO mirror is now 10 years old and is covered in tiny white spots & pinholes. No where near as bright and reflective as when new, even after washing. Probably at a level where it is noticeable at the eyepiece.

The trouble is it seems that it is cheaper to buy another mirror and have it shipped over than shipping it both ways for re-coating. If I knew I had an outstanding mirror (which I doubt), then it might be worth it. A recoat however may be more durable and better than the old one was when knew.

Not sure what is the best way to go.:shrug:

[tempestwizz]

Thumbs up in my experiences with Wayne. He coated my new 18” F3.5 made by Mark Suchting, and also redcoat of a degraded 4” secondary. Service and results cannot be faulted. Great to see the capability supported in this country.

[Peter Ward]

Damm...why did I waste my dough spending $6.5k for zerodur, when I could have had Hubble Optics? Hang on...Hubble? Do they have the same figure as the NASA version :doh:

P.S. We should all support Saintech...as planet Oz probably won’t event be able to make a pot of Jam if our manufacturing keeps heading in the same direction.

[spiezzy]

totally agree Peter couldn't have said it better my self

[ColHut]

Thanks all. I have contacted Palmwayoptical and will see what they have to say.

regards

[ColHut]

I have revieved a competitive quote from Wayne and will organise to send the mirror over for recoating after the Mars and Saturn oppositions. I will let you know how it goes.

[bojan]

Support for local industry is by all means OK... but do they support us?
Over the years I did exactly this (I am (still) electronics engineer, and my first instict ALWAYS was to try locals for PCB manufacturing and assembly... but very often I did not get the quaity and prices easily obtainable from companies overseas (Taiwan, China...).


As for recoating mirrors, I have Coulter Optical 10", I bought it in mid '80-ies last century... and after 35+ years it is still quite OK, apart from couple of scratches which do not (visibly/significantly) affect the image quality.

Theese days I can probably buy the better mirror of the same size from GSO for cheaper price than recoat the existing one...

However, if the price for recoating is halved from what it is now, I woiuld't hesitate to go for it.