Started putting together the mirror box today. Tomorrow I'll radius the top
edges and sides and start the sanding and preparing to stain it. I'm using
a high gloss finish as appose to the satin Estypol look, the test piece on it's
first of 6 coats (as recommended) looks like glass. I'm also going to
Laminate the the ply for the rocker box floor and cut the base board and
get that ready for the installation of the stellar cat powered base board kit.
Because of the Estypol problem I'm going to recut the Sec cage rings and
coat them in high gloss as well. The stuff I'm using is more suited for outdoor
use. It's called "Feast Watson Weatherproof, clear high gloss finish" a tough
UV-resistant polyurethane. It's doesn't appear to change the colour of the
stain like some others can.
that looks great rob ,what sort of ply did you go with ?
gee its hard to get some scale ,it actually looks kinda small at a glance ,bet it isn't though
I'm looking forward to looking thro the 16".
Maybe you could start a business making 16" scopes!
You can buy a 16" mirror for $950 from: http://www.telescopes-astronomy.com.au/
What size is your diagonal?
that looks great rob ,what sort of ply did you go with ?
gee its hard to get some scale ,it actually looks kinda small at a glance ,bet it isn't though
A grade Hoop pine with a b side, beautiful looking stuff. I had it cut at
Lismore Precut. Cost about $250 all up. It is hard to get a proper
perspective from the photo. Plus the camera seems to warp reality a little
(top right corner doesn't look square" I'll try and get a better perpective
shot later today. The mirror has a 15mm around the light baffle.
I'm looking forward to looking thro the 16".
Maybe you could start a business making 16" scopes!
You can buy a 16" mirror for $950 from: http://www.telescopes-astronomy.com.au/
What size is your diagonal?
All the rest of the bits arrive this week, which I hope will speed things up
a little. I'm looking at having first light around next fullmoon maybe.
It is something that I am definitely interested in, but I will wait to see
if i can pull off a good enough job. I did check Matt, but he had sold out
and it was looking like I had to wait until September before he was getting
anymore in, that why I went straight to GSO. If GSO resopnse wasn't
as quick as it was I would be waiting for a Mark Shutung mirror. Later
I'm going to have Mark hand figure the 16".
The GSO diagonal that came with the mirror was 3.5" which is oversized.
But Peter Read did a swap for a 3.1" which has brought a CO down from
22% to 19%. This should give me maximum illumination of the field. I'm
pretty chuffed about that.
A couple of reasons, firstly they're made out of cheap bunnings ply. Which I
found out later are glued together using even cheaper water soluable glues.
And secondly I'm seeing ply swelling problems on the 8" the Estypol I used
which I have also used (finished off the can) to spray the 16" Sec cage
isn't sealing the wood, as I had hoped.
I have enough 9mm hoop pine left as well as nearly a full sheet of 1.5mm
hoop pine I can laminate the 9mm with a few layers of the 1.5mm.
Bunning 9mm ply has 3 layers, the 9mm hoop pine has 7 layers an looks a lot
nicer.
yeah that sheet ply they sell at bunnings is pretty nasty ..I was a little lucky in that when i was looking they had a couple of slings of a/c
that was much better than the rest .. smaller sheets but very clean
with few voids.. must of just lucked into them as they have never stocked them again ..asfaik.
Lismore Timber and Plywood in North Lismore generally have the best quality ply in town, better than the stuff Bunnings sells. Hurfords (now JH Williams) are also worth a ring.
Had some good nights last week. Friday especially good. Saw M83, M104, NGC5128. I know these are easy subjects for those lucky enough to have dark skies, but it's a bit of a buzz to see them from where I am, even if I can't see much detail in them. Tried to find the Blue Planetary and 4945 but didn't. I have spotted them before, a long time ago. Just need more telescope time. Amazing what experienced eyes can see and mine have been away from astronomy for a long time. Jupiter had a neat black spot on one of the main bands, probably a satellite shadow. Found the old setting circles and fitted them also fitted a couple of 12volt lights for the circles, picked up from Supa Cheap Auto, also fitted the Telrad I've been trying to find for ages. Won't be long and the old scope will be as good as ever.
A GSO 12" dob. is definitely on my shopping list when I have enough spare cash. That's the only thing stopping me from attending one of the local observing sessions. I feel I bit awkward using someone else's gear.
Lismore Timber and Plywood in North Lismore generally have the best quality ply in town, better than the stuff Bunnings sells. Hurfords (now JH Williams) are also worth a ring.
Yeah I'd reccomend Lismore Timber and Plywood.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lismore Bloke
A GSO 12" dob. is definitely on my shopping list when I have enough spare cash. That's the only thing stopping me from attending one of the local observing sessions. I feel I bit awkward using someone else's gear.
I wouldn't worry to much about that, we generally hang around one scope
mostly. So your welcome to come scopeless anytime... I usually do
Just on another topic. Glen had a post recently referring to the JR Torres Atlas. I have downloaded the C version. Very detailed. If anyone wants a copy on CD, PM me. I also have the whole thing printed up onto A3. One of the advantages of being a printer. Just not quite sure how I am going to bind up 571 pages of A3 paper.
... not for long mate ..get that big girl done soon eh
I'm working on it the last of the bits were shipped from SDM yesterday.
Although it's still going to be a few weeks before I can complete it. Plus I'm
pretty busy at the moment, to be able to do much . And I'll have both
boys at the end of this week for a week.
Well I expect it to rain now, for weeks. The rest of the bits arrived from
SDM today and boy it was an ATMer's dream looking at the assortment of
things that were in that package lol.
Anyways as it was last time it will most probably rain for weeks and I wont
be able to get in the shed to carry on building
around next fullmoon 
maybe.
. And I'll have both
