Tom L
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 29817
Loc: Sunny Oregon
|
|
Mahogany oils up really nice. Some interesting ideas there...I'd vote for the easy to move around scope next (but I'm biased, that's my next project...move my 8" mirror into a lightweight travel dob...next winter I assume...)
--------------------
Tom 
Tele Vue 102mm f/8.6 on an EzTouch
Vixen 80mm f/5 A80SSWT on a grab-n-go mount
|
Jeff Morgan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/28/03
Posts: 1535
Loc: Prescott, AZ
|
|
Years ago I built a mohagony scope. I used a paste filler to smooth out the grain. Gave the wood a great feel, and nice dark highlights where the grain was filled. Would such a treatment allow for oil finish? Or, would you not worry about the grain?
--------------------
Jeff Morgan
Prescott, AZ
Wile E. Coyote School of Telescope Making
|
Tom L
Reged: 01/07/04
Posts: 29817
Loc: Sunny Oregon
|
|
The color of mahogany is what draws me to it the most. Are you considering staining it and then sealing it? I like the natural look myself, but to each his own!
--------------------
Tom
Tele Vue 102mm f/8.6 on an EzTouch
Vixen 80mm f/5 A80SSWT on a grab-n-go mount
|
MrLunch
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/11/04
Posts: 674
Loc: San Jose, CA
|
|
Quote:
Years ago I built a mohagony scope. I used a paste filler to smooth out the grain. Gave the wood a great feel, and nice dark highlights where the grain was filled. Would such a treatment allow for oil finish? Or, would you not worry about the grain?
Paste filler is typically for when you have an open pored wood and you want a totally flat finished surface, often glossy, e.g. a mahogany or walnut dining table. I prefer to see the grain myself, but the filled look is cool too. Paste would not be that great for an oil finish unless it was something like many coats of gloss tung oil (which is really a varnish anyhow).
Say, how did the finish come out for you? Sure looks good in the pics.
--------------------
|
Jeff Morgan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/28/03
Posts: 1535
Loc: Prescott, AZ
|
|
The mohagony scope I referenced was stained - red mohagony. It turned out quite well. I've got some prints of it somewhere, I'll see if I can find and scan them. It was really sharp with the brass truss tubes. At the time I had no concept of weight and balance and the scope was hopelessly nose-heavy - even after switching to aluminum trusses.
--------------------
Jeff Morgan
Prescott, AZ
Wile E. Coyote School of Telescope Making
|
Jeff Morgan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/28/03
Posts: 1535
Loc: Prescott, AZ
|
|
Quote:
Paste filler is typically for when you have an open pored wood and you want a totally flat finished surface, often glossy, e.g. a mahogany or walnut dining table. I prefer to see the grain myself, but the filled look is cool too. Paste would not be that great for an oil finish unless it was something like many coats of gloss tung oil (which is really a varnish anyhow).
Say, how did the finish come out for you? Sure looks good in the pics.
Since I now have a working primary scope, the next project will be much more deliberate. I'll run a few trials on sealed vs. natural grain to see which appeals to me more. Also, I don't know much about the more exotic woods so that needs some investigation. (I don't know what I don't know. You know?) Since it would be a small scope, mechanical properties wouldn't be paramount and I could go for visual appeal.
BTW, I took your advice on the finishing. You know, starting with the edges, the working in towards the center with *good* brushes. The results were great! Another coat may have been even better. There were few if any runs or drips in the finish. Overall the appearance was more even too. Unfortunately, the brushes were pretty much ruined. Maybe DOX could save them, but since I don't like cleaning brushes (my original motivation for El Cheapo brand disposables), I threw them away.
--------------------
Jeff Morgan
Prescott, AZ
Wile E. Coyote School of Telescope Making
|
rboe
Numbfinger
Reged: 03/16/02
Posts: 39767
Loc: Phx, AZ
|
|
Jeff; you may have to make trip to Phoenix and my favorite wood store; Woodworkers Source. Between Bell Road and Union Hills on the frontage road off I-17 on the north side. Big new store, lot's of woods to pick from (just no spruce or balsawood  ) and tools!
--------------------
Ron
NS11GPS
Pronto
16" dob
15X70 Obies
|
Jeff Morgan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/28/03
Posts: 1535
Loc: Prescott, AZ
|
|
One last picture to post until I can get more experience with the scope. After 8 hours of total use, one small issue is apparent with the Bartels design. The ground ring is a very convenient place to rest your feet when seated! I found myself doing this frequently. Since the laminate in this design faces up and is totally exposed it picks up dirt. I examined the teflon pads and they were quite dirty. In the desert southwest, there are no real grass observing sites. Even where there is vegetation, the ground is mostly rock and dust.
Attached is a photo of the pads *after* being wiped down with Formula 409 cleaner. It would appear that I may need to replace the teflon on perhaps an annual basis. Since Teflon is easily and cheaply available, this shouldn't be a problem.
--------------------
Jeff Morgan
Prescott, AZ
Wile E. Coyote School of Telescope Making
|
rboe
Numbfinger
Reged: 03/16/02
Posts: 39767
Loc: Phx, AZ
|
|
Sounds like you could benefit from a ground tarp. I'm partial to canvas myself.
This state is extremely dirty. With the monsoon season approaching I surprised they don't measure dust fall as well as rainfall.
--------------------
Ron
NS11GPS
Pronto
16" dob
15X70 Obies
|
Zamboni
sage
Reged: 01/03/05
Posts: 245
Loc: Arizona
|
|
No kidding! Especially after last night's dusteroo.
--------------------
-Tristan Schwartz-
My Equipment:
6 inch Orion DSE dob
4 inch Galileo Newtonian
Schwartz Observatory Homepage
|
Jeff Morgan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/28/03
Posts: 1535
Loc: Prescott, AZ
|
|
Canvas might be workable. It sure would help with all the things I tend to drop too.
--------------------
Jeff Morgan
Prescott, AZ
Wile E. Coyote School of Telescope Making
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
[Re: 
Edit
Reply
Quote
