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llanitedave
Humble Megalomaniac
Reged: 09/26/05
Posts: 10470
Loc: Amargosa Valley, NV, USA
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Re: Wondering what I would need?
07/02/08 09:25 PM
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Mechanically, you could certainly do a large scope on your first try if you're handy, experienced, and confident.
As far as making your own mirror, everyone I've read recommends going smaller first. Mirror making skills are not exactly like "mechanical" skills. You need to build them up from scratch, and polish them systematically (both your skills AND the mirrors).
If you'd rather grind than buy, great, but be aware that if your ultimate goal is the actual USE of the telescope, grinding a large mirror is going to take an awful long time.
So why don't you start with a couple of smaller ones: say an 8" first, then a 12", then the full-size mirror you ultimately want. The price of mirror and scope in the smaller sizes is trivial compared to an 18", so for each mirror build a full telescope to use it with.
That way you have a useable and satisfying instrument during each step of your learning effort.
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"S.O.E." (Sauron's Other Eye) 16" Royce conical mirror: A permanent work in progress.
10" Homebuilt dob, old Coulter mirror
Next Project: The "Eye of Sauron" Observatory!
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