Telescope Reviews: Re: Wondering what I would need?

Hello Dougie

My situation may be of interest to you. I started 2 years ago with the desire to purchase a 12.5” scope. I decided that I wanted to learn about mirrors and scopes by grinding my own mirror. I was disappointed to learn that the abandonment rate for first time mirror makers is a strong function of mirror diameter.

I made an embarrassingly small 6” to learn mirror making. I could have done an 8’ but what would be the point. I wanted 12.5” and would accept nothing less. The smaller the first one the sooner I would get the mirror I wanted. I finished the 6" with about 35 hours of work. The 6”, F/9 scope was too long to fit into my car so I developed a strut design that disassembles. Photos are available in the member gallery under my screen name.

The project came out very well and exceeded my highest expectations. As I was completing the mirror I ordered a 12.5” blank.

The 6” telescope taught me about observing, collimation, contorted viewing positions and thermal underwear. With no previous experience with building telescopes or actual observing I had a lot to learn.

My 12.5” design has changed many times in response to learning from using the 6” telescope. It has been very valuable as a test bed for my ideas. My 12.5” will be a far superior instrument due to the time and effort I have invested in the 6”. I am now figuring the 12.5” which is the final step in completing the mirror. The 12.5” is an F/4.5 and I will spend more time testing it than it took to grind, polish and test the 6”.

If you are truly committed to making a larger mirror, then you can not be concerned by the few hours that will be invested in knocking out that first 6” mirror. On the 12 you will find that you need to learn additional techniques to complete a larger, faster mirror. With this accomplished you are good to attack monster mirrors up to about 24”. Be advised scopes in this size range are more lifestyle choices rather than optical instruments.

My 6” remains more capable than its observer. Shortly I will have an even more capable instrument and my poor skills will remain the limiting factor for the foreseeable future.

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Michael

ATM: 6" F/9 Newtonian Travel Scope
ATM: 12.5" F/4.5 Real Soon Now...

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