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My Research led to Teeter's Telescopes

Started by Busguy , Aug 17 2012 12:19 PM

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32 replies to this topic

#1 Busguy

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Joined: 14 Jun 2007

Posted 17 August 2012 - 12:19 PM

36 years ago, I sold my Criterion RV-6 for entrance fees for college. I kept my passion in astronomy and the night skies all that time and swore that before my eyes were shot I'd get another scope. I continued researching over all those years and here's what I finally purchased: 20" f/3.6 Teeter Dob. I wanted to go purely visual, (though MallinCam has peaked an interest). I wanted to keep my feet off a ladder also. Here's what I determined... and tell me if I'm off kilter:

Rob Teeter has a unique cost break compared to Starmaster, Obsession, even Webster at this aperture and speed. That intrigued me. I dressed this bad boy up too...Servo Cat with Argo Navis, dew heater on secondary, Glatter sling, SIPS with Paracorr II, AstroCrumb 2" filter slide with dew heater, you name it.

For the primary, I decided to go with Waite Research. Gordon had a 20" thin quartz blank that was ready for polishing. Thin quartz... quick cooling... ready for polishing... decent reputation from what I could find with those that owned a primary from Gordon...

I have in place the following eyepieces:
Delos 6mm
Delos 10mm
Delos 17.3mm
Nagler 31mm

Additionally, I procured a Powermate 2.5x

I'm in the middle of the production cycle.

I wanted to thank all of you for your education over the years as well. Some real brains on these forums. I've learned a lot from collimation, possible focus issues with SIPS and Delos 17.3, etc. etc. When I had a question, I could talk with anyone: Al Nagler, Rob Teeter, Howie Glatter, Jim Fly, Jon Joseph, Gary Meyers, Gordon Waite. I've never seen an industry or group of people so available to assist.

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#2 Sgt

Apollo

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Posted 17 August 2012 - 01:26 PM

Congratulations!

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#3 csrlice12

ISS

Posts: 34,167
Joined: 22 May 2012

Posted 17 August 2012 - 02:03 PM

"When I had a question, I could talk with anyone: Al Nagler, Rob Teeter, Howie Glatter, Jim Fly, Jon Joseph, Gary Meyers, Gordon Waite. I've never seen an industry or group of people so available to assist."

THAT's what's great about this hobby, the big names are just normal everyday people (well as normal as amateur astronomers can be) who are willing to talk to you. I don't see any bank Presidents lending their ear to their depositors (unless you're a rich depositor), or the CEO of a Car company willing to discuss their products with you. Hopefully, it will stay that way.

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#4 knightware

Vendor (Knightware)

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Joined: 22 Mar 2006

Posted 17 August 2012 - 02:15 PM

Busguy,

My research also led me to many of the same vendors as you, including Teeter's Telescopes. I have gotten answers to questions and am confident that my kit is as good as I can get. Although my Waite Research mirror is smaller (14.5" f/4.5) and not quartz, I am extremely pleased with its performance. The scope is solidly built and performs beautifully despite some early balance and stiction issues that I have fixed. Rob builds a heck of a telescope.

I hope your scope serves you well!

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#5 csrlice12

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Posted 17 August 2012 - 03:13 PM

Just a question; Did Teeter get that gov't small business grant he put in for? Hope so, this country can use more quality telescope shops. I'd pay extra for quality eyepieces stamped "Made in USA" on them...at least it wouldn't take 3+ (and waiting) months and still no eyepieces...

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#6 mountain monk

Soyuz

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Posted 17 August 2012 - 03:58 PM

I too have a Teeter with a Waite mirror on the way. I too have been very impressed with Rob and several of the other people you mention. Great products, great customer service, and another reason to support small American companies.

Dark skies.

Jack

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#7 jeff heck

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Posted 17 August 2012 - 04:21 PM

Just a question; Did Teeter get that gov't small business grant he put in for? Hope so, this country can use more quality telescope shops. I'd pay extra for quality eyepieces stamped "Made in USA" on them...at least it wouldn't take 3+ (and waiting) months and still no eyepieces...

I talked to Rob this week and no news yet on the loan.
Busguy, congrats on the upcoming 20", you will be very impressed with the quality throughout. Teeter scopes are on the top tier of custom telescope builders. My 16" has a Waite Research mirror and it cools and performs excellently. :waytogo:

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#8 Starman1

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Posted 17 August 2012 - 04:22 PM

Rob has:
--quality construction
--willingness to customize to suit a client
--access to a lot of high-end components
--reasonable delivery times (depending on mirror maker).
--a superb reputation for honesty and customer relations.

All of those are reasons I went with him for a "high-end" scope.
I'm very happy with the scope.

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#9 CHASLX200

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Posted 17 August 2012 - 05:16 PM

I have owned two Teeter Dobs in the past and they were very good scopes.

Chas

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#10 Sinistar

Vostok 1

Posts: 138
Joined: 22 Jun 2006

Posted 17 August 2012 - 08:15 PM

Rob's customer service is fantastic, the craftsmanship is top-notch and his scopes are as beautiful as they are functional. I've been very happy with mine.

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#11 Busguy

Vostok 1

topic starter

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Joined: 14 Jun 2007

Posted 17 August 2012 - 11:43 PM

Thanks, all. I'm confident from the feedback that Rob will fashion an outstanding instrument.

I hope Rob wins the grant also. Wasn't it a 'grant' rather than a loan?

Joe

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#12 Shawn H

Fly Me to the Moon

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Posted 18 August 2012 - 05:08 AM

Very beautiful instruments! :rainbow:

If I ever sell my 18" my next Dob will be a Teeter!

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#13 Cotts

Just Wondering

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Posted 18 August 2012 - 08:47 AM

Teeter #73 here. I heartily concur with all of the above. I will especially mention the orthagonality of the structure. I have added the Servo Cat to mine and it points to stuff flawlessly all over the sky. Last night I slewed from M22 in Sagittarius to M82 in Ursa Major and the latter object was only 1/4 field from center. All other slews, big and small, for five hours or more were equally accurate. While some credit must go to the Servo Cat and Sky Commander for their quality, they wouldn't work nearly as well if the scope structure was not perfectly square and rigid. This is something Rob Teeter builds into all his scopes.

Welcome to the club.

Dave

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#14 Busguy

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Posted 18 August 2012 - 10:42 AM

Dave,

I have digested the Servo Cat and Argo Navis information as best I could from reading, re-reading...skimming the manuals before sleep. Though seemingly straight forward, are you aware of an online emulator or tutorial that can expound on the menu's or see them in action?

Thank you,
Joe

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#15 M Hanner

Lift Off

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Joined: 03 Jun 2009

Posted 18 August 2012 - 10:53 AM

If any of you guys want to upgrade to a new Teeter 24" with all the bells & whistles, I've got one for sale in the classifieds I have to sell because of my job situation. Mark

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#16 Busguy

Vostok 1

topic starter

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Posted 18 August 2012 - 11:00 AM

Thank you, Phyllis. I note that Deep Sky Planner may be just the thing to tie together my re-familiarization with targets of interest. I have a lot of fun work ahead.

Joe

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#17 CHASLX200

ISS

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Posted 18 August 2012 - 11:04 AM

I may buy a third Teeter Dob. There is a guy local to me that has a 16" F/6 Teeter i am tempted to buy.

Chas

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#18 johnnyha

Fly Me to the Moon

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Posted 18 August 2012 - 01:33 PM

Wow. To think we are already at a time when people "only" get a 20" - because they want to keep their feet on the ground! :jawdrop:

Congrats on a wise choice for a lifetime scope. :bow:

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#19 Busguy

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Posted 18 August 2012 - 02:13 PM

<<Wow. To think we are already at a time when people "only" get a 20" - because they want to keep their feet on the ground!>>

LOL... Well, one of the many variables but certainly not the most important. Call it icing on the cake... Big aperture, shorter footprint, truss ring, boundary layer fans, quartz primary available, cost, SIPS integration technique, mirror cell frame, Rob's reputation and quality, scope appearance... well, that sums up some of the other things I was thinking about. I might have been influenced by the Yankee cap on his head in one of his shots :lol:

Thanks,

Joe

Joe

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#20 jeff heck

Apollo

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Posted 18 August 2012 - 03:54 PM

Thanks, all. I'm confident from the feedback that Rob will fashion an outstanding instrument.

I hope Rob wins the grant also. Wasn't it a 'grant' rather than a loan?

Joe

Yes, grant it is. My bad. :foreheadslap:

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#21 jrbarnett

Eyepiece Hooligan

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Posted 21 August 2012 - 11:26 PM

Teeterage:

Posted Image

- Jim

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#22 RobTeeter

Vendor (Teeter's Telescopes)

Posts: 637
Joined: 30 Sep 2004

Posted 22 August 2012 - 07:07 AM

Great thread! :grin:

I just wanted to check in and let everyone know that, unfortunately, we were not one of the recipients of the grant. The winners were announced yesterday on www.MissionSmallBusiness.com along with the amazing stat that nearly 70,000 businesses applied. I knew our chances were slim at best, but I didn't realize they were THAT slim.

Everyone here on our team, including my wife and my part time help appreciate that everyone voted for us and showed us such great support and desire to see us grow the business. For now we'll have to put many of the ideas back on the shelf that we were going to finally explore had we won the grant, but we didn't come out of this endeavor completely empty-handed. Through a twist of fate we were able to move our operations from two workshops which we were spread across to one, much larger, commercial space. More details to follow in the Vendors forum...

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#23 csrlice12

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Posted 22 August 2012 - 08:41 AM

Sorry about the Grant, but you still have all our support!

To the OP: Lucky You!! The research you did obviously paid off. Teeter is one of the best custom made scope makers in the business.

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#24 auriga

Surveyor 1

Posts: 1,537
Joined: 02 Mar 2006

Posted 22 August 2012 - 10:10 AM

Hi, Rob,

Sorry you didn't get the grant, but I am sure you will continue to pioneer. Your reputation for top quality is remarkable.

Have you thought of putting the wheels in a different place?

Did you happen to notice ee the threads Dissent on Dob wheels, and Dissent on Dob wheels revisited?

Since you do custom work, this might give you one more option to try.

Bill Meyers