421 replies to this topic

[Dartguy]

That is just a fantastic job!!  Queue the sax:

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=9OPc7MRm4Y8

[PaulEK]

It's beautiful, and the brass is especially striking with the color scheme, I think.

[Rich (RLTYS)]

WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW,WOW!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know Turk but every scope you work on seems to be better then the last.    

 

Rich (RLTYS)

[turk123]

Thanks Rich and thanks to all who commented.  I really enjoyed this one (except for the 20,000 lb press).

[PiSigma]

That was certainly a lot of work. Great job Tom!

[Joe Bergeron]

Seeing that telescope at NEAF was one of the highlights of the trip for me. And I totally approve of the colors.

[albert1]

I agree, Joe.

 

It surely was the prettiest Cave I ever saw in person.

[turk123]

Pinkey is off to her new home in New Jersey!    We'll let the new owner make the announcement!

 

Bye . . . .  Pinkey  

[Wisconsin Steve]

Amazing restoration, Tom! I enjoyed re-rereading this whole thread.

 

Now, what about the "Ugly Duckling"?

 

Steve

[turk123]

Amazing restoration, Tom! I enjoyed re-rereading this whole thread.

 

Now, what about the "Ugly Duckling"?

 

Steve

 

That one I'm keeping!  (Steve's was the first owners' cave on the Cave website.  I told Steve it was an "ugly duckling" and I wasn't crazy about it.  I bought it a few years later! )

 

http://www.cave-astr..._image_1824.jpg

Edited by turk123, 21 July 2015 - 06:33 AM.

[photiost]

Seeing that telescope at NEAF was one of the highlights of the trip for me. And I totally approve of the colors.

 

Same here ... glad to hear it stayed within the CN group.

Attached Thumbnails

• 

[mark77]

Hello to all

 

I am the new owner of Pinky.  A friend of mine picked it from Turk last night. It will be delivered to me Friday and will be located in North East PA (Pike County)

 

I already have an 8 inch Cave F/8 .

 

I am planning on building a 15 ft dome to house them and a 16 inch Astroscopics

 

Thanks to Turk for the great restoration. 

 

Mark

Edited by mark77, 21 July 2015 - 08:34 AM.

[YourNotSirius]

I use red diesel (farm-offroad diesel) in my solvent tank. It works well for cleaning in that it does not strip the metal bare like more volatile solvents. It doesn't stink up the garage using only a simple metal sheet cover on the tank. There are better penetrating solvents for getting rusty parts loose.

 

Robert has the right idea with tapping the system to shock the parts a little. Many penetrating lubes will suggest this in the directions. However, if you really want to advance this idea, there's an easy extreme. USE A PRESS. You don't need to press the parts all the way off which may run a gouge in the shaft, but it would be easy enough to do so.  Just press a hair to pop things loose then press back the other way. This will do two things. One, it helps get the penetrating lube between the parts. Two, it forces lateral pressure on any side parts like set screws or woodruff keys or just parts together such as a stop ring against the weight. This can seriously help knock things out. It would be like getting to the end of the set screw and smacking it back and forth sideways.

 

There is a difference between blocking up the weights and using a press instead of beating the shaft with a hammer. Both have their advantages. The physical difference is a discussion of work/energy vs. impulse/momentum. There have been times when I've had my press fairly tweaked with pressure, when a light tap knocked everything loose and the sudden recoil shudder has sent parts flying. Short excitement in the slow boring life of a press.

 

Try a press Turk.

Now it is my turn.  All of those are good ideas.  Personally, I would begin with a product called Corrosion-X.  It's not easy to find but makes PB Blaster and the others look like water.  I've used it to break some seriously rusted bolts loose.  I mean bolts that had been exposed to ocean spray for 25 years kind of seriously rusted!  I would spray and soak the parts over night then use the press idea if possible.  If that failed then I'd move to the gas wrench, or, torch.  You will need to use a cutting tip to get the heat you need.  Not to cut, but, to warm it up enough to move things around.  Quite obviously, welder's gloves will be needed once it's hot enough.

 

That's my two cents worth.

 

Q

[YourNotSirius]

Ooops!  Boy!  Was I was ever late to the party, or what?  When I made my entry above I did not realize that this thread was so old or long.  Oh well. Too much going on I guess.

 

Regardless, that scope is just fantastic!  WOW!  I am extremely impressed.  It is definitely a one of a kind and one of the best custom jobs I have seen, EVER!  Congratulations to the builder and to the new owner.

 

CS

 

Q

[Geo31]

Great info though!  I certainly appreciate it.

[turk123]

Your not serious YourNotSirius?   

 

Thanks for the kind words.  The press by far was the best solution to solve the "frozen" shaft issue.

[mark77]

Pinky arrived yesterday. It's beautiful. 

 

Now I have to get it put together  etc.

[turk123]

Hi Mark

 

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did restoring it.  I have some thoughts on a few things (minor) that have to be done with her.  Give me a call.

[badback]

                 Was Pinky a Cover-Girl?
                      Perhaps? see the "back" cover of  the  1970

                 Cave Catalog here: http://www.cloudynig...y-a-cover-girl/

Edited by badback, 18 January 2017 - 09:22 PM.

[macdonjh]

 

Personally, I would begin with a product called Corrosion-X.  It's not easy to find but makes PB Blaster and the others look like water.

 

That's my two cents worth.

 

Q

 

+1 for Corrosion X, great stuff.  Spray it on, let it work for 10-15 minutes, break stuff loose.

[dhferguson]

Cheers,

 

I very much enjoyed reading about Tom's restoration, especially as I am now, finally, in the process of cleaning up my Astrola mount and adding Byers drives.

 

One poster mentioned Corrosion-X, stating that it's hard to find. Corrosion-X is used extensively by aircraft mechanics to spray the insides of aluminum fuselages, wings and tails. This prevents the aluminum from corroding and the treatment is best repeated every two years. Try an aviation mechanic at your local GA airport to see if he/she can sell you a little.

 

Happy observing,

 

Don

[Geo31]

Or you can order it from Aircraft Spruce.  They have all kinds of interesting products that most of us are unaware of (I use clear Leading Edge Tape to protect my finders from the adjustment screws).

 

https://www.aircraft...osion-X&x=0&y=0