28 replies to this topic

[Jaz5833]

Jon Issacs was gifting a C.O.C. 60 x 910 refractor on the "Free To" forum recently, and had trouble finding someone in the area willing to pick it up. I messaged him explaining that I didn't need it but, if he failed to find a good home after a time, I'd come get it from him and try to place it somewhere.

It took us quite a while to line up with each other but this morning we managed to hook up.

I'm a complete novice to the game but Jon is full of information and knowledge that he shared for most of this morning.

I relieved Jon of the vintage C.O.C. refractor, but I got a whole lot more than that. Jon "forever loaned" me some good quality EP's to play with and some good knowledge to go with them.

 

This little C.O.C. has a backstory here on CN that can be seen here: /topic/741083-60mm-f15-coc-with-an-issue/

 

Anyway, after getting home I couldn't help myself. I've already started to refinish the legs and touch up the missing paint on various parts. This was supposed to be something for which I was to find a good home. Why am I starting to think it has? 

 

A few pics of the process. THANK YOU JON!

 

 

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[John Miele]

I believe the phrase "Jon is good people" applies wholeheartedly!

[eyeoftexas]

I think we would all like to spend a few hours with Jon in the hopes of learning even a fraction of what he knows.

[Codbear]

Jaz5833,

 

When you have a question about astronomy, observing, basic calculations for FOV, eyepieces, focal lengths, etc, google the question and be sure to add "Cloudy Nights" at the end.

 

Two things are more than likely to occur: 

 

1) You will have several CN threads pop up relating to what you seek

 

2) Somewhere in the thread there will be an answer posted by Jon.

 

Prior to joining CN in early 2016, I had stepped back from astronomy for a couple of decades due to job, kids, etc.

After joining CN and reading thread after thread to catch up on 20 years of equipment and software advancement I quickly realized that there was one astronomer who not only always seemed to know the answer, but wrote it in a succinct, understandable manner, devoid of any condescension - Jon.

 

While your meeting with Jon was great, you will find that, when you scour CN threads in search of answers to your astronomy questions, Jon will continue to educate you for years to come through his posts.

 

Sam

[Look at the sky 101]

I think we would all like to spend a few hours with Jon in the hopes of learning even a fraction of what he knows.

Plus 1 .

[Defenderslideguitar]

Great story    great meet up and hand off      if only more  of the classic scopes used and talked about here on c/n could find a  new home in such a way as the years go by

feels good as well   way to go  both of you guys......

[Look at the sky 101]

This thread is a very nice initiative, to pay a tribute to a member like Jon Isaacs.

I have two friends who think very highly of Jon. 

I have learned a lot from reading his threads and am still learning.

Thank you Jon and thank you for this thread.

[telesonic]

Any time I run across a post or reply from Jon, I try to put it into my internal memory bank.... just the sheer knowledge of people like himself (also others here) is what makes this place as great as it is.

 

And I think that can be said about the Astronomy community as a whole. I've told this story on here before, but I re-started out with a thrift store 80mm short tube scope and one eyepiece some years ago. I mentioned this to a coworker at the time, and it turns out that another gentleman I know is a huge Astronomy dude in our town, though most wouldn't even know it.

 

Similar situation, I met up with him.... and came away with a handfull of eyepieces, parts, my 80mm Sears and 114mm F/8 newt - which just seemed strange to me at the time. But I took home more knowledge and wisdom that single day, worth much more than any scope or eyepiece is... and, ultimimately it began a friendship that I'd have never expected. If it were not for my friend, I would have never gotten this far in the hobby, nor found this website.

 

I've tried to apply that same line of thought since then, and to me, it seems most here do as well.

 

Some are just really good at explaining things, like Jon is.

I have so much respect for him.

 

Thank you Jon, for what you do here!

[geovermont]

I agree with all that's said above. I've learrned a lot from Jon's posts!

[apfever]

I bought the same scope for the box. For some reason I still have it in the front room. The wood grain on the box is so gorgious I still stop and move side to side to watch the wavy grain shimmer.  The wavy grain isn't as normal for this wood like a birdseye maple would be. It was a lucky find. Nice scope too.  If the posted work continues I might follow along on the mechanicals. I'm also open to any comparison questions for possible  perplexing problems. 

 

Did the posted scope come with a box?

Nice legs. A smooth jaw vice is great for straightening the spreader arms.

Edited by apfever, 10 May 2022 - 02:26 PM.

[Jaz5833]

I bought the same scope for the box. For some reason I still have it in the front room. The wood grain on the box is so gorgious I still stop and move side to side to watch the wavy grain shimmer. The wavy grain isn't as normal for this wood like a birdseye maple would be. It was a lucky find. Nice scope too. If the posted work continues I might follow along on the mechanicals. I'm also open to any comparison questions for possible perplexing problems.

Did the posted scope come with a box?
Nice legs. A smooth jaw vice is great for straightening the spreader arms.

No box or accessories. I originally took this off Jon's hands just to save him from having to ship it or otherwise find a home. Now that I'm working on it, I find myself wanting to keep it and maybe hunt down a box and the accessories. Jon converted this to a 1.25" visual back and replaced the factory finder scope with a Celestron. I have the original and it's functional but the crosshairs are wavy.

[Jaz5833]

Here's a few things getting fixed and one experiment.

 

I don't know what they're called, but two of the three legs were missing the protective pieces of metal behind the thumbsrews.

 

I fabricated them from some 16ga aluminum I happened to have on hand.

 

On one leg, the wood where one of these pieces was attached is split up and coming apart. Some ultra thin super-glue and a few clamps should take care of that.

 

One of the the center pieces, on a leg set, has a pretty good twist. I clamped it to a straight 2x6 and saturated it with water while heating it up with a heat gun. I'm not sure if this will work but it was worth a try - it will stay clamped for 24 hours.

 

Here's my experiment- While cleaning up the mount I was pondering a way to make the old black coating come alive again. I didn't want to paint it as that makes it look too new. Here's what I'm trying. I took some India Ink and a few Q-tips and kinda stained the old crinkle finish. I just did the counterbalance and tomorrow I'll test it with water to see if it's actually permanent.

 

 

[Jaz5833]

Couldn't get this last picture in above.

 

[luxo II]

On one leg, the wood where one of these pieces was attached is split up and coming apart. Some ultra thin super-glue and a few clamps should take care of that.

20220509_181803_copy_567x1008.jpg

Hope you epoxied those cracks, superglue won't do.

[Jaz5833]

Hope you epoxied those cracks, superglue won't do.

That depends on the brand. I have extensive experience repairing wood, recurve bows, that have partially delaminated and this repair won't see 1/10th the stress a bow will. I use Bob Smith Industries, super thin,  cayanoacrylate. It will usually be stronger that the wood (if used correctly).

[eric_zeiner]

Jon is a wellspring of knowledge and a heck of a nice guy to boot.  There was a time when I had no scopes and he let me borrow his vintage Bausch and Lomb reflector.  I live in Georgia, he's in California and shipping was never an issue.  I owe Jon a huge debt of gratitude.

[Jon Isaacs]

That depends on the brand. I have extensive experience repairing wood, recurve bows, that have partially delaminated and this repair won't see 1/10th the stress a bow will. I use Bob Smith Industries, super thin,  cayanoacrylate. It will usually be stronger that the wood (if used correctly).

 

 

I really do appreciate all the kind words..  

 

Jim and I really hit it off, I had a great time and learned a good deal myself.  Like he says, astronomy is a hobby, archery is his passion. His collection includes over 100 bow's, many are classics which required restoration. A wooden bow almost certainly has the highest stresses that exist in a wooden piece of gear. 

 

He's a retired "sheet metal" guy who worked for General Atomics "down in the canyon.."

 

Down in the canyon is the Tokamak facility, the largest fusion research facility in the United States.. You don't get close to that unless you're "really, really, really good."

 

https://cer.ucsd.edu...ges/DIII-D.html

 

Both Jim and I feel like we're not owners of equipment, we're caretakers. Telescopes deserve respect and deserve to be used and enjoyed. My role in this was hooking up with Tony Spina for the replacement objective and finding Jim who, as you can see, it the right person for this scope...

 

My best to all.

 

Jon

[Jaz5833]

Jon, I'm honored to get such high praises. Hopefully, they'll be earned in this community too.

 

I had a go with the crosshairs on the factory spotter. I paid attention and used a thicker material as you suggested.....how's this?

 

[Jaz5833]

Here's a couple pics of tonight's moon. They're a mix of of the ep's Jon loaned me and a Celestron 25mm plossl that I had taken with an old Samsung S6.

 

 

I'm really impressed with the views through this 60mm. It certainly holds it own against the Sears/Towa I just gifted my nephew - maybe even a little better.

 

 

The sky tonight was rated at "below average" by Atmospheric. Also, I have a few old cell phones dedicated to taking telescope pics and I couldn't locate the best one of them. On a clearer night with the better camera, I have high hopes for this little guy.

 

 

[Jon Isaacs]

 

Jim:

 

Nice photos.. An excellent example of why a scope that's just sitting on a shelf unused deserves to be loved, respected and enjoyed. It deserves to spend time out there under the night sky.

 

If I still had it, it would still be on the shelf collecting dust. This a much better outcome for me, for you and for the scope.

 

Think about this:

 

The scope is about 60 years old. For most of its life it had a flawed objective and gave rather poor views.

 

In your hands, this is really the first time this scope has performed as it finally could.

 

That is something truly wonderful.

 

Jon

[Felix OJ]

Plus 1 .

+2

Felix

Edited by Felix OJ, 12 May 2022 - 04:04 PM.

[Universe XY]

Jon Issacs was gifting a C.O.C. 60 x 910 refractor on the "Free To" forum recently, and had trouble finding someone in the area willing to pick it up. I messaged him explaining that I didn't need it but, if he failed to find a good home after a time, I'd come get it from him and try to place it somewhere.

It took us quite a while to line up with each other but this morning we managed to hook up.

I'm a complete novice to the game but Jon is full of information and knowledge that he shared for most of this morning.

I relieved Jon of the vintage C.O.C. refractor, but I got a whole lot more than that. Jon "forever loaned" me some good quality EP's to play with and some good knowledge to go with them.

 

This little C.O.C. has a backstory here on CN that can be seen here: /topic/741083-60mm-f15-coc-with-an-issue/

 

Anyway, after getting home I couldn't help myself. I've already started to refinish the legs and touch up the missing paint on various parts. This was supposed to be something for which I was to find a good home. Why am I starting to think it has? 

 

A few pics of the process. THANK YOU JON!

I am the lucky winner of the last give away. I am no stranger to restoration & in fact I love it..well after it's done~~~

 

Tung oil, mineral spirits & some min wax stain & it will be as good as new!  Restored a 100 yo piano myself. 10 hand rubbed coats!!!! I lost sensation in my little finger for a good while so could not play it but it looked good! 

Edited by Universe XY, 11 February 2025 - 10:40 PM.

[CHASLX200]

Always in Cali sally. I would love to spend a nite with Jon yaking about scopes.  We go back to the SAA days.

[deSitter]

I am the lucky winner of the last give away. I am no stranger to restoration & in fact I love it..well after it's done~~~

 

Tung oil, mineral spirits & some min wax stain & it will be as good as new!  Restored a 100 yo piano myself. 10 hand rubbed coats!!!! I lost sensation in my little finger for a good while so could not play it but it looked good! 

len pratt.jpg

When i was a poor college kid I bought an old Bishop upright piano for a song so to speak (weighed a TON) that was in terrible shape. Getting it into playing condition was the ordeal of ordeals. I had to remove one string on each note to even get it close to being in tune. I didn't have a tuning tool so I made one by cutting off about an inch of a hex wrench and placing it between two ratchet wrench sockets - the business end socket was backward with the square hole fitting nicely over the tuning studs. A solid week was needed to get it tuned. It was an ordeal I don't want to try again! Thankful for Yamaha digital pianos

 

-drl

[Don W]

Jon Isaacs is a legend in his own mind, LOL!

 

great thread!

 

DonW