6 replies to this topic

[miak]

Hi folks,

 

I'm wanting to take a shot at grinding my own mirror and building a scope around it. Where are you all getting your ATM supplies within Canada? Within Vancouver would be ideal, but my hopes aren't high for that. Looking through old resources (stellafane.org, etc) is a sea of dead links. firsthanddiscovery.com ships here, but it's quite expensive (shipping a 6" kit costs 70USD, 60% of the cost of the kit itself!). www.gotgrit.com will as well, but I don't know how to tell what the shipping cost will be.

[JohnH]

Former resident from near vancouver. I got interested in it the first time by picking up a Star Trails magazine in the Okanagan, published by the same people who do the Wine Trails stuff and it had a section on grinding mirrors.

I showed the article to Harout at Vancouver Telescope and he goes and digs out of the back a 12-in mirror blank that somebody had started grinding but then never finished and sold it to me for 50 bucks.

I got some supplies online but there's lots of people who have this stuff kicking around in the back that you find.

Lorton makes abrasives in various quantities which is sold at Gem and Rock shops to tumble rocks, but I would get the finer grits and polishes from a source that is free from contamination but I've never had a problem even from repackaged places like Willman Bell Etc.

Capilano Rock and Gem in North Vancouver or Mountain Gems in Burnaby on East Hastings has these things

Edited by JohnH, 25 April 2025 - 09:42 AM.

[miak]

Thanks for the info! Sounds like I may be able to get away with just ordering a blank from the US. I'll check with RASC Vancouver/Okanagan and the Fraser Valley Astronomical Society first, though.

[JohnH]

Coming to Nt Kobau?

[miak]

Possibly! I've never been to a proper larger sky party and I'd love to. It'll come down to how many vacation days I have and whether I've bought a car by that point (it's been a low priority after finishing my MSc since it's so easy to live in Vancouver without one, but I think it may be time). RASC Vancouver is doing their first star party right afterwards too, so hypothetically one could spend the second half of August at star parties in BC this year.

[saemark30]

There is lapping grit at Lee Valley stores.

You will also need pitch and cerium oxide. Did you find a source for those?

Any rock stores in the Okanagan?

Edited by saemark30, 28 April 2025 - 12:53 AM.

[JohnH]

There is lapping grit at Lee Valley stores.
You will also need pitch and cerium oxide. Did you find a source for those?
Any rock stores in the Okanagan?

Is very active rock-hounding community in Vernon with the Facebook group so I imagine there's lapidary stores available.