Max32

How much a dielectric protective SiO2 coating helps an aluminum coating to live long?

Aha! I've just checked - it only looks similar, but made from aluminium (the neodymium magnet doesn't stick to it), so probably you're right - it may be not secure enough. Thank you!

My Stella Lyra already has quite descent Vixen saddle - no point to swap it to another Vixen that costs 1\3 of the whole mount price. I was thinking of this one, Losmandy standard - ADM D Series Saddle 8mm Counterbored Version | First Light Optics, but again, I'm trying to avoid unnecessary budget spending, since my wife doesn't understand much what's the point to look at things in the sky, so I have to be sure that I suffer for a reason )).

9.25 seems to be of the same weight category as cc8, even a bit heavier - thanks for sharing!

Hello, I've just bought the TS Classsical Cassegrain 8" scope, and have the StellaLyra Duo Az mount (similar to SkyTee II mount). This mount has Vixen style saddles on both its heads. I know that cc8 has both Losmandy and Vixen plates on its tube, so technically I can connect it to my StellaLyra mount rightaway, without any customization. But I'm unsure if this connection will be firm/durable enough? The tube weight is about 8,7 kg. I was going to replace one Vixen saddle on my mount with the Losmandy saddle, but just don't want to pay half of the whole mount price just for saddle, if it's not inevitable.