Soupy

John I hope others can understand all this and I am sure it makes sense but you have totally lost me!

Damian the only time constraints are your own. It will be ready when it is ready. Its your mirror and scope not something you're doing for someone else so take your time. There are lots of people here who are willing you on and know you will get there!

Like you said last night Damian, parabolising it might work, and I know you have already tried this but you never know.

Looks like another slight improvement Damian. Keep it up buddy it's amazing work and will produce an amazing mirror

Don't try rushing it now Damian you don't want extra work. As for smaller facets. I have seen someone make these with a mesh type car mat. The facets are much smaller and they pressed them onto a warm lap. Seems easier than having to cut

I could always pop across and do the video Damian, but would have to bring a lovely smooth Irish Whiskey instead of the Scotch!

That looks amazing RAC. (Not that I know what I'm looking at but I think it is telling me that the mirror is almost perfect, and only a few nanometers out from where it needs to be)

I am sure it must feel very frustrating Damian but I am also sure that you are making progress and the edge is getting smaller so keep it up buddy!

It's getting there Damian, slowly slowly catchy monkey...

Great progress Damian the edge is definitely getting smaller.

You sound a bit like Yoda there Ron...

Didn't you have a hill before Damian?

Great images Damian. The trebor mint has progressed nicely

Glad John, Nigel and you know how to interpret the images though, I wouldn't know where to start!

It's not the cables that gets us mad Damian it's the auto guiding! It's a bit like pitch for imagers, sometimes it's brilliant sometimes it's rubbish but most times it's messy.

Damian if you are thinking of getting some of Physopto's Magic stuff, I am going Kielder his weekend, and could try to get you some if it's only sold in the north east!

Great news Damian. You were saying you needed a bit of luck

I was going to say you'd need a huge freezer Damian, as for whiskey I have plenty of that!

It was an incredible experience to watch you Damian. You probably didn't get it quite right coz I was there, sorry if I put you off buddy!

Next time I'll bring you some bluetack

Hopefully I'll get to see this tomorrow Damian. Quite excited at the prospect.

No worries it was as safe as houses ;-)

You build amazing scopes Damian but I have yet to see a house you have built!

The progress is great to see Damian, and to see it all polished up is amazing. Looking through the testing rig also makes all the effort worth while. Though I was having kittens thinking the mirror was going to fall off the rig!

Actually, with apologies for wandering off on a tangent a little, a suitcase dob is something I really want to think about.  The childrens' swimming club are doing a "club families" trip to Lanzarote (I think -- one of the islands anyhow) in October 2016 and it's tempting to go, but I'd be gutted if I went and didn't take a scope of some kind.  As it's all school-age kids in the club it would be really nice to "spread the word", too.  So a dob that would go on an aeroplane fairly easily would be an excellent thing to have.  Given that I have a year and a half perhaps that should be my first self-made mirror project.

In fact, I've just looked at the BA website (as an example) and the the maximum hand luggage size is 56cm x 45cm x 25cm.  I wonder if it might be possible to make an 8" "cabin baggage" dob?

James

Hopefully I can get on with stripping the SW200p I have and forging some sort of suitcase Dob James with Damian's help of course! So I'll let you know if it can be done

Looking amazing Damian, and as you say it looks even better in the flesh. Have you ordered your smaller 10" blank for your portable suitcase scope yet?

I see shiny mirror. This is good!

Great going Damian. Lots of trials and tribulations. But plenty of grit on the mirror and from you!

I know you and I know you are mad... But this is ridiculous. Only kidding mate the mirror is looking amazing and this thread should be a must read for all even remotely interested in telescope building and mirror grinding, or just the mechanics behind it all. Looking forward to the updates.