JRM

Well done Damian, things came together nicely to say the least, looks fantastic, how I would love to look through the eyepiece bet the views are amazing. great job and awesome build thread,years and years of starry nights for you to enjoy with the beast for sure my friend, weather permitting of course. cheers on a project well done, time to crack the bubbly. Rick

great work Damian, things fitting together nicely,gonna look awesome. keep them coming. Rick

Damian, I am in envy now, get it all together so we can here of those great night views through the beast, can't wait for your first light. Congrates my friend. Rick M

You will my friend, you will....never rush perfection,time is on your side. Rick M

Hi Damian, Normal wait time for cool down to test with plate glass is around 4-5 hours, 8 for pyrex. be careful my friend, if you test to early you may grind a hole before you know the hill is gone, even after a 15 minute session I leave mine on the test stand for 8 hours just to be sure the glass has reach thermal equilibrium, I once checked it every so often just to see the changes and believe me you will be surprise just how much it will change. best to give it a look the next day before you start, just my 2 cents, hope it helps. Rick M

Looking real good Damian, the edge looks good, now to get the rest of it back without losing the edge again, your really not that far awayfrom the finish line. Rick M

The day is getting closer for you to feel those photons touching the back of your eye as you look through the eyepiece Damian, all those 22 inches of light gathering beauty will be a sight to behold I am sure and will make every momment of this epic journey worth it ... and then some my friend. I picked my glass off the bench Saturday to test the wrist, not completely better yet, but close enough, been far to long, I plan too pour a pitch lap this weekend and get back at it if all goes well Cheers Rick M

Nice to see you moved towards the edge Damian, see... things are starting to turn for the good,I still say slow and steady though, and beware of digging to deep a ring. they say inside roc is a more sensitive test and the edge is looking way better inside now so things are moving in the right direction. can you try a shot with less lines outside focus, say five so you have same inside and outside to compare. just a thought. keep up the good work my friend. Rick M

looking good Damian, should make for a great glass working table. Rick M

Battle on Damian, thinking it will be atleast june before I can return to it, really sucks but I am reading everything you post, I just watch the John Dobson video, a bit rough yes but bold and to the point, no sense beating around the bush I always say but heck I would never want to carry a tubed 20" around, thank goodness for the truss tube design. Rick

will have to go and spend an hour and a half watching this then Thanks for the info Derek. Rick M

Damian, What are you using to test, the 133lpi ronchi?, if so can you do a couple shots with a lesser one say 85lpi? it should show less difrraction and give a clear picture of the edge,just a though... unless of course you are using the 85. Rick

Damian, Just out of curiosity how much time to you leave the glass sit before testing? I usually leave mine for 8 hours before testing. You are getting there,your edge is getting ever so close now. Rick

Looking much better Damian but you gotta love the way diffraction makes the edge look worse then it really is. maybe I missed it but what do you have coming for a focuser if I may, have to find me one of those as well. Rick

Damian, Following with interest, I'm on vacation in sunny Florida but head home this weekend, I will soon have to make a box to secure glass in as well, on thing though, as Nigel said earlier, using the flat tool as your pitch lap will presents problems, you lap will be almost 3/8th inches thicker in the center which will make that area of the pitch lap softer compared to the outer edge, will be hard to keep in full contact if not near impossible, short session and lots of pressing,you should know by the feel of the lap but test after first round will tell the tale, after the glass equalizes that is. not meant as discouragement so please don't take it as such. Rick M

doing great Damian, there is a light at the end of that tunnel and it gets closer with every push. Rick M

Nice to see your journey on here now Damian,will be following with interest, keep us posted, every step is a learning curve in making a mirror of that size and focal length but learn you shall, cant wait to see the final results. Rick M

good to hear Rich, keep us posted. Rick M

Agreed completely and then M42, totally awesome

I totally agree, you only want a first look ( which I opted out of) to insure you have not ground a really bad zone in the glass, testing glass before completely polished out only tend to make things worse, polish more worry less Rich, for what its worth, that to me is not stig, its a zone on a glass that is not polished out as of yet. can not post a photo of astigmatism here, will put one on my log, polish on,once your sure she is done and polished out then test, keep everything random and you should have no problems. Rick M