20" f/4 Dob build

[Daniel-K]

thats good new steve time to crack on is it?

[estwing]

great news mate. I think you did so well for 'bearing' with them (TAXI!).

look forward to a dob build Swamp Thing style

..sorry Shane..that's awful

[TheMightyKong]

Hi,

Just wondering how your project is progressing?

[swamp thing]

I'm actually router cutting the dovetails for the mirror box right now. It's the first opotunity I've had for weeks.

[swamp thing]

Righty ho! Finally got some time on the scope build today. Managed to find the precut mirror box panels after an extensive search. These I've dovetailed using a router.

Here is the box on a dry assembly prior to gluing. I shall hopefully get some time on it this week to make up the corner braces and the light baffle. Hopefully get some finishing done on it too. Fingers crossed.

[MadAlbert]

Good stuff! What glue did you opt for?

[estwing]

nice to get back on it steve,must be tough not having much spare time..and that lawn need mowing!

[swamp thing]

Cascamite, of coarse.

[MadAlbert]

Cascamite, of coarse.

Nice A good alternative is West epoxy

[Rustysplit]

Top work Steve. Those dovetails look really good. Nice touch.

[swamp thing]

Cheers Alan, I went through a pretty long decision process on whether or not to go with a dovetail or not, but I'm pleased I stuck with it. Once sanded and finished they should look pretty good.

[Daniel-K]

they look very neat and tidy.

[faulksy]

very nice steve coming along now

[8kids]

Neat job, not easy routing dovetails in ply.

Gary.

[angusb1]

Looking good Steve!

[swamp thing]

Got to work with the sander cleaning up the dovetails.

Next job was to cut the mirror box at 45 deg at the bottom so it'll sit lower in the rocker box.

This done I cut the light baffle. This was rebated. So it sits lower.

The sides have a coat of varnish on. They will get several more the light baffle will be painted Matt black.

Must get round to tidying that garage

[Optical Dob]

Looking good Steve. The varnish makes the dovetails stand out nicely. Certainly looks very strong.

[Rustysplit]

Those look cracking with a bit of varnish on Steve. The natural birch ply finish looks really nice. Gonna be a cracker!

[Astrobits]

That looks a very neat job there Steve.

And I thought that my garage was full

Nigel

[swamp thing]

Fitted some corner braces to the mirror box today (pics later) cut these from some 3/4 ply I had left over from a job (weight is not an issue with this scope as it will be wheeled about not carried). Now just some more varnish and mat paint to finish the mirror box. Not getting much time to work on the scope right now

Thoughts now turn to the rocker box. This was going to be a biscuit jointed affair, as I felt it may well be painted or finished with a covering of some sort. I felt the rocker needs to be hard wearing as its the part most likely to be scuffed by boots etc.

Now though I'm thinking of a more decorative natural finish again with some more dovetails. I'm figuring the black ally alt bearings and black truss clamps will break up the wood enough to allow some more varnished wood to look nice.

I guess I can always build it with a decorative finish in mind and then see how it looks.

The trusses, hmmm! I have a couple of options here. Heat shrink would keep them nice to handle in the cold and give a nice dark finish. I can even get this with customised writing on (bling, bling)......or, anodise them black. Nice, but cold on the hands.

[Rustysplit]

The natural wood and black fittings sounds sweet As you say, can always change your mind later if you don't like it. Very hard to go back to natural from a painted finish though.

I think I am gonna go with heat shrink on my trusses, for exactly the reason you say, nice to touch in the cold.

[swamp thing]

I guess I could anodise them then see how cold they are. Heat shrink can always be retro fitted later. I do like the idea of anodised.

[estwing]

hmm gloves spring to mind here!!

[Rustysplit]

I see that you can get patterned non slip heatshrink, with a sort of diamond hatching pattern on it for additional bling!!

[swamp thing]

Here's a pic of the bracing inside the mirror box. I will use a hole saw to cut some access holes where I need to get at the truss clamp, and alt bearing bolts.

These make an already strong box into a bomb proof shelter

I will prime all the bare wood next before painting the inside mat black. I was going to stain it, but it just so happens I have a load of mat black paint, from painting my truck in camo.