Anyone fancy making their own EPs?

[Spec-Chum]

Probably posted here before, but I find this very interesting:

http://www.astrophoto.co.uk/surplusunmountedsets.php

You can get lens, holders and barrels!

Anyone tried?

[sologuitarist61]

That looks like fun!! Takes me back to the old days of mirror grinding for months on end and still ending up with the bottom of a coke bottle!!

[alan potts]

Al Nagler must have started somewhere, but I think it may have involved years of training as well.

Alan.

[Mr Spock]

You would need to get the lens spacing exactly right. Unless they come with that info and you have the equipment to make the spacers, the end results may be very poor indeed.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

By the time you get all the bits and bobs needed to make your own EP, you have spent more than a standard, decent quality Plossl costs (I got a 20mm silver top for the kids for 15 euro!). No point really.

[womblemaster]

By the time you get all the bits and bobs needed to make your own EP, you have spent more than a standard, decent quality Plossl costs (I got a 20mm silver top for the kids for 15 euro!). No point really.

no point in going to the moon either...i can see it from here!

[AndyH]

If you have a wee lathe, I could see that being of enormous fun.

Nice to see he stocks the wondiferous and weird range of stuff from http://www.surplusshed.com/

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

no point in going to the moon either...i can see it from here!

But I cannot pick up any of the rocks.

Making your own design EP looks fun; making a plossl from components the manufacturer could not be bothered to assemble does not.

[paul schofield]

Would not be worth it for me as I never get a chance to use them. Sorry I am over it now.

[Naemeth]

I agree with Michael, I'd rather make my own design of an eyepiece (and would certainly relish the chance to do all of the maths!).... hmm, I may look into this at some point.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Every year I get a catalogue from Edmund Optics, and they have a huge list of lenses to pick from. I am sometimes toying with the idea of building a larger H-alpha scope using lenses I can get there. After all, I do not have to worry about chromatic aberrations in that case. Simple lenses (and an energy-rejection filter) should do the trick. A 75mm F=500mm multi-coated lens costs in the order of 50$ if memory serves me.

[fwm891]

I get the Edmunds catalogue too, the stuffs great but their postal charges are very high making it hardly worth getting some of the items if your not bulk buying

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

True. Unless you get it sent with other kit to make a decent total it is hardly worth it.