THE FAULKS 20" F4 DOB BUILD

[swamp thing]

33 minutes ago, jetstream said:

We need bigger scopes Niall! Our 15"s would look pretty skinny up against those big jobs the Mob has...

Maybe, but you have those Canadian skies Gerry 

You have the true wilderness that nowhere in the UK can complete with......... I envy you buddy  

[jetstream]

1 hour ago, swamp thing said:

Maybe, but you have those Canadian skies Gerry 

You have the true wilderness that nowhere in the UK can complete with......... I envy you buddy  

Thanks Steve,

But I still want your scope!

[niallk]

3 hours ago, jetstream said:

We need bigger scopes Niall! Our 15"s would look pretty skinny up against those big jobs the Mob has...

Yeah Gerry - what a collection of beautifully crafted instruments!  Maybe someday.... but like Steve says, your observing reports are inspirational, showing just how deep a 15" can go in the hands of a skilled observer under great skies

I've lots and lots to see and learn - I'd just settle for a more consistent run of no clouds and no dew issues around new moons... it has been so dismaying on the weather front here for so long!

And yeah, I'd just love a peep through any/all of the Mob's scopes

[Tyson M]

Just followed this from the beginning! 

 

Great to hear you finally got everything dialed in and a good mirror confirmed. 

 

Your atm skills are quite evident, gorgeous work and cheers from Canada. 

 

Regards. 

[faulksy]

just made a mirror case to make transporting the dob safer

[estwing]

those trainers need washing...

[estwing]

mike get some of those sticky felt pads to sit the mirror on

[faulksy]

7 minutes ago, estwing said:

those trainers need washing...

trust you

[faulksy]

and mirror case finished

[niallk]

Lovely looking job! 

[Pig]

1 hour ago, faulksy said:

and mirror case finished

The reflection sure does look like the cover of the Oxford double star atlas....nice one Mick ?

[Pig]

I also agree with Calvin about the trainers ? Pikey feet.

[faulksy]

59 minutes ago, Pig said:

I also agree with Calvin about the trainers ? Pikey feet.

those trainers are ace, still have loads of time left in them. oh no the front just fell off

[mapstar]

3 hours ago, faulksy said:

and mirror case finished

Good bit of work Mikey boy 

Nice idea with the teflon pads on the lid. Now why didn't I think of that 

[faulksy]

28 minutes ago, mapstar said:

Good bit of work Mikey boy 

Nice idea with the teflon pads on the lid. Now why didn't I think of that 

can't remember were i seen that but as they say, every day is a school day. just had a like of your pie eating buddy, ian

[mapstar]

59 minutes ago, faulksy said:

can't remember were i seen that but as they say, every day is a school day. just had a like of your pie eating buddy, ian

Might be a little reminder here just to stoke the grey matter

 

 

[faulksy]

13 minutes ago, mapstar said:

Might be a little reminder here just to stoke the grey matter

 

 

you have no construction lines though

[Uplooker]

that case is no where big enough to contain / store a pie

[jetstream]

42 minutes ago, faulksy said:

you have no construction lines though

Don't drop the box Mike!!

[faulksy]

11 hours ago, jetstream said:

Don't drop the box Mike!!

oh my god, imagine that

[Piero]

Really beautiful project! 

[faulksy]

1 hour ago, Piero said:

Really beautiful project! 

thank you piero

were did you get your kaldex for your uta ?

Edited May 28, 2021 by faulksy

[Piero]

4 hours ago, faulksy said:

thank you piero

were did you get your kaldex for your uta ?

Kaldex? Not sure what you mean. Kydex maybe?

Edited May 28, 2021 by Piero

[faulksy]

1 hour ago, Piero said:

Kaldex? Not sure what you mean. Kydex maybe?

yes, kydex 🤣

can only find small sheets

[Piero]

8 hours ago, faulksy said:

yes, kydex 🤣

can only find small sheets

Aha, no problem! 🙂

After reading on CN that kydex can deform if exposed to modest heat, I decided to go for what people (including some professional telescope makers) use nowadays over there: ABS.

Mine was bought here:

https://www.plasticstockist.com/

"2500x1250x1mm Black Smooth ABS in Matt finish"

As you can imagine, I still have a large part of this sheet, enough for a few other telescopes or a giant dobson... feel free to PM me if you want some.

 

The matt finish is on one side. I decided to use that side for the outside of the UTA and the reflective side for the inside wall. This because my plan was to use black flocking paper on the whole internal wall. 

This added some weight, but it wasn't a concern for me, due to the large bearing diameter (28") which allowed me to raise the horizontal COG, while still keeping the mirror box reasonably shallow.

One of these days I will attach the astrosystems dew heater to the secondary mirror, completing the UTA. 🙂

 

Edited May 29, 2021 by Piero